RHA Hosts Late Night Lounge with Smores and Student Entertainment
On October 4 the second Late Night Lounge of the semester gave students a chance to sit in the residence quad and listen to peers perform on stage. The smell of bonfires and roasted marshmallows swarmed the quad as people gathered. There was everything from music to magic to entertain all in attendance from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm.
Arturo Romua was one of the first students to perform for the night, singing “Grenade” by Bruno Mars. He was able to persuade the audience into singing some of the background vocals since he was singing acapella. “I was nervous but I tried to play it cool,” Romua stated after leaving the stage. “I’m still shaking,” he said.
“I think it’s fantastic,” said Emma Traum, freshman and elementary education and history major. “I love hearing the talent!” Traum has been to both of the Late Night Lounges. She was reminded that the event was occurring when she heard the music from her room in Elmwood Hall.
Ross Bernstein, “The Magic Man,” a junior majoring in music education and minoring in psychology, was also in attendance to show off his tricks. According to the “Ross the Magic Man” Facebook page, Bernstein has been performing for over 13 years and was one out of a hundred students selected to attend a summer magic camp sponsored by the Louis Tannen Magic Company of New York City. On the page he writes that he “loves baffling people’s minds with his amazing stage and close-up routines.” Bernstein stated that he performed at the September Late Night Lounge.
The duo of the night was Andrew Boxman, sophomore, and Steve Curtis, senior, both music industry majors. They performed together before the Late Night Lounge at the music industry program show in April entitled “Great Big Shindig” which was a fundraiser Care for Kelly. Kelly Boozan is a student at the University who was injured in a burn accident just last year. “It was a great night for a good cause,” the duo stated remembering the fundraiser.
When asked about nerves Boxman stated, “I’ve been performing for a while but there’s always that little nerve.”
Curtis continued, “I like the nerves, you know? It’s good. It gets you more in the zone and gets you more motivated… I’ve been recording since sophomore year of high school so that’s seven years. I’ve been performing about four or five years.”
Boxman added that he had been performing since his sophomore year of high school as well, a total of four years. Both performed a series of raps on the stage, which were pre-written. “I always freestyle,” Curtis admitted. “That’s one thing that I actually try.”
Boxman added, “I freestyle, but I’ve got to be in the mood for it. Sometimes it comes out really good or it comes out really bad.”
They were not the only rappers of the evening. Malcolm McDonald, a sophomore studying business and accounting, performed during the evening. “Don’t Want to Lose Your Love” and “Ready or Not” were both original songs by McDonald.
“I wasn’t really nervous,” he stated. “The second one I just finished writing about 35 minutes before.”
Late Night Lounges are sponsored by the Hero Campaign and the Residence Hall Association (RHA). The Hero Campaign is an organization branching from the Office of Substance Awareness. The campaign urges students to use designated drivers when drinking in order to save lives.
When asked why the event took place on a Thursday evening, Alexa Anastasio, President of RHA and host for the evening, replied, “The basis behind the open mic night is to be an alternative Thursday night activity instead of ‘Thirsty Thursday.’”
The Hero Campaign meets twice a month on Wednesdays at 2:30 pm. RHA meetings take place on Wednesdays at 8:00 pm on the first floor lounge in Mullaney Hall.
The Late Night Lounge takes place twice a semester and will occur again when students return after winter break.
PHOTO COURTESY of Nick Hodgins
