Students dressed to the nines, partied and danced the night away under shining lights during the International Student Services and the University Activity Council’s (UAC) Hollywood Red Carpet Formal.
For the third year in a row, the organizations held an event for international and domestic students to gather in the Trojan Center Ballrooms for a night of music, laughter and getting down on the dance floor
Mack Morris, an international student advisor who helped coordinate the event, said the formal was a way to let international students have a unique experience while on campus.
“International students don’t really have a formal to go to, so it’s nice to put something on like this for them and show them a bit of American culture,” Morris said. “It’s kind of like a prom.”
After they walked the red carpet into the party, students were greeted with a live DJ, catered food and a photo booth. Music from different parts of the world was played throughout the night so students from different countries could share their cultures.
“I think this a good chance for me to share with my international friends as an international student,” said Luis Carlos, a graduate student studying economics from Guatemala City. “I've had the chance to have both friends from countries I've never been to, but also like American friends, so it's a nice time to share together.”
Laura Korir, a sophomore nursing major from Nairobi, said the formal allowed her to experience something new.
“I’ve never been to a party like this before,” Korir said. “I hope to meet new friends from different cultures.”
Another student said the event showed her that even though each student was from different countries, at the end of the day, they will always have something in common.
“Everybody is human,” said Maya Henry, a freshman global marketing major from Opelika, Alabama. “Even though we all dance weird, or we all do things differently, we’re all one, and that’s what matters at the end of the day.
“We can all come together. I think the whole point of this formal was to see that everybody can come together and shake off their differences for a second and just be human together.”
When the dancing slowly came to an end and the lights flickered out, Morris said he hoped every student carried a precious memory back with them.
“I hope they just have a good time at Troy and have fond memories,” Morris said. “Memories that they can carry on after they leave.”
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