Alpha Phi Alpha Presents Fourth Annual Battle on the Burning Sands Step Show

by Devany Severin, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

The fourth annual Battle on the Burning Sands Step Show, hosted by the Baylor Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, in Waco Hall on the Baylor University campus.

The step show will feature celebrity guest host Shawty, a comedian from Atlanta, and will showcase students from African-American Greek-lettered organizations from Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas.

The show will feature eight acts and judges will award first- and second-place prizes in both the fraternity and sorority division. There will be a free raffle and door prizes before the show begins.

"If you saw the movie Stomp the Yard last year, then come to the show and be a part of the real thing," said Josh Sanders a junior biology major from Stafford and member of Alpha Phi Alpha.

Presale tickets are available for $15 at the Baylor ticket office in the Bill Daniel Student Center and at Marilyn's Gift Gallery until Friday, Feb. 8. Tickets will be available at the door for $20.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Waco community. Last year Alpha Phi Alpha used proceeds from the event to paint the Boys and Girls Club of Waco building. This year Alpha Phi Alpha will help replace items necessary to the Boys and Girls Club and also will donate money to Wiley Middle School, where Alpha Phi Alpha members help tutor children for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test.

Sanders believes that the Burning Sands step show is one of the most anticipated events for National PanHellenic Council Greeks across Texas. Last year 1,900 people attended the event and this year Alpha Phi Alpha expects the show to sell out with 2,200 people attending.

Alpha Phi Alpha members publicized the event throughout Texas and visited colleges like University of Texas, Texas A&M, University of Texas at Arlington and University of North Texas.

The Baylor Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. began hosting Battle on the Burning Sands in 2005. Each year Alpha Phi Alpha invites a celebrity guest host. Past celebrities include Big Tigga, former host of 106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live and Fonzworth Bentley, who has been seen on MTV shows like Making the Band 2. This year's host, Shawty, has been featured on shows like Wild'n Out and BET Comic View.

For more information please contact Josh Sanders at josh_sanders@baylor.edu.