South Campus Dining Hall
Silver disco balls gleamed from the ceiling as student after student took to a small stage at the front of the South Campus Dining Hall. Everyone was having a great time, even if the lights were too bright, the mics were too loud and impressive performances were few and far between.
Senior economics major Christian Strauss described it as “very college.”
On Wednesday evening, the dining hall staff staged its own version of The Voice, NBC’s popular singing competition. The three judges were Dining Services Director Colleen Wright-Riva, Food Service Manager Theresa Harris and a student Dining Services worker.
Over the course of the evening, Harris developed a reputation as the tough judge.
“I don’t have lower than a five,” she said, holding up the scoring cards numbered five through 10. “Some of them, I can’t give lower than a five,” she laughed.
Eventually, however, there was a contestant so shrill that she took out a piece of paper and scribbled a new card — 0.
Wright-Riva had more of a soft side and decided she most resembled The Voice judge Christina Aguilera.
“I’m very impressed — and some that weren’t as good had humor,” she laughed. “I don’t want to score anybody low.”
Freshman journalism major Veronica Portelli didn’t have to worry about that. She had just hopped out of the shower when her friends told her about the competition. Her rendition of Michael Bublé’s “Feeling Good” received perfect 10s. She hopes to audition for the real Voice competition one day.
The genres of music ranged from acoustic to rap to punk rock and even international.
Graduate student Vijay Baskam sang an “Indian song for people who are lost in love.”
“I foresaw it would be mostly English music,” he said. “I wanted to add an Indian touch.”
Every performer who graced the stage brought something unique. One declared the audience all astronauts as he strummed an off-pitch version of Alt-J’s “Breezeblocks.” Another, perhaps more comic than singer, announced he had practiced all morning then proceeded to grunt and screech into the microphone for three minutes.
And despite the judges’ generosity, not everyone was satisfied with their scores.
Peter Myers, a sophomore economics major, received a total score of 23 for his performance of “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” by Cake.
“Honestly, I thought it was a little low,” he said, half-joking, half-disappointed. “I was expecting a 25.”
The audience barely minded the off-kilter renditions, although one student did put in her headphones during a particularly painful performance. Even after 8 p.m., the dining hall was full of about 50 people laughing, eating and cheering on their friends.
“I didn’t expect this many people to be here, but clearly they’re enjoying it,” said Saadiya Sehareen, a junior physiology and neurobiology major.
At the end of the evening, six contestants had received perfect scores, and although three prizes were advertised, all were rewarded for their performances.
Junior aerospace engineering major Nandini Kishore appreciated the open atmosphere the event created.
“It’s kind of cool to see them sing and not care what people think of them,” she said. “It’s a good way for students to come out of their shell and express themselves.”
