The smell of freshly made coffee and the sound of live music filled the Allyn lounge on Wednesday, Nov. 5 as Wright State University's College of Liberal Arts hosted its monthly CoLA Cafe.
The event ran from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., allowing students, professors and staff to take a break from class so they could enjoy foreign cuisine and innovative performances.
A small platform was put up in the front of the lounge for open mic poetry and live music, giving participants the opportunity to share their voices. The performances varied from spoken word pieces to acoustic melodies.
The event drew students from throughout campus not only from CoLA. The invitation attracted a broader crowd including engineering majors and a few science students.
Padma Deepika Kandregula is a Biological Science student. She particularly enjoyed the open mic performances, calling them a great way to see the creative side of students.
"As a science major, I don't often get a change to attend events. It was great to see individuals from many fields getting together," Kandregula said. "The music, the cuisine and the whole atmosphere made it feel like a small getaway in the midst of the week,"
Dharani Manne is a Data Science student. Attending CoLA Cafe provided her an opportunity for balance.
"Events like the CoLA Cafe enable technical students [to] engage with the larger university community. It's wonderful to observe how each person offers something unique to the table," Manne said.
Poorna Pranavi Komatineni is a microbiology and immunology student who exchanged her lab coat for a cup of coffee at the event.
"Events like this [allow] me to refresh and strike a balance between academic and social life. Sometimes, even a short break like this gives you the motivation to get back to your studies with a clearer mind," Komatineni said.
For many students, the event served as a reminder that WSU is not merely a place of learning, but also a place they might find unity, culture and shared experience.
