With American Idol fever in full force, NMU is holding its own competition of the same sort. NMU Idol is a campus-wide competition that will showcase the talent of people on campus.

Behind this event is graduate student Aaron Whitaker, a member of the Black Student Union. This is the second annual NMU Idol event. Whitaker said that she had many contestants show up to the event last year.

“We got some really great singers and a band and some dancers, so it was great,” Whitaker said. “I was just really excited to see people who want to participate. I thought it was going to be hard to get people to come out and showcase what they’ve got.”

The kind of talent that Whitaker wants to see at auditions is really anything that involves a performance of some sort.

“If you can juggle dishes and not break them, then you can audition for the talent show,” Whitaker said. “Last year was singing and dancing; this year I want to open it up to people who can do more than that.”

Whitaker went on to say that those who can do a magic trick or funny voices will be welcome to audition as well.

“We want a variety of talent, not just singing and dancing,” Whitaker said.

The auditions will be judged by three people who Whitaker felt would be unbiased. She then gave them specific criteria for judging the competition. The judging of the actual show will be a mixture of staff and faculty.

“I want the judges to consider the effort and time they put into coming out to the auditions,” Whitaker said. “We’re not looking for anything specific. I told them to just be open. I have faith that they’ll pick the best.”

The competition will announce winners in three places and will be awarded prizes, as will the audience.

“We’re going to be giving (the audience) raffle tickets on their way in, and throughout the show we’ll be giving away stuff,” Whitaker said. “Not only do the participants of the show have a chance to win, but the audience does too.

Senior secondary education major Curtiss O’Rorke Stedman participated in the event last year and won first place. Stedman said he received an invitation, auditioned and went on to the actual competition.

“There was a band and then a whole dance group that went. The rest were singers,” Stedman said. “It’s just fun. It’s a fun competition to be a part of.”

O’Rorke said he’s a fan of the idea of doing an NMU Idol.

“I love the whole idea of it. It’s great spinoff of something that’s sweeping the nation,” Stedman said. “For all the open mics that I’ve been to there is so much talent, so much raw potential at all age levels in this town and on campus. It’s really cool to give students that opportunity to perform in front of 500-plus people.”

The audition will take place Saturday, April 3, from 1 to 4 p.m.