The Race's Lighter Side: BoUNCe endorses Ingram

For weeks, the candidates for student body president have traded an onslaught of complaints in what has become one of the most litigious campaigns in recent memory.

On Thursday, they took a break, trading jokes instead.

Continuing a tradition of provocative humor, antics and putting student body presidential candidates in awkward positions, BoUNCe Magazine put a humorous spin on the political debate.

To start the forum, Jay Morgan, an associate editor for the magazine, stood before the crowd in semi-traditional Native American attire and made an announcement.

“Knowledge of cultural affairs is important for student body president candidates. Pay special attention to the following trailer — especially the cinematic technique,” he said.

Two projection screens in front of the lecture hall began to play scenes of Will Smith twirling revolvers and hopping from trains, followed by a clip of a giant mechanized spider, introducing the night’s theme: The Wild West.

“Was the name of the film Wild Wild East, North, South or West?” Morgan asked candidate Ian Lee.

Lee sat muted, pondering the question and said, “West?”

“Seven points for Ian!”

Alex Hunt, the managing editor, asked the next question.

“What role did the Muslim Brotherhood play in this film?” he asked.

“I think they blew up the mosque,” said Rick Ingram, a candidate.

This and many more candidates’ attempts at humor were followed by dead silence from the audience.

Following the film questions, candidate Mary Cooper was asked to explain the definition of love, which she defined as Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

Brooklyn Stephens didn’t have it any easier.

Morgan then asked about Will Smith’s favorite color in the film.

“Well, it looks like he had an interracial thing going on,” she said, regarding on-screen relations between Will Smith and Salma Hayek.

The candidates then had piggyback races with a campaign manager, in sets of two.

Mirroring the jabs that have been present in more serious aspects of the race, they raced up and down the steps of the lecture hall while grabbing and kicking at their competitors. Cooper and Ingram won their respective races.

The final decision of the endorsement came down to a duel.

After accruing enough arbitrary points out of a combination of sideways, negative and positive awards — and audience “yee-haws” — the last two candidates remaining were Lee and Ingram.

The two candidates stood back against back, took 10 steps away from each other and began to fire.

Lee was met by an onslaught of foam Nerf darts and Ingram was declared the night’s victor, winning the hotly contested endorsement.

Contact the University Editor at university@dailytarheel.com.