2008 Woodie Awards
O' Shea riles up UPB's Atwood After Dark
Benjamin Billman
Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: Intermission
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The event was not nearly as spooky as the name implies. In fact, the atmosphere was less like a horror film and more like a Disney special.
With activities ranging from making snowglobes to funny-picture T-shirts, the bustling atmosphere rivaled the lunch rush at Subway.
The crowd was sparse as the event entered its first half hour, but people soon began arriving.
The After Dark semester kickoff proved to be one of the biggest of the year, according to fifth-year student and After Dark event organizer, Colton Pratt.
Wearing a large fluffy black and red wig, the UPB member certainly helped set the stage for the attitude of many of the participants.
Of the events offered, one of the most popular was the funny-photo T-shirt. There was also a sand art center where students could fill small plastic bottles with different colored sand, making a kaleidoscope of hues to be placed in a position of importance in the dorm.
Certainly none of the aforementioned activities could hold a candle to the main event, comedian Eric O'Shea.
"The comedian was the best part of the evening," said first-year student Theresa Gorecki.
With an absolutely hilarious repertoire of YouTube documented skits, including an impressive imitation of Elmo that had people saying they laughed so much their faces hurt, to his trademark "Songs that would work better for commercials" ("You Raise Me Up," for Viagra), O'Shea held the audience riveted.
Granted, there were some mumbles from the audience for the occasional perverted joke (some people liked them though, "Who here looks at porn?" "WHOO!!"), but overall, his performance was a smashing success, distracting the college students from free grilled cheese and tomato (or chicken) soup, something nearly impossible to do.
Gorecki's companion, SCSU junior Kayla Berhow, said Atwood After Dark is a great opportunity for students to do something free.
Berhow said she especially enjoyed the sand art.
Elementary education major and second-year student Heather Smith agreed with Berhow, saying Atwood After Dark gives students something to do Fridays, adding that it is a great way to meet people.
Smith's experience with the event has been widely varied, having gone to about four or five of them.
Her favorite part of the night was the comedian, followed by the sand art, something that seemed to be echoed by many other students, including second-year student and elementary education major Natalie Prell.
Since the first event, which was an unbudgeted feeler to see how it would be received, it is now a part of the campus activities and has won several awards from the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA).