New "Reality Series" to Show HBCU Life Uncut

From pledging to parties and sizzling sexual encounters, a new series on Black Entertainment Television intends to televise HBCU life uncut and uncensored.

Kinda Andrews, Shalondrea Davis, Gabriel Langley, Kevin Mack, Delano Mitchell, Nina Moch, Veronica Moss, and Jabari Roberts are the eight students from Southern University chosen as cast members in the new 13-episode "College Hill" reality series that debuts Jan. 28.

"We chose Southern University mainly because the school is so well rounded, said Tosha Whitten-Griggs, corporate communications director for BET. "It’s an excellent example and prototype of the HBCU experience and we wanted to capture that."

The show follows the students as they go about their everyday lives and deal with day-to-day issues.

Their personalities, of course, are very different. The participants didn't appear to have had any difficulty expressing theirs.

"When the show was being taped, I was 100 percent myself and if people don’t like it, then too bad. I know my parents will probably not like it, but I had to be myself," said Kinda Andrews, a freshman from Baton Rouge, La.

The search began in April when Tracey Edmonds, executive producer of the series, president and CEO of Edmonds Entertainment Group , Inc., and wife of singer/songwriter/producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, set up interviews on Southern's campus.

Students stood in long lines to obtain a 60-page questionnaire filled with multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank and essay questions.

Questions asked about the students' first sexual experience, most embarrassing moments, their organizational affiliations and other personal information.

"Because I did it off a dare, I didn’t care if I was chosen. It wasn’t until I made it to the finals that I hoped I’d make it," said Nina Moch, a senior marketing major from Shreveport, La.

Delano Mitchell said that he completed only the first four pages and decided to use his personality to spark the interviewers’ interest.

"I got tired of filling out the questionnaire, so I just went in and began talking to them and I won them over," said Mitchell, a senior mass communications major from Los Angeles.

Edmonds Entertainment said it received more than 200 applications and photos. Those materials were then taken to Los Angeles for further review, then 50 students were called in for additional interviews. Finally, eight students, four males and females, were chosen.

The cast:

• Kinda Andrews, a freshman from Baton Rouge and the "wild child" of the group. She said her philosophy is, "Men get their freak on -- why can’t I?" She is the daughter of Donald Andrews, dean of Southern's College of Business.

• Shalondrea Davis, a sophomore majoring in elementary education, from Shreveport, La. She is the instigator and troublemaker who always "keeps it real."

• Gabriel Langley, a member of the Beta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the Southern University Marching Band. He is a senior biology/pre-medicine major from Dallas who manages to stir things up with the ladies in the house. His "smooth operator" personality makes him a big man on campus.

• Kevin Mack, a junior sociology major from Los Angeles, the jock. He focuses solely on socializing with the ladies and playing football. His lazy streak may cause him to oversleep, but never on game day.

• Delano Mitchell, creative and fun-loving , is a senior mass communications major from Los Angeles. He is a rapper and aspiring actor who is usually called the class clown.

• Nina Moch, diva and socialite, a senior marketing major from Shreveport who is always ready to spread cheer. She is a cheerleader who enjoys the limelight and has been in various pageants and beauty competitions.

• Veronica Moss, with the rich-girl, spoiled-rotten personality, a sophomore marketing major from Houston.

BET has announced that it is supplementing the series launch with a 13-week "Watch and Win Scholarship Sweepstakes," giving away more than $25,000 in scholarship money to college-bound or college-enrolled students.

During each episode, an on-screen password is to appear. Students can then log on to www.bet.com/collegehill and enter the sweepstakes. One winner is to be chosen after every new episode, with each winner receiving a $2,004 scholarship check.

Kayla D. Perkins, a student at Southern University, writes for The Southern Digest. Latrice Pinkins contributed to this article.

Posted Jan. 27, 2004