The Office of Multicultural Affairs (MSA) dedicated its annual homecoming step show to the Rev. Diane Jefferson, the late founder and director of MSA, on Oct. 25.
Memorial Auditorium was filled with students, families and alumni who were excited for the step show.
The show opened with Manuel Ruiz, assistant vice president for Inclusion, Belonging, and Social Equity, and Shanda Jefferson, Shippensburg University alum and Jefferson’s daughter. They spoke to the audience about Ms. Di, as she was called by the SU community.
“This was all envisioned by Ms. Di,” said Marquis Lupton, SU alum and the main announcer of the show.
Ruiz announced that a new assistant director for MSA has been hired by the university. Arnold Taylor Jr. will be the temporary associate director starting on Nov. 10. It will be a one-year appointment, ending on Nov. 10, 2026, according to Ruiz.
The process to hire a new director is still ongoing.
After the announcement, a memorial video for Jefferson began to play. It experienced technical difficulties, but the audience began to wave their phone flashlights to the music in a moment of unity for Jefferson.
As the lights came back on, Ruiz congratulated the homecoming king and queen, as they are both student leaders in MSA. Asian American Pacific Islander Organization (AAPIO) President Theo Campomanes and D.I.V.A.S. Secretary Kemi Adetunji were the homecoming king and queen.
Lupton kicked off the performances by running a roll call. Each grade was called, followed by alumni and various chapters of fraternities and sororities. The auditorium was filled with cheers and chants as each group made its presence known.
The first of the groups to perform was Afrik, the university’s African dance group. Four of their members performed a dance.
Following Afrik, the Elite Modeling Troupe strutted down the stage. They performed a brief dance, and Afrik came back out on stage to dance again.
The sororities and fraternities within MSA all came out to perform. Current students and alumni all took the stage, both dancing and stepping.
The various groups spoke about their connection with Jefferson. They spoke about how she encouraged them, how she supported their groups and her impact on the Shippensburg community.
The Nu Nu chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated went above and beyond with their performance. Alumni took the stage and amazed the audience with singing, dancing and stepping. Jefferson was an avid member of Delta Sigma Theta, and the chapter made sure to honor her with their performance.
Step is a synchronized dance that originated in Black sororities and fraternities in the early 20th century. It consists of stomping, clapping and chanting.
The audience remained energetic throughout the show. Many could be seen dancing, singing, clapping along and cheering to the performances.
The show concluded with the memorial video of Jefferson.
The homecoming step show brought together not only the SU community, but all those who have had the privilege of knowing Jefferson. Every performance was dedicated to her and her memory.
Ruiz said it best: “This has been a labor of love.”
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