Council to pursue programming options in lieu of Homecoming event
The National Panhellenic Council cancelled Stompfest this year, after members' concerns about last year's event and the loss of the NPHC house were brought to the attention of the council.
Stompfest was held for the first time last year, and according to NPHC President Steven Harris, was intended to "foster working relationships between the respective chapters of the Greek councils on Vanderbilt's campus." The event, a part of Homecoming, featured IFC and Panhellenic Greeks performing steps taught by NPHC Greeks. Members of NPHC houses also performed.
However, some of the NPHC organizations felt that the intent of the event was not fulfilled, Harris said.
"Although the purpose of Stompfest was a positive one, all of the NPHC organizations that participated did not have a positive experience for various reasons," he said.
Two factors went into NPHC's decision, Harris said. One reason was that the relationships that "were thought to have been formed during the weeks of preparation for the event seem, for some NPHC members, to have vanished after the fact."
However, Senior Lauren Cassell, executive vice president of Alpha Omicron Pi and a participant in Stompfest 2005, disagrees.
"Stompfest was probably my favorite Homecoming event," Cassell said. "It's very unfortunate that it's being cancelled; last year Steven Harris from Alpha Phi Alpha was our coach, and the experience definitely improved our relationship with their house. I know a lot of people are saying that Stompfest didn't do that, but for AOPi it definitely did."
Faith Nasmyth, a junior and member of Chi Omega, also participated in Stompfest 2005 and similarly enjoyed her experience.
"I'm really sad about it being cancelled. I thought it was a big success, maybe not in terms of achieving the overall goals of promoting diversity, but a huge step in that direction," Nasmyth said.
The second reason involves the loss of NPHC's fraternity house and the council's priority to settle the issue.
"Now is the time, more than ever, to start focusing their efforts on those issues that are council specific," Harris said.
"NPHC council has other goals for the year that they think are of higher priority," said Alex Schwartzmann, senior president of Kappa Delta and a Stompfest participant. "Stompfest takes a lot of PR and coordination, other things they are focusing on this year. ...I understand why they are canceling the event."
"However, I think they should schedule a similar event to allow the Panhellenic and IFC members to learn about the history and values about the NPHC houses in a constructive manner," Schwartzmann said.
The loss of the NPHC fraternity house as a result of Sigma Nu's return to campus is an issue that, according to Harris, "is weighing heavily on the hearts of the members of the NPHC community."
Harris said that the NPHC is working to devise an alternative activity that would fulfill the goal of Stompfest without overwhelming the council with such a large event.
Harris said that NPHC will discuss any alternative options with the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils once they have made a decision.
However, Harris said that Stompfest may not be gone forever.
"Possibly, last year's Stompfest can be revisited, revamped and retried in the future," he said.
