WMU student Chyn Wey served as DJ for the two-hour event, inspiring participants to try out dance moves on skates. Wey also conducted several games, one in which the skaters learned that stopping on skates is a lot harder than it looks.

Vivek Kumar, a senior majoring in aeronautical engineering, ice skated for the first time in his life. "It is definitely harder than it looks," Kumar said. "Even though I fell a lot, it was fun to skate with friends. I hope to ice skate more often to get better at it."

The IPC chooses a theme each year to encourage skaters to spice up their skating wardrobes. Prizes were awarded to the people who were voted to be wearing the funniest hat. The winner for best hat went to Tien Lau, with her homemade bumble-bee-inspired cap. She received an IPC t-shirt and coffee cup. Previous themes have included wild Hawaiian shirts and ugly sweaters. 

IPC Vice President Joe Kelly said the event's purpose is to expose WMU's international student body to popular American culture. "Cultural exchange is the soul of our organization," Kelly said. 

The IPC executive board plans the event each year, which is sponsored by the Western Student Association and the Haenicke Institute.

Story by Julia Valentine