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Though they do not speak the same language, international students from all around the globe came together Friday and Saturday and communicated with one common voice — sports.
Students filled the Recreation Center Friday and Saturday for International Sports Night, and competed in basketball, badminton, volleyball and other sports.
Kathy Hollister, assistant director of recreational sports and services, said sports were the best way to get students together from different cultures and nations.
“I always say sports speak no languages or it speaks every language,” Hollister said. “You don’t have to know a certain language to play a sport.”
International Student Council sponsored the event instead of its usual international soccer tournament.
Carmel Rao, president of the council, said this was the first time in several years the council sponsored International Sports Night. The annual soccer tournament was biased against women, which is why the sports night was a better choice, she said.
“Everyone can take part,” Rao said. “This makes more sense because we’re letting all international students take part in it.”
The council decided to create an event that was more culturally oriented and encouraged a mixture of many students, she said. Rao said having a sports night where students could sign up for their favorite sport was the obvious choice.
Srikanth Uppalaunchi, vice president of the council, said the diversity and teamwork of the students made the sports night a success.
“It actually makes people come out and be a part of ISC; this is an opportunity for them,” Uppalaunchi said. “I haven’t seen students come out like this before.”
Uppalaunchi said the event encouraged students to represent their nations and cooperate with other international and domestic students. He said it was a unique experience that is not found on most college campuses.
“If no other school is doing it, why not be the first to do it?” Uppalaunchi said.
The council is already in the process of making next year’s sports night a larger event, he said. Uppalaunchi said his view is to have a sort of mini-Olympics where each Registered Student Organization competes.
Fuya Chang, a senior from Taiwan studying hospitality and tourism, said even though she was the only girl to play basketball with some friends and others, she liked that basketball was a way to meet other people on campus.
“It’s good because we can meet a lot of people and get together here,” Chang said. “Basketball is kind of a group game, you have to work together.”
Hollister worked with the council to help coordinate the sports night. She said she also agreed the female participation along with the mixture of international and domestic students was a success.
“You’ll find a lot of students who played in their country and are really good and play here,” Hollister said.
Erin Holcomb can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 255.
