Skit, dance steal spotlight

Nick Riley from University Ambassadors and Maya Procinsky from Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority captured the titles of Homecoming King and Queen Monday night, but a malfunction in the text message voting system eliminated all student input from the decision.

A panel of three judges typically grades the performers on their talent, onstage poise and demeanor in the question-and-answer period of the competition. Students also text message their votes for a portion of the final decision.

But the system crashed while students were voting, leaving the judges to singlehandedly make the final decision, Homecoming Commissioner Connie Floyd said. The system is supposed to hold at least 1,500 votes for each organization.

“We didn’t expect difficulties,” said Floyd, a fourth-year exercise science student. “They had a run-through with the system beforehand and it worked perfectly.”

The showcase brought 10 competitors from different campus organizations to the Carolina Coliseum for a night of all kinds of talent. Almost every Greek organization showed up en masse, and others joined as well to bring the overall attendance to more than 1,000.

The two winning performances brought some of the loudest reactions from the crowd.

With the help of Emily Berger, a third-year chemical engineering student, Riley reenacted the famous “Spartans” cheerleader skit from “Saturday Night Live.” The two jumped around the stage, screaming during a chess match and reminding the audience that “Sex can wait! Masturbate!”

“I knew people were going to sing and dance so I decided to do a skit from Saturday Night Live,” said Riley, a third-year chemistry and psychology student. “I wanted to do something unexpected.”

Procinsky, a fourth-year accounting student, did a Ukrainian dance that reflects heritage. Both of her parents’ families are originally from the country, she said in the introduction of her performance. A troupe of other dancers accompanied her in the dance.

“I thought what a neat way to show off the Carolina spirit and an organization,” Procinsky said. “I was just so honored to be involved in this event.”

Alex Stroman won the title of Homecoming Prince for his fraternity, Phi Kappa Sigma, with a singing act that ranged from Lady Gaga to One Republic.

Maria Scalici, a third-year member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority, won Homecoming Princess for a her dance mashup that ran the gamut from Beyonce to Broadway.

“I’ve sung in front of people but I’ve never actually played the guitar in front of more than 10 people so that’s what I’m most nervous about,” Stroman said. “Even though I taught myself at the age of ten to play guitar, this was different.”

Besides the talent portion of the competition, the contestants dressed in formal wear and took an onstage question. The overall grades came from talent, poise, and their formal wear appearance, according to organizers, and personality was a key component in judging.

But many students were upset with the judging system, solely because their feelings weren’t heard.

“The queen and king are representatives of our student body,” said Kasey Bates, a third-year media arts student. “I understand that there are difficulties but they should have had a backup plan. Now our votes have been taken away.”

News Editor Kara Apel contributed reporting to this story.