UNIVERSITY NEWS UMKC’s Independent Student Newspaper
Volume 81, Issue 21
Monday February 24, 2014
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION
Court Warming candidates compete, two newly crowned victors Roze Brooks Editor-in-Chief
The 2014 Court Warming celebration came to a close last Saturday, resulting in Raschell West and Mary Margaret Pearman walking away as Court Royalty. After a week of intense competition, these ladies were crowned at the final home game for the UMKC men’s basketball team. Lambda Chi Alpha’s Colby Carpenter was also named Mr. Congeniality. Crowning was based on a combination of student votes gathered via Roo Groups, overall performance in the numerous challenges and audience support and participation throughout the week. Candidates began campaigning the week leading up to the events. Court Warming is a long-running tradition adapted from an annual Homecoming banquet dating back to 1955. The banquet and dance aimed to honor university alumni. The tradition took an abrupt stop in the mid-’70s, and it was not until 1996 that the university rekindled a similar event known as Court Warming. This newly branded celebration encompassed a week
Bri Ehrler, a biology, chemistry and philosophy major, represented Delta Zeta; Jonathan Finch, a civil engineering major, represented Sigma Alpha Epsilon; Brett Parrott, a pre-dental major, represented Alpha Phi Omega; Pearman, a pre-dental and psychology major, represented Alpha Delta Pi; and West, a music therapy major, represented Chi Omega. This year consisted of a weeklong series of events, starting on Saturday, Feb. 15, as the women’s basketball team took on Texas Pan-American. The Roos beat the Broncs 87-84, playing for the second largest crowd ever recorded at Swinney Recreation Center. A crowd of 826 gathered to watch the kick-off of Court Warming, in which each candidate participated in a halftime activity. On Sunday, Feb. 16, the candidates gathered at Jazzman’s Café for a game night. This was an opportunity for the student body to get to know the candidates in a campus setting. The following night, students were invited to a screening of “The Great Gatsby,” where the Union Programming Board provided free food.
Students and Court Warming candidates take to the ice at Crown Center Friday, Feb. 21. Courtesy // Jacob Clymore full of events for students and brought attention to the UMKC basketball teams. The 2014 Court Warming was themed “Rolling Out the Red Carpet.” Eight candidates competed for the title of Court Royalty: Christopher Beaudoin, a senior chemistry and biology major represented Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society; Carpenter, a biology major, represented Lambda Chi Alpha; Jacob Clymore, a criminal justice major, represented Pride Alliance;
Things heat up on the red carpet
The competition gained momentum as Tuesday, Feb. 18 brought on the much-anticipated Yell Like Hell event. Candidates were tasked with creating a skit, dance or other performance. “The most intimidating part of the week was definitely Yell Like Hell,” Ehrler said. “Because I do not dance. Ever.” They were judged based on the
UMKC’s 2014 Court Warming candidates. criteria of incorporation of theme, creativity and synchronization of performance. Third place went to Ehrler, who performed with members of her sorority to a mixed music compilation wearing “Vote for Bri” T-shirts. Second place went to West, who did a compilation clad in matching sparkly headbands. First place went to Pearman, who executed a finely choreographed hip-hop routine with members of her organization, and snippets of Nelly songs to show off her St. Louis roots. Parrott also indicated he was a proud Saint Louis native, donning a STL Cardinals cap at the end of his group performance. Other performances included a comedic skit by Beaudoin and company, featuring a twerking exam and lip synching to “Let it Go” from Disney’s “Frozen.” Clymore partnered with one other member of his organization, performing a UMKC-specific rendition of “Same Love” by Macklemore in spoken word style. Trivia night took place on Feb. 19 in Pierson Auditorium. Candidates created teams to help them with several categories of questions, scattered with questions about UMKC. Each candidate was also given a small cardboard box to decorate for use at each event throughout the week. Attendees of each event were given a ticket and were asked to place it in the box of their favorite candidate, or of the candidate with the most interesting box. Candidate Clymore was awarded first place for his box which featured a handdrawn portrait and rainbow film reels crafted from construction paper. At the men’s basketball game on Feb. 20 versus Bakersfield, the candidates were invited to the
Students and Court Warming candidates ice skate at Crown Center Friday, Feb. 21.
court during halftime for a costume contest. By gauge of applause, each candidate was judged by the audience. West was deemed the winner, wearing a black, full-length gown. Other costumes included Finch’s top hat and cane, Ehrler’s Elvis outfit and Pearman as Zach Galifianakis’ character in “The Hangover.” The Roos weren’t able to snag the win, however, handing the game to the Runners 74-69, the team’s sixth consecutive loss. The Court Warming candidates participated in a leisurely Friday afternoon void of actual competition. All students were
Courtesy // Rachel McCommon The group headed back to Municipal Auditorium on Feb. 21 for the coronation and reveal of the Court Royalty. Both winners of the crown were wearing purple gowns and received boisterous reaction from the crowd upon hearing their names announced. The men’s basketball team hosted the Utah Valley Wolverines, finishing out their final home game of the season with a 74-56 victory. The senior basketball student-athletes were recognized at the close of the game, receiving commemorative plaques from Chancellor Leo E. Morton, Athletics Director Carla Wilson and Head Coach Kareen Richardson.
Mary Margaret Pearman’s ‘Yell Like Hell’ performance impresses judges. Courtesy // Jacob Clymore invited to join the candidates at Union Station, followed by ice The newly-crowned Court skating at Crown Center. Online Royalty will be expected to fulfil voting ended at 5 p.m. “I will miss going out with certain tasks and make appearances everyone to Los Tules and having a throughout the upcoming calendar great time,” Ehrler said. “The most year. This is the first time two rewarding part of the week was female candidates have won Court how we all came together like a Warming in UMKC history. family. I am sure we would all agree rbrooks@unews.com that there was not one candidate that did not deserve the award.”
Photo // Hiral Patel