By the time the members of Sigma Gamma Rho took the stage, the Ferguson Center Theater was packed.
Attendees crowded into the seats and even stood in the aisles awaiting the sisters of Sigma Gamma Rho to announce their return to the University.
"I'm glad they are back on campus," said Irvin Carney, a sophomore majoring in management information systems and a member of Phi Beta Sigma.
Sigma Gamma Rho was founded nationally in 1922 and first came to the University on Nov. 14, 1975. After going inactive a few years ago, the Zeta Chi chapter of the sorority was restored to the University in fall 2007. The event Thursday evening was designed to publicly inform attendees that the sorority had, indeed, returned.
"It was to reintroduce us to the campus," said Latesha Dejean, a senior majoring in special education.
Members of the audience entered the theater while a slide show from Sigma Gamma Rho and loud popular music set the mood for the high-energy performance.
As soon as the music had ceased, silencing the crowd, four members came on stage to begin the presentation.
Viola Moten, a senior majoring in art history; Equiller Mahone, a sophomore with an undecided major; Jessica McNeal, a junior majoring in fashion retail; and Lorna Finn, a senior majoring in health care management, performed a fast-paced show including multiple dance routines.
At times, the performance brought the assembled crowd to its feet in excitement. When they came to the end, the crowd gave the four performers a standing ovation.
"I think it was a success, we worked really hard and I'm happy with everything that happened," said Finn, Sigma Gamma Rho president .
Not only did friends and family of the seven members of Sigma Gamma Rho attend, but alumnae of the organization, along with members of other National Pan-Hellenic Councils, did as well.
Those in the audience had a positive outlook on the event.
"It's special when the University of Alabama permits us to use their facilities for any African American fraternity or sorority event," said Justin Taggart, a senior and president of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
Alumna Felicia Gibson was glad to see her former organization return to campus.
"I'm very excited, just so we can exemplify all our qualities we were founded on; those being scholarship, sisterhood and service," Gibson said.
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