New Member King, a Greek pageant hosted by Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, was held in Ida Waldran Auditorium on Tuesday, March 8. 

The pageant, which is held every year, recognizes the new members of each fraternity on campus. A fraternity member is usually nominated to represent a sorority, but they can also represent the fraternity that they belong to.

“These organizations work together to create an amazing performance for all four rounds. All fraternities and sororities are able to participate in this pageant whether they are IFC, NHPC or Panhellenic,” Hope Harness, pageant chair for Alpha Sigma Alpha, said. “Alpha Sigma Alpha hosts this event because it is a fun way to get Greek life to work together and overall support Greek unity,” Harness said. 

The competition consists of four rounds: the introduction round, the talent round, the toga round and the formal round. 

“The first round is when the new members will show their pride for their fraternity and the fraternity or sorority sponsoring them by wearing their letters. The talent round, which is also called personality round, is where the new members will showcase their best talent. This year we had five dancers and one who played three instruments at one time,” Harness said. “The third round is where the contestants line up in their best togas and show us their best poses. The formal round is when the contestants dress up in suits and come out and answer an onstage question.”

Harness was responsible for keeping contact with the different fraternities and sororities on campus to make this event possible. 

“I had countless conversations and interactions with each organization. My committee worked with all of these organizations to lead them where they were supposed to go during the night and get them anything they needed,” Harness said. “Alpha Sigma Alpha also put up a new member of Pi Kappa Alpha, Adam Martin. We worked with Adam to plan outfits, choreograph a dance, and get girls and guys involved in it. I, along with two other girls in my sorority, put everything together and spent countless hours making it all perfect.”

Brad Lewis, who participated in the event, said he really enjoyed it.

“I chose to do New Member King because I thought it would be a really fun time and a great way to get to know more people. I had no clue that pageants like New Member King existed whenever I joined Greek life. Looking back, I didn’t have a very complete idea of what Greek life was like at all. However, I’ve really enjoyed taking steps in a different direction,” Lewis said. 

“I believe this event was a huge success. I have been told by countless Greek organizations that it was amazing and that it was the best pageant they have been to so far at UCA. The contestants had amazing performances. I am very lucky to have had such great men compete,” Harness said.

The money raised at the event goes towards funding this event and future ones the organization may have. This year, Alpha Sigma Alpha raised $3,800.