Buffalo State's Apollo Night

Buffalo State's Apollo Night

By. Elias Taveras

 

Students got to pick the winner of the talent show in the African American Student Organization's Apollo Night.

The event was on Saturday from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm inside Rockwell Hall's state of the art performing art center. Students got to go on stage and show their talents.

Instead of a panel of judges the audience got to decide who was the winner. They also had the power to boo any competitor off the stage.

Constance Boakye, a sophomore public communications major and president of AASO from the Bronx, said that the event had a very different feel to it because for once student got to voice their opinion.

“We did not have a huge crowd, however the event was a success because it had a different mood to it,” said Boakye. “It was amazing to see what the crowd really thought about each performance from the minutes they started.”

Boakye then continued to say that even though the crowd got to boo students off the stage they tried to make a respectful event.

Apollo Night was an $8,000 event that was hosted by actress and comedian Cocoa Brown.

Cocoa Brown, has starred in movies like "All Good Things" and been a series regular on television shows like "For Better or Worst" and "Date Devil."

Her sense of humor kept the show going. After every good performance she would say how hot it was. When a competitors got boo off the stage she would make a funny remark about their performance.

"Aw is okey honey boo boo you better luck next time, if there is a next time," said Brown to a contestant as he exited the stage.

Imani Hall, entertainment chair of AASO and sophomore media production major from Brooklyn, said that Coco Brown made the event a special one.

“Coco Brown is a comedian that made the event funny and worth it for all students” said Hall.

There were 15 contestants participating in the show. Each had different talents ranging from poetry to dance. The event was won by Perry Angor who received a Nook as a consolation prize for his break dancing performance. From the bogging of his act he was already a crow favorite.

Kristie Rodriguez, a junior speech pathology student from New York said that the crowd had too much freedom.

“I feel like some of the crowd members should not be allowed to boo people of the stage,” said Rodriguez. “My boyfriend was a competitor and he got booed and disrespected even though his poetry was amazing.”

The event had a fee of seven dollars that made certain student unhappy.

President of AASO Constance Boakye, said that the reason they charged students was because of USG requirements. USG required organizations to raise the money spent back to the funds.