After some controversy at last year's Ultra Violet Live over whether commuter students would be able to participate in the talent show, the Inter-Residence Hall Council has changed the rules of the competition.
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For the first time ever, commuter students will now be eligible to compete individually in the talent show, according to Olivia Baackes, president of the IRHC.
In previous years, commuter students were only eligible to enter the contest if they joined a group with an student living in NYU housing.
Though UVL launched in 2004 as a way to build community within residence halls, Baackes said it has grown to be much more than just a dorm-based contest, which is why the council pushed for the change.
Under the new rules the winners from each dorm's competition will go on to compete in the main UVL competition. Similarly, one winner from the commuter's preliminary round will go on to compete for the main prize of $1,000.
Anthony Galli, president of the Commuter Student Council, said he was shocked when he heard UVL would be open to commuters.
"We were ecstatic," he said. "I almost didn't believe it when Olivia told me."
Omnia Hegazy, the winner of last year's Commuters Got Talent, said she plans to try out for UVL this year.
"Even if I don't get chosen as the commuter or off-campus representative — there are lots of talented commuters — I'm definitely glad I have a shot at it," she said.
IRHC said it may welcome even more participants in the future, including those from NYU-Poly and NYU Abu Dhabi.
"I think it could be the start of a wonderful, really symbolic expression of the fact that we're a global network university now," Baackes said.
