More than 100 students showed up for the first talent show hosted by the Black Student Union, also the organization’s first big event since forming last year. Members of BSU scrambled to set up additional seats as more students filed into Comanche Suite for the talent show.
“Anyone was welcome to audition so we have anything from singing to dancing to guitar playing and piano playing,” Christina Horn, junior in nursing and president of BSU, said. “It’s a viewer’s choice.”
And the viewers chose Frank Cruz, freshman in marketing, as the first place winner for his high-energy dance routine that surprised the audience, causing them to erupt in cheers.
In contrast, the second place winner Lowell Nash, sophomore in mass communication, sang an R&B song that nearly silenced the audience in awe. Third place went to Camille Robertson, freshman in nursing, for her singing.
Horn said the talent show will hopefully be the first of many events held by new the organization.
“Since we’re a small organization we’re trying to raise money and get our name out there. With the money we raise we can do bigger events,” Horn said. “This is technically our first real event of this semester.”
Barbara McGuire, freshman in criminal justice, said she and other members of BSU were selling pizza slices for $2, which also went to fund the organization.
Horn said the talent show was also part of celebrating Black History Month, so the organization asked trivia questions between acts.
“If they get it right they get a little gift bag just to show them support and thank them for coming to our event,” Horn said. “This semester we thought we’d do something good during Black History Month so we thought, why not a talent show?”