Sitting down at the front of the New Classroom Building auditorium, Verdell Russell, wearing a cocoa brown polo, medium wash jeans, and brown Nike sneakers, holds the microphone to his mouth and prepares to make his first cut. His back is facing the audience and he plays it cool though he has no idea how the crowd will react to what he is about to say. All the males in the room are seated also, while the females are standing, waiting to see if the fit they description of what Russell likes in a woman. “If you have on, or have ever owned a pair of Sperry’s; please sit down,” Russell says. All the females wearing Sperry's, waterproof boating shoes, quietly take their seats while murmuring about the hostility behind the type of shoes they choose to wear.
As another series of cuts are made, only three women remain standing. These women have the chance to win a date with Russell, if he so chooses. As the women head from their seats towards the front of the room, Russell prepares his deciding question. “If I were sick, how would you take care of me?” is what will determine who the lucky lady is.
The women take a few seconds to gather their thoughts, and after they give their answers, Russell chooses lady number 3. She slowly strides up to him, and as he turns around to face her, he laughs as he realizes that she is none other than his close friend, Nandy Lino.
“As a dater, it was an interesting experience. I was a little nervous before going up there but as I sat down and started with my questions, the nervousness wore off. I was real surprised when I found out the last person standing was actually a good friend of mine,” says Verdell Russell, a senior journalism and mass communications major from Brooklyn, N. Y.
The NY/NJ Connection, a hometown student organization boasting over 100 members, held an event called “Singled Out”, named after the once-popular MTV dating game show. Over 150 students gathered in the NCB auditorium on Thursday night as daters asked members of the opposite sex in the audience questions regarding what they looked for in an ideal date, all while joking and laughing.
Dating can be a hassle, and this event showed that even if you do go and find someone who meets all of your standards, they might end up being someone you never expected. Being open-minded, and giving people chances are the keys to finding dates that can amount to lasting relationships.
"NY/NJ wanted to get its name out there in a fun and entertaining way," says Russell. The group wanted to be able to give students a chance to interact in an enjoyable way without being in the classroom.
“Basically we just wanted something fun that would get NY/NJ out there and had Aggies meeting each other. It was free and we wanted everyone to have a good time, probably not get together, but laugh and have fun,” said Danielle Howell, senior journalism and mass communications major and president of NY/NJ Connection.
All of the responses to the event were positive.
“I would definitely go again, maybe even participate,” said Katrice Monroe, a sophomore accounting major from Goldsboro, N. C.
“It was mad live. For those who didn’t come, you missed out,” said Michele Delgado, a freshman member of the NY/NY Connection organization from Hartford, Conn.
NY/NJ Connection wanted the students to realize that their hometown organization was not only working to benefit the members, but all of the A&T student body. “Singled Out” was the first means by which they hope to gain favor with the students.
“NY/NJ is always looking for feedback so if anybody has any feedback please just let us know because we’re out here to make sure everybody has a good time. Not just people from NY, NJ, CT, or DE, but everybody. I hope that when we have something else they remember “Singled Out” and they decide to continue to follow us throughout the school year,” said Howell.
By: Essence Lee
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