SPEC hosting comedy contest

The thought of trying to make a group of people laugh may scare many people to death. But several University students will try to do just that tonight at a comedy competition organized by the Social Planning and Events Committee. Contestant Stuart Gibbs, in fact, is hoping a large group turns out for the show. "Laughter is very contagious," the College senior said yesterday. "If you have a bad joke, there's a better chance that at least one or two people will laugh at it." SPEC organized the competition, sponsored by Certs breath mints, after members were contacted by U.S. Concepts, a company which organizes such competitions all over the country. Starting at 8:00 p.m. in the auditorium of Houston Hall, the competition will feature at least twelve would-be comedians who will each perform a three-minute routine. Each contestant will be videotaped and judged by a panel of three as-yet-undisclosed University community members. College junior and SPEC member Wai-Sum Lee said the organization wants the judges to represent a broad spectrum of people, hopefully including students and faculty. Professional comedian Pat McGreal will emcee the event. Even with Certs providing free breath mints to all those who attend, several performers said they expect a far less tangible reward for their efforts. Gibbs said that having performed both at the University and in San Antonio, Texas, he knows first-hand the gratification from doing stand-up comedy. "There's something fulfilling about making a room full of people laugh," he said. But College senior Jay Howard, another contestant, said he would take the stage "because there are free Certs." Lee said SPEC was contacted at the end of November and that the campus group was only responsible for securing a room and promoting the competition. She said Certs promised to organize and provide prizes and equipment. Lee explained that whoever wins the University competition will go on to a regional match-up. The winner of that event will be flown to Daytona Beach for the final, national competition. That competition will be judged by comedian Jerry Seinfeld. Lee said that since the campus-wide adoption of a BYOB policy by University fraternities, SPEC has tried to find "alternative" social options for students, adding that the competition will provide such an outlet. She said even though SPEC has begun sponsoring events, like Handel's Mug and Homecoming, the group is still searching for new activities. "We're [always] trying to find even newer things that would interest people," she said.

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