The Journal

Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: Lifestyle

Media Credit: Jamie Ford Sophomore Bobby Williams (center) , known as Double B Hip Hop, performs Sept. 7 at First Fridays.

Despite the rain, a change of location, a few audio problems and a late start, nearly 100 students filled Marletto's Marketplace for the first First Fridays open mic night of the school year.

The event, originally scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. outside the Emerson Library, included such student acts as TPX-5, Excel Cruz and the Illphonics, among others. Dancers, singers, rappers and bands all had their chance to wow the crowd - and maybe sell a few CDs on the side.

Freshman photography major Allison Knotts was one of the students who came to enjoy the show.

"I heard a lot of good things from the upper classmen, and they said I owed it to myself to check it out," Knotts said.

Knotts said she was pleased the performance lived up to her expectations, but she had another reason for attending.

"These people are my classmates," she said, echoing the sentiments of others at the event. "Seeing them perform is like seeing them in a whole new light. That, and it's free."

Junior sociology and psychology double major Benny Roberts, the host of the event, was pleased at the turnout in spite of the troubles.

"I was a little bit worried about it at first, and I'm really surprised that so many people showed up," Roberts said.

Roberts joined Campus Activities his freshman year. When Ted Hoef, associate vice president and dean of students, suggested the organization come up with an event using one of the campus facilities, Roberts took the initiative in turning what had started out as a simple poetry jam into an open mic night that showcases a variety of talent on campus.

"I think that all lyrics and talents are a form of poetry," Roberts said. "This event has become successful thanks to the talent of the students."

The caliber of the artists available can be attributed to Roberts, who recruited many of the acts that perform at First Fridays.

"I'd say that I know about 75 percent of the artists personally," he said.

Carson Ritz, junior audio production major and head of the rapping group TPX-5, said he met Roberts during freshman orientation.

"When he started doing First Fridays, he got in touch with me to perform," Ritz said.

Continued...

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