Campus Chronicle

Issue date: 1/8/07 Section: Entertainment

It has been a very long time since the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have had a focus on its traditions, fraternities and sororities. "A Different World" and Spike Lee's "School Daze" are about the only remnants of an otherwise ignored culture in mainstream media.

But now "Stomp the Yard" will give its take on what's happening on the 21st century "yard." Not only that, the fraternity/sorority film that uses the traditional "stepping" as its focal point for the film's promotion will be making a contribution of its own.

The film will debut Martin Luther King's birthday weekend and Sony Pictures has announced that it will donate 2.5% of the proceeds from the film's opening weekend gross to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington DC. The MLK Memorial is the only Memorial on the National Mall dedicated to an African-American.

The film was shot by Rainforest Films (The Gospel) on location in Atlanta, GA on the campuses of Morris Brown, Morehouse and Clark Atlanta Universities, but it was the portrayal of real fraternities and sororities that, at one time, generated controversy.

"I'm happy that all issues with the fraternities and sororities have been resolved." states the film's producer Will Packer, a Florida A&M grad and 13-year brother of Alpha Phi Alpha. "This film was made to highlight the positives of these great organizations and I know it will make their memberships proud."

"Stomp the Yard" stars Columbus Short, Meagan Good and R&B/Pop sensations Chris Brown and Ne-Yo.

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