Musical artist Jay Sean performs for a crowd of screaming UM-St. Louis students Wednesday night. Ahmad Aljuryyed / The Current

A hired stilt walker and juggler performs & Laura Geraghty, nursing, freshman, and Kelli Buesgens, criminology, freshman, get pied at the Mirthday Carnival. Jennifer meahan / The Current

The University of Missouri-St. Louis celebrated Mirthday with a carnival and evening concert at the Touhill Performing Arts Center last Wednesday. Students took a break from classes to hit up rides such as the “Hurricane,” dabble in snow cones and get airbrushed tattoos. Even the new mascot was seen stumbling off of a ride escorted by cheerleaders.

“Aside from the nice weather everything seems to be fun,” Ben Steenrod, freshman, undecided, said. One student liked the publicity that Mirthday gave the college. “I saw a little boy with an UM-St. Louis Tritons t-shirt coming off of the dinosaur ride and I was thinking he might grow up wanting to go to UM-St. Louis one day,” Cassi Bohl, sophomore, psychology, said.

Some clubs used the carnival games to promote club membership. “This is how we draw exposure to our club and how we get people to see what the Hispanic culture is like,” Chantal Rivadeneyra, sophomore, management information systems and business, said. A table was set for students with an ID card to borrow super soakers. “It brings joy to campus; everybody is running around having fun,” Eboni Sterling, senior, education, said. However, not everyone agreed. “I did not like getting sprayed with water,” Jordan Russell, freshman, criminology, said.

As 6 p.m. approached, news of the concert possibly selling out was broadcast through stations such as Z107.7, a fact that was not denied once students got to the Anheuser Bush Auditorium and saw it was packed. Security was stationed on both sides of the stage. “I think it is pretty awesome that we can get professional artists at our school,” Bohl said. “What brought me out to this event is that I have never been to a concert before,” said Kevin Roberts, sophomore, accounting, said.

As the lights went down for the concert to start, red lights flickered and the audience cheered only to reveal the opening act Fitz and the Tantrums. Nobody knew who they were, but with their ‘60s inspired flair and powerful female singer, they won the crowd over in the end commanding them to “lose their minds” on the last song.

When Jason Derulo’s banner was revealed on stage, cameras went crazy and the number of fans standing in front of the stage multiplied. The crowd seemed to be very entertained by his performance and his shirtless backup dancers. He even serenaded a fan. He closed the show by inviting people to his MySpace account.

The stage was soon occupied by Jay Sean’s DJ who turned the auditorium into a club causing the audience to “drop it like it’s hot.” Jay Sean eventually walked on stage with a large body guard on his back. The crowd enjoyed his rhythmic melodies and watching a fan go wild on stage. He sent his audience away seduced by his verbal invitations. The concert was a success. “I think Jason Derulo did a really good job as well, and when he exposed his body it was a delight for sore eyes,” Haneen Musa, senior, business, said.

Apparently, the concert attracted even younger fans to its venue. “My favorite part was when I touched Jay Sean—I touched his leg, his thigh … I touched it all,” Tiffany Robinson, high school sophomore, said. “Jason Derulo is so sexy.”