Group of students gathered together singing at open-mic night at the Coffie Spot. Colin MacDougall | Washtenaw Voice
By Colin McDougall
Contributor
The International Students Association at Washtenaw Community College held an Open-Mic Night twice over the winter semester in the Java Spot.
Abby Foster, a 19-year-old Liberal Arts student from Brighton sings and plays guitar during an open-mic. Colin MacDougall | Washtenaw Voice
Last year, the former ISA President Marko Delic came up with the idea while working for the Spot. Delic asked his boss at the time if the ISA could use the Java Spot for the Open-Mic Night.
“I wanted to reach out to people with the ISA. We just wanted to reach out to the community, especially the American students because we wanted to show them what international students do here,” Delic said.
“It’s kind of a cool way to come together. Many international students love to come together and sing karaoke or hang out through song.” said Devon Streur, the faculty advisor for the ISA.
“It’s a way to bring the ISA and the student body together,” said Tobe Mordi, the 21-year-old vice president of the ISA, who is from Nigeria. “Hopefully by the fall we have this more often,” Mordi said.
Ty Tejada and Francine Rugamas sing a duet together in espanol. Colin MacDougall | Washtenaw Voice
“We are shooting for about three or four times next semester,” added Kimberly Cobb, ISA’s event secretary. Cobb is a 21-year-old biochemistry major from Ann Arbor who is an American involved in the club. The goal of ISA is not specific to international students, but it’s about the sharing of cultures.
“Members will tell you the club is international, in a way that if you’re an American, you’re international to them,” Streur said. “They’re from different countries so American students can show them around to their favorite spots, and show them American culture when it might be difficult. This is a good way to bridge that gap.”
During the summer semester ISA will be planning more open mic nights along with other activities for the Fall semester. ISA hopes to get as many American students to bridge that gap, and share their culture with the ISA.
