by Echelle Avelar
News Editor
Spotlight ’97 blew the roof off of Founders Auditorium as the Afrikan American Student Alliance (AASA) and Associated Student Federation (ASF) Forum hosted their annual variety show last Saturday night.
There were 11 acts, five of which included University of La Verne students.
“It made it a little better with people you were not accustomed to seeing there,” said junior James Allen.
The variety show welcomed all acts from on and off campus. It was a chance for anyone to get up on stage and show some talent. Acts ranged from the theatrical poetry reading of Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” by ULV’s Beverly Wilson, senior, to lip synching by Project T.
“First we sent out flyers and welcomed acts off and on campus. They would call and set up appointments when they could meet,” said AASA president Tiffany Wilcher.
The show was kicked off by the singing of the Black National Anthem by Brian Olive.
Other ULV acts included Floor Two Crew Clicc (FTC), who rapped its way to third place and a prize of $100.
Senior Cory Cofer performed and moved the audience in a stirring performance of ‘Two Trains Running,” a skit about the constant struggle of African Americans in the work force. He grabbed second prize, $200.
Juniors Katrina and Patrina Hall, with older brother Stevie, made up the group Twin Power, who grooved to “Don’t Stop” by MC Hammer. The grand prize of $400 went to AASA’s grand finale, the AASA dancers, who performed the Dr. Dre “Been There Done That” tango.
“Only on-campus participants were eligible to win, and the grand prize was decided upon sound of audience,” said Wilcher.
At the end of the show all the La Verne acts were brought on stage and the audience was asked to make the most noise to those they appreciated the most when each name was called.
Off campus acts included a large variety of rappers who rhymed to such songs as “Why We Do What We Do?,” performed by Provoked from West Covina, and “Phantom,” performed by Princess Laya.
Many off-campus students attended the event and all had to pay the $3 door charge.
“It turned into a rap fest, which there is nothing wrong with, but I wanted more variety, more poetry. But it turned out cool,” Wilcher said.
“I had heard some of the acts that were going to perform and I thought that it would be fun to go and watch,” said senior Cenia Camacho who attended the event.
After the show, AASA offered a dance in the Student Center.
Echelle Avelar
