Skits address social issues in open mic night

Students and community members from three previously unconnected organizations came together to discuss social justices and celebrate identity last Saturday. The inaugural event, dubbed Open Minds, Open mic, was produced by the Diversity Support Coalition, Wild Acts and Mask & Dagger.

The event began in the GSR at 6:45 p.m. with a performance by the Deja's, a UNH alumni folk rock duet, followed by skits and monologues performed by members of Mask & Dagger and Wild Acts. The performances focused on social justice issues such as stereotypes, word choice and peer pressure.

Also, three DSC organizations, The Alliance, United Asian Coalition and Hillel, created videos depicting common stereotypes in relation to their organization, as well as how those stereotypes have made them feel.

After a final interactive skit, in which the audience decided the most effective way for the student actors to solve an issue of abuse, the performers left the microphone, allowing other students or community members to express themselves.

"We wanted a way to present social justice issues to students," said Kevin Linton, executive director of the DSC. "It's important to present these issues, especially in relation to allyship."

Students, either anonymously or named, approached the microphone and read poetry, spoke about identity and social justice experiences, or played instruments. Some had planned their stories and experiences before the event, while others were inspired by the open discussion and performances from the first part of the event. One individual spoke into the microphone about growing up in an abusive household, after becoming intrigued a half an hour earlier when she walked by the GSR.

"We didn't charge for the event because this is a community gathering and we wanted to encourage people to come," Linton said.

Open Minds, Open Mic became a concrete idea within the first two weeks of school when Pam Freedy, a senior theater education major and Mask and Dagger executive director, presented the idea for the collaboration to Wild Acts and the DSC. According to Freedy, Wild Acts and Mask & Dagger have many of the same members, and overall passions for theater and performing. Freedy came up with the idea for the open mic because she wanted to show students that subjects like stereotypes and word choice should be discussed and do affect many on campus.