New Mr. Zag earns bragging rights

Henry Harper is the new "Big Man on Campus," according to Alpha Kappa Psi's Mr. Zag competition.

The event, which was held Nov. 19 in the COG as a fundraiser by AKPsi's recruit class, pitted five male students against each other in a variety of contests. A panel of four judges, which included GSBA president Tyler Hobbs and Sodexo employee "Peachy" Kay Calobeer, watched the show and made a quick decision.

Harper, a sophomore from Portland, Ore., started strong with a crowd-pleasing performance in the first portion of the competition — pick-up lines. He used classic lines like "I seem to have lost the keys to my Lamborghini, can I have your number?" and "Hi, I'm Kevin Pangos" to win over the crowd and the judges.

Gonzaga basketball was a theme of the night. The next portion of the competition was a fashion show, with contestants showing off their best Zag attire. Tights were a popular clothing choice, although Harper went above and beyond again by wearing what looked like a grizzly bear on his back.

The event wasn't just for fun: It was also profitable. AKPsi ended up raising $344 by selling tickets to the approximately 65 audience members, according to recruit class member Brynn Burke. Half of the money will go to AKPsi's recruit class, and half will go to a charity to be named later. Burke said that the finalists are Cup of Cool Water and Wishing Star, both Washington-based charities.

The talent portion of the competition gave the five contestants a chance to show off a special skill. Michael Hobson, who was named the runner-up, set the bar high. His six-minute "Evolution of Dance" routine, following the popular online video, drew laughs and applause from the audience.

Hobson, a freshman from Bellingham, Wash., had competition in the dancing category from another Washington native, when sophomore Dave Lee took the stage and went through an impressively complex breakdancing routine. Lee's performance followed freshman Austin Hunter's commentary on clips from a soccer game between the United States and Slovenia. Hunter, who is from Yakima, Wash., drew chuckles from attendees for his incredibly pro-U.S. sports broadcasting.

Sophomore Jacob Schlader rounded out the contestant pool. Schlader, an Idaho native, got three fellow students to lock arms, forming a sort of human jungle gym, and then climbed on them in what looked like a strong effort from him and his volunteers.

Harper again pleased the crowd with his talent, stand-up comedy. Dressed in pajamas and accompanied by a friend with a guitar to set the mood, he made the judges laugh with a series of one-liners.

"Sometimes, when something really good happens to me, I wait two weeks to tell anyone because I really like the word fortnight," he said during his routine.

The pageant-like atmosphere of the night ended with the interview section. Hobson used the opportunity to continue his stand-up act when he was asked who would play him in a movie about his life.

"Dakota Fanning," he said, "because I didn't hit puberty until late in my life and I feel like she would cover me well."

Runner-up Hobson, when asked to name his favorite Gonzaga basketball player, picked Robert Sacre.

"I love how he respects his fans, he's a funny guy and he plays with a lot of heart," Hobson said.

AKPsi recruit class member Carly Harris said that the event was important for the club.

"We have a certain amount of events we have to fundraise in order to have money to do things," she said. All the AKPsi recruits — roughly 23 students — helped put on the event, according to Harris and Burke.