 "Photo: Irene Pospelova")
It's a scene more at home in a tent revival than under the shadow of the giant red jack between the Jonsson Building and the University Theatre. A woman called for volunteers from the crowd of worshipers kneeling before her. Amidst a chorus of "Amens," she loudly casts away unwanted spirits.
She bursts into song, a rendition of the B-52's 1989 hit "Love Shack," with the iconic chorus replaced with "love jack."
This was no ordinary faith healing. Leather-clad political science freshman Maria Popescu was a "love healer" who infused her congregation with "the power of love." Psychology senior Jerry Li was cured - not of demonic possession - but of his inability to find a date.
The "love jack" worship session was organized by Onomatopoeia, an improvisational student group founded in February by psychology sophomore Angie Johnston and political science sophomore Stevin George.
"We like to call ourselves the quiet directors of anarchy," George said. "(Onomatopoeia) is my illegitimate love child."
Johnston and George met at an event for McDermott Scholars in the spring of 2008 and decided to form an improvisational group on campus. George said they were inspired by Improv Everywhere, a New York City-based group that stages random, unexpected events in public.
Onomatopoeia currently has 60 active members and meets twice a week at the vice president's apartment to brainstorm stunts and vote on them, Johnston said.
The first stunt had group members positioned throughout the Comet Cafe freeze at a given time. For the next, they organized a pillow fight between the Engineering and Computer Science North Building and Berkner Hall.
"We're trying to bust up the apathy on campus," Johnston said.
For each of the stunts, George said he gets approval beforehand from Dean of Students Donna Rogers. Initially, he said the group had trouble finding an adviser until they phoned Arts & Humanities professor Thomas Riccio, who said he was excited to be a part of the group.
"(The ideas for Onomatopoeia are the) germinating seeds of their minds and souls, blooming in the spring," said Riccio.
George and Johnston said they plan on working with other organizations on campus to promote other groups and issues. They said they hope to promote breast cancer awareness and support Amnesty International by linking them to future events.
"We see ourselves as the new direction of the student organization," said George. "We can piggyback off the fact that we're a very spontaneous improv group to showcase (causes.)"
So far, Johnston and George said they have enjoyed their involvement in the group. Johnston said her favorite event was the pillow fight they staged during the week of midterms.
"I was in the middle of it, and I stopped for a second and looked around. Everyone was smiling. Everyone just had this huge grin," Johnston said.
Onomatopoeia will have a few additional improvisations before the spring semester ends, George said. He hinted at an event to come at the end of April, potentially involving roaming hordes of the undead.
"There's a phrase, 'if you can't beat them, join them'," George said. "Perhaps the best way to cure apathy is to have a group of students walking around like there is no life on campus.
To learn more about Onomatopoeia and see their stunts, see YouTube or their Facebook group.
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