‘Freestyle Friday’ creates artistic outlet for students

After sophomore Michael Daniels delivered his rhymes, a group ofnearly 100 students cheered him to a win during the first FreestyleFriday competition sponsored by Program Council last week in theHughes-Trigg Commons.

Daniels, who said that the music and being in front of the crowdmakes him come out of his shell, won a $150 cash prize.

Program Council concert committee chairman Ashantis Houston cameup with the idea from watching Freestyle Fridays on BlackEntertainment Television’s “106 & Park.”

“At first I didn’t know what to expect,”Houston said. “We just wanted to get a feel for the responseto the whole program.”

With flyers posted around the student center, Houston knew thathe would have a big crowd because of the time and location of theevent, but he didn’t expect to find people waiting for theshow to start.

Contestants signed up in the student center before the hour-longcompetition started at noon on Friday.

Houston also worked with the council’s Black Awarenesschair to put together the program.

“Fortunately, it turned out to be a good show. Hopefully,we’ll have more next year,” Houston said.