Spring Break
UConn Idol: The Search For A Star Begins
Joshua Denenberg
Issue date: 2/12/07 Section: Focus
While the Fox television reality show "American Idol" continues into its latest season Sunday, UConn conducted its very own star search in Student Union. Unfortunately, if you wanted in, you had to have registered by the previous Friday, Feb. 9. Everyone who attended wanted to be the answer to the question: "Who is the next UConn Idol?"
The event was conducted by the Student Union Board of Governors and hosted by SUBOG member Adonis Chamble, a 6th-semester communications major as well as the chairperson of fine and performing arts for SUBOG. He was accompanied by three other guest student judges: Carlton Jones, a 6th semester sociology major and SUBOG's comedy chairperson, Darcey Kane, both a business major and the vice president of programming, and Janene Richardson. While Chamble and Jones were present for all the auditions, Richardson and Kane were not present for the duration of most of the auditions. The mysterious absence of the judges for most of the event only added to the slight animosity when the auditions were conducted almost a half hour later than originally planned. This proved to not, however, hinder the event as the event still continued at a brisk pace even while understaffed and behind schedule.
According to SUBOG, close to 50 people signed up for UConn Idol. Of the 50, far fewer actually showed up on time or at all for the auditions. The participants, unlike Fox's "American Idol" contestants, were not told upfront whether or not they made the auditions. No specific numbers of finalists were given. Instead, candidates will be told in secret if they made the main competition. Also, the criticism was kept to a minimum, unlike "American Idol," which is notorious for being very harsh about its criticism toward ill-suited candidates.
The mood at the auditions was light. Even with the late start to the event, the contestants seemed to have a fine time mingling with each other. All the participants seemed to have a good time as well as their own reasons for attending.
Contestant Kate Smith, a 4th-semester acting major, was there because she thought, "It'd be a fun experience."
Others were there simply to meet people. In the case of Dan Balint, a 2nd-semester music major, he was "doing it for the Facebook friends."
Others were trying to prove a point. Ginger Owens, a 6th-semester psychology major, was there to "show the a cappella groups I can sing."
The finalists will compete for an audience vote on Feb. 29 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Student Union Theater.
The event was conducted by the Student Union Board of Governors and hosted by SUBOG member Adonis Chamble, a 6th-semester communications major as well as the chairperson of fine and performing arts for SUBOG. He was accompanied by three other guest student judges: Carlton Jones, a 6th semester sociology major and SUBOG's comedy chairperson, Darcey Kane, both a business major and the vice president of programming, and Janene Richardson. While Chamble and Jones were present for all the auditions, Richardson and Kane were not present for the duration of most of the auditions. The mysterious absence of the judges for most of the event only added to the slight animosity when the auditions were conducted almost a half hour later than originally planned. This proved to not, however, hinder the event as the event still continued at a brisk pace even while understaffed and behind schedule.
According to SUBOG, close to 50 people signed up for UConn Idol. Of the 50, far fewer actually showed up on time or at all for the auditions. The participants, unlike Fox's "American Idol" contestants, were not told upfront whether or not they made the auditions. No specific numbers of finalists were given. Instead, candidates will be told in secret if they made the main competition. Also, the criticism was kept to a minimum, unlike "American Idol," which is notorious for being very harsh about its criticism toward ill-suited candidates.
The mood at the auditions was light. Even with the late start to the event, the contestants seemed to have a fine time mingling with each other. All the participants seemed to have a good time as well as their own reasons for attending.
Contestant Kate Smith, a 4th-semester acting major, was there because she thought, "It'd be a fun experience."
Others were there simply to meet people. In the case of Dan Balint, a 2nd-semester music major, he was "doing it for the Facebook friends."
Others were trying to prove a point. Ginger Owens, a 6th-semester psychology major, was there to "show the a cappella groups I can sing."
The finalists will compete for an audience vote on Feb. 29 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Student Union Theater.
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