The University of Idaho Argonaut

The third annual Step and Stroll Competition planned on doing more than just dancing — it was going to take back music and keep culture alive.
However, only four teams signed up for the event, none of which were University of Idaho sorority or fraternity teams.
Highlighting UI fraternities and sororities was one of the main purposes for the event, so without UI representation, the event was cancelled.

“A lack of participation by University of Idaho students was disappointing and definitely contributed to the decision to cancel,” said Heather Gasser, interim director of the Women’s Center.
Also, not enough tickets were sold to make the program financially viable this year.

“It is an expensive program to implement and I felt it wasn’t a good use of university funds if teams from Idaho were not represented,” Gasser said.
She said one possible reason why the event lacked participation was because Washington State University and Eastern Washington are hosting similar events later this semester.

This year the competition was going to support a campaign put out by Essence magazine: “Take back the music.”
Though the event was cancelled, the campaign’s message is still prominent.
The idea is based around how popular media, particularly popular urban music and music videos, portray women in degrading ways.

The campaign works to raise awareness of music’s effects on the younger generation and to simply encourage people to think about the issue.
Amy Sharp, WSU Retention Counselor for Student Support Services, helped start the event three years ago and said that a big part of the competition is the music.

“This is a chance for us to take back the music,” Sharp said.
The event has been sponsored in the past in part by the Women’s Center, and Sharp said there is good reason for it.
“Why not do it — why not support the women of color? But let’s not stop there. Let’s get the men of color involved too,” Sharp said.

Sharp said that the organizers wanted students in the competition to find music that was popular, stretching back into the 1970s until present day, but that was not derogatory.
UI Coordinator of the Office of Multicultural Affairs Leathia Botello said that this year the competition asked specifically for friendlier music.

“The concept was not about which artists not to listen to, it was more about listening to the music, the words and the messages it is sending to us,” Sharp said.
But the competition was more than just the music.
The Step and Stroll Competition is the first of its kind in the northwest, and Botello said it centers on students embracing their culture.

“It is about community and belonging,” Botello said. “We want to keep culture — that’s why we see it expanding.”
A committee is meeting to discuss why the UI groups couldn’t participate and how to prevent it in the future.
“I look forward to working with the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Greek Life to see how we can support these organizations and help bolster their numbers as they play a vitally important role in the recruitment and retention of students of color,” Gasser said.

“There is a culture that was created for them by American society. This is a chance for them to distinguish themselves,” Botello said, of the sororities and fraternities that were going to participate.
This is the first time the competition will be cancelled since its beginning, but it will possibly return next year.

“If we are, as a university, intending on boosting our numbers of students of color on campus, it is important that we find a way to make events like this successful and a priority,” Gasser said. “It is our hope that the Step and Stroll Competition returns to the Idaho campus in the future.”

All the proceeds from the event were going toward a Student of Color Scholarship, Women in Science Scholarship and minority recruitment.
Due to the cancellation, all tickets and participation fees will be fully refunded, and any donations collected from UI departments or entities will be returned.
To comment or give feedback about the cancellation, contact the Women’s Center at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it