On the first stop of the 16-city tour, students engaged in a singing competition, rap battle, played games and listened to some of today's popular Hip Hop and R&B music.
The activities that catered to the average college student seemed to be pretty popular.
“This has been a lot of fun,” said singing contestant Tiffany Martin.
Along with the fun, there also was time set aside to deal with serious issues, including HIV/AIDS and the importance of voting.
A booth with information about safe sex was set up, and free HIV/AIDS tests were available. The tests were conducted at a different location with the assistance of the state's Department of Health.
Davon Bagley, Rap-It-Up campaign coordinator, was hopeful for a turnout of 100 students during the four-hour event.
Last year, 1,500 students were tested at 14 campuses, according to Michelle Garner, BET's vice president of consumer engagement.
Most students do not need much persuading or solicitation to get tested according, she said, adding students can expect results in two weeks and follow-up counseling, if needed.
The “Be Heard” initiative works to get ballots into the hands of young adults. Within the first hour, 42 students registered to vote.
Last week, during “Alpha Week,” sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., voter registration information and sign-ups were made available to students. As part of that effort, 120 students registered.
The “Singers Spotlight” allowed students to showcase their singing skills, and tour host Keenon Duplechain gave contestants two minutes to work the crowd.
St. Louis native Labradford Davis, 18, presented Musiq Soulchild's “Just Friends,” but forgot the lyrics halfway through the song.
But it was Renata Johnson, a Mid-Missouri Idol contestant, who blew the crowd away with her rendition of Alicia Key's “Teenage Love Affair.”
The tour was oringally to kick off at Xavier University in New Orleans. However, Hurricane Gustav made that impossible. Jefferson City was next on the list, making it the first stop on the tour.
Besides the university agreeing with the network, the number of students attending the campus weighs heavy on the decision.
“There is a lot of criteria and logistics that go into bringing a tour like this,” Garner said.
This article was provided by: News Tribune
Written by: Rosa Ruiz
