Margaret BauerWith additional reporting by Rachel Streitfeld
Back from a one-year hiatus, the Mr. Wash U competition is returning with many behind-the-scenes changes. Twelve candidates for the title were announced Monday, with four representatives from each class bidding for the crown.
The event gives undergraduate males the chance to compete for the Mr. Wash U title, with proceeds benefiting City Faces, a service organization run by architecture professor Bob Hansman.
During the pageant-style competition, judges will consider personality and character traits, as well as the candidates’ onstage performances on Feb. 25 in Edison Theater. At the end of the event, one of the 12 candidates will be awarded with the coveted title of “Mr. Wash U.”
“I think of Mr. Wash U as a celebration of Washington University culture,” said junior Sagar Ravi, president of the Mr. Wash U Executive Committee (MRWU), an executive committee within Student Union, and the cofounder of MRWU. “Everyone who is even nominated deserves to be recognized for their achievements on campus.”
The Junior Class Council of 2003 dreamed up Mr. Wash U two years ago. Due to the huge responsibility necessary to produce a show, the Junior Class Council enlisted the help of the Joint Class Council (JCC) and had all undergraduate classes involved with the production. Mr. Wash U was still a large-scale production for the JCC. Despite some struggles, the show was pronounced a success, with over $10,000 donated to City Faces. The event was postponed for a year in order to reorganize and to create the MRWU.
“The way it was produced two years ago is somewhat similar to the way it’s being done now, except completely different,” said Ravi. “We decided we wanted it to happen again, so we made it an executive committee of SU, completely dedicated to putting on the show.”
MRWU chose four candidates from each class to represent the student body.
Freshman Matt Adler said he filled out the application after someone nominated him because it was “an honor.”
“It seemed like a cool thing to do,” said Adler. “It raises money for charity.”
After receiving an acceptance email, Adler got his first taste of being in the spotlight. The MRWU group stopped by his dorm room later that night to cheer for him.
Adler says he’s not worried about stage fright-or a dance number.
“I’m sure I’ll dance,” said Adler. “I’m in the Israeli dance troop and I’m doing Diwali, so I figure by then I’ll be more accustomed to performing in front of lots of people. Hopefully it won’t be too nerve-wracking.”
“We want to see candidates involved on and off campus,” said Katie Gerber, vice president of MRWU and chair of the Candidate Committee. “We want them to reach out beyond the bubble. They should have leadership roles, be caring, generous and outgoing. In general, they should be well-rounded.”
Ticket sales and money raised by the contestants will once again go towards City Faces, a program founded by Architecture Professor Bob Hansman.
“[City Faces] began with a few neighborhood kids coming by my apartment to take out the trash,” said Hansman. “We started doing a little art. We began to offer it on a more organized basis through Guardian Angels in 1994 with four University students. By the end of the summer, it grew into structured classes.”
Hansman eventually moved his studio to the projects, providing all the funding himself. He adopted a boy from the program a few years ago and has continued to work with the students.
“I have endless gratitude to the students involved in Mr. Wash U,” said Hansman. “I’m very touched by how the University has supported this program. It meant so much to the kids, and it allowed for supplies, portfolios and so many more things.”
At this time, there are no plans for a Miss Wash U event.