Kent State University is home to students from around the world, bringing unique experiences, traditions and perspectives to campus. The International Student Council (ISC) provides a space for students to share those cultures, build connections and find community.
ISC welcomes both international and domestic students to its events. Meetings are meant to help students have fun while also building friendships and networking connections that benefit them both personally and academically.
Kent State Today joined the organization for a meeting and interviewed two of its members to learn more.
Mayara Krifa, a junior political science major with a minor in pre-law, became involved with ISC, participating in events, before she was even a student at Kent State.
As a first-generation American with family roots in Tunisia, Krifa said finding opportunities to connect with other cultures has always been important to her.
“ISC is like my second home,” Krifa said. “It’s a place where international and domestic students, all students, can come together, feel safe, have fun, learn more about America, learn about other people’s countries and cultures, showcase those cultures and do a lot of fun things together.”
The organization hosts weekly Friday hangouts featuring activities such as games, movie nights and crafts. Members also participate in larger events throughout the academic year, including Global Safari Fest, the organization’s signature spring event.
Global Safari Fest gives students the opportunity to represent their countries and cultures through food, performances and traditional clothing. The event includes a passport activity where attendees get stamps at tables for different countries. Other activities include a talent show with singers, musicians, dancers and a fashion show.
“It’s a place where everybody showcases their culture,” Krifa said. “You get to see people be authentic and really be themselves, and you get to see all the traditional clothes. Even if somebody isn’t performing, they still come dressed in their traditional clothes.”
Krifa has played an instrument at the annual talent show and said the event is one of her favorite parts of being involved with ISC. She also appreciates the opportunity to see cultures represented that may not always receive much attention.
As someone from a country that is not widely represented on campus, Krifa said connecting with students who have similar experiences has been a highlight of the group.
“Sometimes seeing people that relate with me or other cultures that aren’t very well known, it’s like, ‘Oh, I’m not the only one,’” Krifa said. “We share our experiences, we laugh about it, we talk about it every day, and it’s always fun to be like, ‘Oh, you know that thing?’ ‘Yeah, me too.’ I think those are the coolest moments.”
Ridwan Olayiwola, a junior mechanical engineering technology major from Nigeria, initially joined ISC after a friend invited him to one of its Friday hangouts. After attending and enjoying the experience, he decided to stay involved.
In addition to being the president of ISC, Olayiwola won Homecoming Royalty this year and is the student body vice president with Undergraduate Student Government. He credited ISC with helping him get out of his shell, mentioning his experience hosting the Global Safari Fest for the past two years.
“It’s about being a form of representation, not only for international students but for everyone as a whole,” Olayiwola said. “If you get involved, you have the ability to help someone change their trajectory in college.”
Olayiwola said one of the organization’s biggest goals is to make sure students understand that ISC is not exclusively for international students. Every student has a unique perspective that can benefit the organization.
“International Student Council is not all about international students. It’s a place where we promote culture and most importantly diversity,” Olayiwola said. “Diversity doesn’t have to mean you have to be from a different country that’s not the U.S. Diversity also comes in experience as well, and I feel like everybody has different experiences.”
For international students, it can also provide a welcoming environment to learn about American culture and navigate life in a new country. For domestic students, it offers an opportunity to connect with people from around the world and learn about different traditions and experiences.
“It’s not just a place for international students,” Olayiwola said. “There are people from your country, from different countries that you can also network with, talk to and see different perspectives and beliefs. It’s fun.”
For Krifa, that sense of community is important beyond the international student aspect. She acknowledged that college can be stressful, and having a place to relax, find resources and connect with people who have similar experiences can make a difference.
“Regardless of what you may need in the moment, just having that community is very helpful,” Krifa said.
