You’ve heard of March Madness? Well, the International Championship of Collegiate A cappella would like you to check out their own version of March Madness. This Friday is the Mid-Atlantic a cappella quarterfinals. Each round, six teams will be competing, and two will be selected to travel to the semifinals. The winner of each regional semifinal round travels to New York City to compete against five other teams for the honor and prestige of being named the national champions. This Saturday, the Midnight Ramblers will play host to a quarterfinal round featuring the Drew University’s group 36 Madison, Columbia University’s Clefhanger’s, SUNY Binghamton’s Rhythm Method, SUNY Albany’s Serendipity, Renassaler Polytechnic Institute’s Rusty Pipes and our very own Vocal Point. Each of these ensembles will be allotted twelve minutes to perform – failure to comply will result in a hostile removal from stage.In between the acts the Ramblers will be performing songs, skits and even giving out some awards. Ramblers classics such as “When she loved me” by Randy Newman, “Renegade” by Styx and an exciting new number, “Tribute,” by Tenacious D, will be performed. The competition in which the Ramblers competed in Delaware last year, awards the best soloist and other individual awards in addition to selecting two groups to advance. The Ramblers will be augmenting the program slightly by adding awards for the best scat in a foreign language and the best random choreography. Tension in the world of vocal performers is high as everyone tries to outstrip Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s Super Bowl halftime show. “Each group will try to outdo the last one,” commented junior Rambler Tom Kraus. “Quite honestly there could be some nudity.” In times in which nothing is certain one man offers solidarity. “An original Dan Israel song will open the show,” junior Dan Israel promised. The event starts at 8 p.m. at Strong Auditorium. Tickets are $7 for students, and $10 for the general public. They are on sale at the Common Market, or can be purchased at the door. The event is scheduled to last about two hours.Goldner can be reached at bgoldner@campustimes.org.
birders log
Vocal Point and Ramblers rock
After walking around campus, as well as other areas such as parks in Northwestern New York, spotting birds has become more commonplace. The resident bird species are singing, foraging, and preparing to nest while many migratory birds are starting to arrive. Read More
campus brat
Vocal Point and Ramblers rock
The first realization of my own age hit me in the months before I started college. I was helping my dad clean the small office he’d occupied in Rush Rhees longer than I’d been alive. The walls of which boasted childhood drawings that my sister and I had crayoned. Even though I was looking at my distant past, I realized I would soon be starting a new page of my future. Read More
medication
Vocal Point and Ramblers rock
As recently as the early 2010s, it was standard practice for surgeons to provide 30 to 40 or more opioid pills for common, minimally invasive procedures. Most of these pills, however, would remain untouched, left over in the patient’s medical cabinet or kitchen pantries for potential misuse. A team of researchers led by URMC’s Dr. Jacob Moalem set out to reduce these opioid overprescriptions. Read More