Students compete in Campus Super Star

There was no Simon Cowell, Ryan Seacrest or call-in voting, but Campus Super Star’s competition at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater gave the audience a taste of American Idol.

The Helene G. Simon Hillel Center presented its semifinals for the Campus Super Star singing competition Wednesday. Out of 27 performers, 10 singers got one step closer to winning the grand prize of $5,000 at the finals April 19 at the Madame Walker Theater in Indianapolis.

The show, which is one of Hillel’s major fundraisers, attracted the majority of its contestants from IU, but others came from schools across Indiana such as Ball State University and Anderson University, including Anderson senior Erica Clampitt.

Clampitt, who sang “Because of You” by Kelly Clarkson, drove two hours to Bloomington to perform.

“There are a lot of talented singers here,” she said before the show. “I feel confident in myself, so I think I have a good shot, but it’s going to be a tough competition.”

Emcee Sam Alex from radio station WBWB 97 FM opened the competition and introduced the four judges: Jenn Cristy, a singer and songwriter; Ron Katz, who trained with members of the Metropolitan Opera; Sheila Stephen, a radio personality for Hoosier Country 105.1 FM; and Glenn Gass, who teaches about the history of rock and roll at IU.

Like American Idol, the judges commented after every contestant, complimenting them and giving constructive criticism. Audience member and sophomore
Francesca Cimino said she thought the judges could have been more harsh.

“I’m kind of a cynic,” Cimino said. “I kind of wish the judges gave more criticism. I thought they were all being too nice.”

Hillel Assistant Director Leah Aft, who coordinated the event, said the competition started in 2004 to promote the Hillel Center.

“We were thinking of something to get our name out there and kind of get to know Indiana on a level of just here at IU,” Aft said.

Aft also said she advertised to different campuses, then had auditions in February in Bloomington and in March in Indianapolis.

Before the show started, Aft said she thought she would be nervous about the show going well, but she felt confident after seeing the rehearsal Wednesday.

“The whole practice round run-through was phenomenal,” Aft said.

Another performer, senior Linzi Robinson, said she heard about the contest through a friend. She received positive responses from the judges, even though her performance was her first time in front of a large audience.

“I’ve done a little open mics, like three or four, but this is a whole different ball game,” Robinson said.

Robinson said she enjoyed rehearsing and meeting the other contestants. She also said there were two things she would do before she performed.

“I’m going to do a prayer and make sure I put my lip gloss on,” Robinson said.