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12th Man for Jason Castro

By: Clair Lavender

Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: Aggielife

Once again, fellow Aggie Jason Castro has been sent to the couches - safe for another week. With four competitors left on the seventh season of American Idol, the competition is high and predictions are unclear. Campus groups such as Your Apple Campus Reps, MCS Town Hall, Dining Services, MacResource, Division of Marketing and Communications and Aggie Men's Club put on an American Idol viewing party including free pizza, live music and prizes in honor of Castro.

It was "Neil Diamond night" on Tuesday as Aggies congregated in the MSC Flagroom to watch the show, buzzing about what song Castro would sing and how "adorable" he looked last week.

As Ryan Seacrest and the five remaining contestants took the stage, the room went wild. If Castro's face flashed on the screen, even for a second, hands were up in the air and the Aggie "whoop" shot around the room.

Brian Pattillo, a graduate student in marketing, helped organize the event as an Apple Campus Rep. During commercials, he asked American Idol trivia questions, awarding students with iTunes gift cards. Pattillo pointed out that Castro is the only contestant left that goes to a university and feels there should be more support on campus.

"Jason shows that A&M has musicians because we're not known for music," he said.

Some students showed up with their Fish Camp groups to show support. Sophomore nutritional science major Jennifer Windwehen said she is a fan of Castro and not just because he is an Aggie.

"You can't compare him to anyone, he's just himself," Windwehen said. "And yes, he is an Aggie, but I look at it as if I were in his place, I would expect support too."

Candy 95.1 came out and proudly showed support for Castro as well. Former student Allison Meserole, known for her radio show, "Morning Candy with Frito and Ally," said she voted 250 times last week and that was only an hour's worth. Realizing this is a good chance for A&M to be nationally recognized and for Castro to get his 12th Man boost, Ally promotes Castro frequently on her show.

With the ability to text 10 at a time as the show closed and the phone lines opened, phones were drawn and fingers were busy. The first 75 people to show proof of their vote got a $5 iTunes gift card. Some voters ran to the computers and typed in dialidol.com where they could check to see how busy the phone lines were.

Castro's friend Carl Cooper votes 100-200 times and actually went to the show on Mariah Carey week to hang out with Castro. Cooper, a junior agricultural leadership and development major, met Castro last spring through Aggie Men's Club. They were able to have a Bible study, visit Laguna Beach and sit in L.A. traffic, recalled Cooper.

With his "chill Jack Johnson" sound, Castro seems destined to go far. Campus support is crucial, and where there is an Aggie in need, the 12th Man is there.