That's the message of the third annual conference on myths and stereotypes about Africa and African-Americans called "From the Motherland." The conference was held Thursday night in the Student Center and co-organized by the Lambda Upsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. 

Speakers included a UCA professor who discussed issues in his native country of Malawi. Then, four UCA students from Africa discussed the most pressing problems facing African-American students and ways to solve them.  

The consensus of the conference was that it is an educational and media problem. Speakers said "the good side of Africa is never shown on television." As a result, myths define the African culture more than reality and people develop inaccurate stereotypes. 

Student speakers from the conference were given certificates

"We’re all from different parts of Africa, so we have pretty much nothing in common, except the skin color,” said Karim Abdul, a student from Niger.

The doors open at 6 p.m. and admission is $10.

The brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi know how to step

The All-Greek Step Show combines the historically African-American Pan-Hellenic groups with the historically Caucasian groups in a stepping competition. The event was organized by the sororities and fraternities on campus and the Office of Greek Life. 

 This year's groupings are: 

• Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sigma Sigma Sigma, and Sigma Tau Gamma
• Kappa Alpha Psi, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Pi Kappa Alpha, and Phi Sigma Kappa
• Sigma Gamma Rho, Omega Psi Phi, Alpha Sigma Tau, and Kappa Sigma
• Zeta Phi Beta, Phi Beta Sigma, Delta Zeta, and Sigma Phi Epsilon
• Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Kappa, Sigma Nu, and Phi Lambda Chi

For more information, contact the Office of Student Life at 450-3137. 

Here are a couple of videos from the show a couple of years ago. This one is of Sigma Sigma Sigma performing. This one is of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

A petition drive, organized by UCA student Serina Washington, is underway to add 10 courses on African and African-American topics to the university's African/African-American Studies program. There is a separate petition for each proposed course. Each petition needs at least 200 signatures to be submitted to the administration. Washington said she hopes to gather at least 250 signatures on each petition. 

Some of the proposed courses include: 

• African-American English
• African-American Culture in Hip Hop
• Black Radical Tradition in America

Washington said she is aware that not all 10 courses will be made available but she hopes to see at least two or three courses implemented within the next year or so. Washington says that her main goal is to improve the awareness of African-American culture and the choices students have to study it. 

Serena Washington

UCA offers both an African/African-American Studies major and minor. The additional courses are expected to be offered in the history, sociology and fine arts departments, depending on the enrollment in the classes. 

For more information about the petitons or to sign them, contact Serina Washington at washingtonserina@yahoo.com.

NABMU is a national nonprofit organization formed to help African-American men graduate from college. The organization is open to everyone, regardless of  gender or race.

"NABMU Week is a week that we put together to educate students on some of the main things that result in college dropouts. Not only do we educate, but we also have programs that are fun and exciting during this week," said Matt Farr, NABMU's director of events and outreach.

All events are free and open to all students. The schedule of events is:

• Monday - Stress management program with Wendy Holbrook - Student Center, Room 225 - 7 p.m.
• Tuesday -  "A Night of Music" music appreciation program with Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia - Student Center, Room 223 and 224 - 7 p.m.
• Wednesday - "The Dangers of Drinking" alcohol awareness program with 80 Proof and Kristy Jamerson as the guest speaker - Student Center, Room 225.
• Thursday - NABMU on the yard "Spring Membership Drive" -  Student Center Courtyard - X-period.
• Friday -  "One Act Plays" in Ida Waldron Auditorium - 7 p.m.

AIDS awareness ribbon

"Ain't Nothing but a Thang" features UCA students as actors and is being presented by Minority Services as part of Black History Month observances on campus. The play is sponsored by the UCA chapter of the NAACP, the Keep a Child Alive charitable organization and the National Association of Black Men United.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is free but donations are accepted. All money will be used to aid recovery efforts in Haiti and support AIDS awareness programs. The play contains adult content.

The play was canceled earlier this month because of snow.

Since the pageant began in 1975, Students for the Propagation of Black Culture (SPBC) has spearheaded the event. For the past 10 years, UCA's Minority Student Services has been a co-sponsor.

The pageant features six African-American female students - Candice Bailey, Joy Spellman, Angela Barnum, Cecelia Rosa, Brittney Bennett and Tasha Stricklin. They will compete in swimwear, talent and evening wear categories and answer an on-stage question, according to Angela Jackson of Minority Student Services.

"I'm excited for the event tonight. We hope to have a decent turnout of at least 200 people," Jackson said.

The Miss Essence crown

SPBC raises money through several fundraisers throughout the year to fund the pageant. Scholarship money is awarded to the top three contestants. The winner receives a $750 scholarship, the first runner-up receives a $200 scholarship and the second runner-up gets $150 in scholarship money.

"This pageant was founded to give women of color a chance to showcase their intelligence, talents and beauty at UCA," Jackson said. "This really gives them an opportunity to shine."

That question will be the focus of a roundtable discussion sponsored by the African-American Studies Program at 4 p.m. today in Irby Hall, room 215. The featured speaker is Dr. Isiah Lavender, director of the program and an assistant professor of English. Students are invited to attend and ask questions about the program.

Graduates of the program have an interdisciplinary understanding of the history and cultures of Africa, the effects of colonialism and slavery on the those cultures and African contributions to the United States and Caribbean nations.