This pilot program is a shared ambition between Catherine Cole, professor in dramatic arts at UCSB, Yoni Harris, dean of student affairs, and Zaveeni Khan-Marcus, director of the MCC, to create a positive environment in Isla Vista while promoting diverse cultures — without cutting out the fun of being in IV.

“After concerts students would come to our house for the after-party,” said Khan-Marcus, wife of Middle East Ensemble director Scott Marcus, of the parties that would often go into the wee hours in the morning. “And they would say, ‘I wish we had something like this in IV.’”

Now they will. The first installment of MCC in IV will be a performance by the UCSB Middle East Ensemble at The Spot on Pardall Road on Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. Instead of a formal concert, however, the event is billed as a party, complete with music, dancing, food and hookahs. The next event, on Feb. 8, will be a spoken word poetry slam at Eclectic, also on Pardall.

“Students are excited,” she said. “Hopefully it’ll catch on and they’ll look forward to MCC events in IV.”

— Sonia Fernandez

courtesy photo

Caption: The Middle East Ensemble will perform in the first installment of MCC in IV on Feb. 1 at The Spot on Pardall Road.