The four Dukes chosen to vie for King of Campus Court debated Monday night in front of a large crowd.
These four senior men were chosen by the Student Alumni Association out of numerous nominees to compete in the contest for its second year.
The Dukes are:
Duke of Ambler: Brock New, senior communication major from North Richland Hills.
Duke of Teague Blvd.: Bryson Shake, senior communication major from Abilene.
Duke of Judge Ely: Alexander Brown, senior accounting major from Garland.
Duke of 16th St.: J.P. Ralston, senior finance accounting major from Plano.
The debate, hosted in Hart Auditorium, was to let the nominees have a chance to show the student body how much school spirit they possess and why they should be elected as this year’s King of Campus Court.
Samantha Adkins is the assistant director of alumni relations and helped organize the contest from the beginning.
King of Campus Court candidate JP Ralston, senior finance major from Plano, dances during the debate held in Hart Auditorium. (Optimist photo by Garon Goodspeed)
“A lot more people applied and were interested this year,” Adkins said. “It was a lot easier to market it.”
Adkins said one of the reasons for having the contest in the first place was because men would occasionally be voted into the top ten for the Homecoming Court.
“That didn’t happen this year, now that we have King of Campus Court,” Adkins said.
The King of Campus Court debate had very little in common with either political debates or debates for Students’ Association elections.
Moderators Grant Boone and Craig Fisher asked the Dukes numerous goofy questions, including their favorite ninja turtles and what their ideal date would be.
The Dukes were also encouraging an atmosphere of fun, with New dressed in a toga and Shake wearing a whoopee cushion costume.
Audience participation in the form of tweeting questions for the candidates was requested.
After about half an hour of questions, singing and dancing, the Dukes were asked to give one reason why students should vote for them to be the King of Campus Court. Answers included, “If you don’t vote for me, you’re wrong,” and “Why not?”
Beginning Monday night, students can vote online at www.acu.edu/king. Voting will close Thursday night and the winner will be announced on Friday during Homecoming Chapel.
