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A&E
November 19, 2012 www.aggiecentral.com
Alpha Phi names Myers Alpha Male James Meeks
Photo by James Meeks
And the winner is: Contestants Frank Myers and Steve Sassaman man-hug it out moments before CU sorority Alpha Phi announced the winner of the third annual Alpha Male competition. Both contestants battled it out in areas including brains, brawn and beauty to win, but Myers won the bragging rights that go along with the title.
2009 in which people lay flat in unusual locations. Staff Writer Third contestant Frank Cameron University’s Myers dressed in sports fan Alpha Phi held their wear, showing off his calves. third annual Alpha Male His special talent was doing competition on Nov. 8 in the a spoken-word interpretation MCC Ballroom. of Sir-Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Five males from various CU Got Back,” which inspired in organizations battled it out on laughter among the crowd. stage in areas of sportswear, Colton Rancoure was the talent, formal wear and fourth contestant, and he came interview questions. in geek wear. His special talent Niki Streussnig, member was being able to juggle a golf of the sorority and master of ball with a golf club. ceremonies for the competition The final contestant was said that although bragging Steve Sassaman. His sports rights were on the line, there choice was wearing a cyclist was a more worthy charitable outfit similar to those in the goal the girls of sorority had Tour de France race. His their eye on. She explained special talent was singing, and that all the funds specifically he sang “Great Big Stuff” from from the competition would the 1988 Steve Martin comedy, go toward the fund to help out “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.” their sorority sisters. Sassaman encouraged the “The current crisis the fund crowd to sing along with him is helping out right now is our during his performance. sisters who lost everything in After showing off their Hurricane Sandy,” Streussnig sportswear and talent, the said. contestants wore formal Proceeds from the evening wear and answered interview also went toward advancing questions. Each contestant leadership development, answered their questions with encouraging academic confidence and pride excellence, improving women’s The contestants went to heart health and helping other the members of the audience sorority members. to convince them to donate Scoring depended on both money into buckets with their votes from judges and input name on it after answering a from the audience. series of interview questions. “For their favorite This segment not only helped contestant, they will put a the Alpha Phi members with dollar in their bucket which their goals, but also gave will count towards the overall participants one last chance to score — one dollar equals one obtain points. point,” Streussnig said. The winner of the The first contestant was Jay competition was Frank Myers, Gatliff. Gatliff was dressed in a and Sassaman was named the soccer uniform. His talent was first runner-up. Alpha Phi doing ball balance tricks and raised a total of $810.08 from balancing the ball on his back all the donations and monetary while taking off his jersey. votes gathered during the Second contestant Juan event. Martinez dressed in sports fan All Alpha Male contestants wear. His special talent was will also be featured in the planking, a fad that took off in Alpha Male 2013 calendar.
Woodwind Night unites flute, clarinet and saxophone players Carson Stringham Newswriting Student
The Cameron Music Department highlighted its three woodwind ensembles during its “Woodwind Night” concert that took place at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 in the McCutcheon Recital Hall. Temporary Assistant Professor Dr. Michael Compton said the concert was something that he thought up as a way for the groups to test their new material on a live audience, and the music featured during “Woodwind Night” ranged from classical compositions by Bach and Mozart to more contemporary pieces by Jan Freidlin and Daniel Dorff. According to Dr. Compton,
the flute ensemble only consisted of three students until a few weeks ago when a student decided to get back into playing music and join the group. Dr. Compton said the only prerequisite to becoming a member of any of the ensembles is being able to play proficiently. Each ensemble is offered as a class on campus; however, each individual member takes the class at a different time, thus the groups only get to rehearse together as a whole one day a week. Dr. Compton said that for the concert, a rehearsal was held with only an hour to spare before the performance began. The concert took two months to put together; but, with that now behind him, Dr. Compton says that he has some ideas for performances for the
Photo by Colton Rowe
All together now: Student woodwind instrumentalists come together to rehearse for a recent concert. Members of the ensembles spend time rehearsing one day a week for two months before playing for audiences. holidays. He said, “I’ve got some arrangements of Christmas tunes, so we are going to start
working on those; maybe we will decide to stroll around campus and play or set up a performance at the mall.”
Dr. Compton said he hopes to have more students join the ensembles in the future. “If you play an instrument,
come on out,” he said. “If you played in a chamber group in high school and enjoyed it, come on out; that’s what we do.”
Ebony Society invites students to Show Off Sarah Brewer
to have spirit and be an athlete. It takes confidence to do pretty much anything.” A&E Editor Rapper and junior Sports Fitness Management major Brian Booming bass and a platform stage gave Cameron Phillips, also known as BP in the local music scene, shows University students a venue for entertaining and dancing when confidence while performing. the CU Ebony Society hosted its CU Show-Off Showcase Phillips said he took to the stage to show off his prowess talent show party on the night of Nov. 10 at the Aggie Rec for free-styling verses and his preference for supporting others Center. with his music. The CU Ebony Society organized the event to encourage “I want to inspire, motivate, and encourage people,” Phillips students to feel comfortable expressing who they are and shine said, “but I want to be real with people most of all. I think in their own style. things in society are sugar-coated, and I think the rap and hipDerek Smith, who currently serves as President of the CU hop music that is out now is just gimmicks; it is just a joke.” Ebony Society, came up with the concept that would feature Some of his music contains explicit language, but Phillips performances by members of other student organizations, said his message directs others to do better in their lives. For including the Students of the Caribbean Alliance. example, Phillips raps about letting go of toxic relationships “We wanted to invite as many students and organizations while performing “Without You.” to come out and show with fashion, dance, and performance,” “When I curse or say something explicit, it is for a reason,” Smith said. Phillips said. “I do not encourage people to curse; people Smith went on to emphasize how finding confidence from know I am a positive dude. When I make a point, I do it with within and flaunting it with flair can be the key to success. passion.” “We promoted this as a showcase and a party put together, Phillips tailors his performances according to his audiences, but I want student to show off whatever it is they do best. It but prefers to take a more vehement approach when possible takes confidence to make good grades, to lead organizations, — especially when communicating to college students.
“I feel like you have to be a real as possible with young adults,” Phillips said. “In college you find yourself, and friends people make in college can last forever and the same decisions, influences and peer pressures can carry on until people decide to change.” According to Phillips, injecting more passion into his lyrics has helped him reach more listeners and feel more at ease on stage. “I got hype and saw and all my friends here and felt comfortable. I thought the CU Show-Off Showcase was the perfect time to speak people,” Phillips said.