 "Photo: Brett Nadal")
Jokes that one audience member apparently considered too offensive morphed a talent show into a nearly riotous scene Monday.
An audience member stormed the stage during the Fatal Fusion Dance Group's talent show fundraiser in the Student Center ballrooms while a contestant made jokes about fat and ugly people.
The confrontation cut the event short.
Emeric Brown, the ninth of 10 contestants, took the stage for his comedy act. After a few jokes, an audience member became angry with Brown and shouted from his seat against the wall.
Brown shouted back, and the audience member stormed the stage.
Spectators intervened and held the two men apart.
The confrontation riled many in the audience, and people began shouting and knocking over chairs.
Student Center Building Manager Raphael Uduhiri was on his rounds and noticed the crowd was getting rowdy.
"People were dancing on the chairs, and it seemed like there were some people who were going to get into a fight, so I just shut down the show," Uduhiri said. "They left with no problems."
Uduhiri said confrontations during student events are not common, but if something similar happens again, he thought the Student Center would consider placing restrictions on the type of events student organizations could hold.
Student Development Director Katie Sermersheim, whose office oversees Registered Student Organizations such as the Fatal Fusion Dance Group, said she had not heard of the incident until the DAILY EGYPTIAN contacted her Tuesday. Sermersheim said she could not say yet if punishment would result from the altercation.
Donald Williams, the male captain of the Fatal Fusion Dance Group, said the talent show would still take place next year and stressed that no Fatal Fusion members were involved in the fracas.
"The confrontation escalated, but a fight did not break out," Williams said.
The talent show was put on to help the dance group raise money to buy new costumes and travel to competitions. It featured student contestants and performances by dance groups such as Anarki and an opening routine by the Essence Fashion Models. The crowd of more than 300 people cheered and clapped as contestants rapped, sang a capella and danced to blaring music.
Williams said the final contestant dropped out in the midst of the confrontation because the contestant thought the show would not continue.
Because the show was cut short, the crowd was not able to choose a winner. Williams said the dance team would vote on a winner today. The winner will receive $50 and a trophy.
Sarah Lohman can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 255 or sarah_lohman@dailyegyptian.com.
