On October 30, the English Majors and Minors Club will be showcasing its first open mic since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The open mic will be virtual and held at 6 p.m. and run for about an hour and a half.
Professor Jason Casem is the faculty adviser for the English Club. Casem stressed the importance of maintaining community engagement at LBCC in these trying times. “That’s the main challenge for everyone,” he said.
As with many of the other academic departments, the ongoing challenges of conducting class, let alone extracurricular activities virtually, remain a struggle, he said.
“We want to maintain fellowship,” Casem said, emphasizing the desire to keep students, faculty, and the community connected despite social distancing and the problems of the virtual space.
Prior to the pandemic, open mics were held in large auditoriums or in the open grass.
“[Before the pandemic] I kind of sat in the back and listened to the performers,” Casem shared. “But now, there is more control on behalf of the hosts.”
Matthew Jacobs is the president of the English Club this fall. He said that he is “optimistic” about a virtual open mic. “I’m hoping for a good turnout as always,” he said.
The open mic will feature a waiting room that will screen away anyone that seeks to cause trouble or disrupt the event for any reason.
“One of the things about open mics is that they always work when English 26 students or other non-English students feel confident with being in a welcoming venue,” Jacobs said. “We want everyone to feel safe.”
Casem reiterated this point by stating that the open mic is being conducted in a manner that is “important to create a safe space for people to express themselves.”
The English Majors and Minors Club meets Fridays at 11 a.m. and runs for about an hour via Zoom.
For more information on the EMM Club and their events contact them via their website: creativewritinglbcc.org. You can also follow them via their instagram handle:@emmclublbcc.