Consortium rocks the boat on midnight cruise

More than 600 students went to Rowe's Wharf on Friday for a night of food and music aboard a midnight cruise of the Boston Harbor, sponsored by the International Student Consortium.

ISC members said this weekend's event was more successful than in the past, when the cruise was open to students from other schools, including Boston College and Harvard University, and drew about 500 people. This year, students from other schools could only attend as guests of BU students, and the turnout exceeded 600.

ISC President Bilal Bilici said the success was because of the group's established reputation and a larger interest in ISC activities. Also, the name of the cruise was changed this year from "International Moonlight Cruise" to simply "Moonlight Cruise."

While this change was minor, Bilici said, it might have made the difference in interest.

"We wanted both domestic and international students," the College of Arts and Sciences senior said. "We want to open our doors to everyone."

ISC Public Relations Chair Isabel Sanez said the focus of the group is to include many different cultures.

"We're trying to expose students to different cultures and to get people to meet people from other places," the School of Management junior said.

Members and nonmembers said they enjoyed dancing, eating and socializing. Many new students, including freshmen and international students, came to enjoy the diverse atmosphere.

"I wanted to meet new people, and it was a new experience," School of Hospitality Administration freshman Jorge Noriega said.

Others were excited by the idea of doing something different on a Saturday night.

"It's exciting to be boarding a boat at night," College of Communication freshman Catherine Moore said. "It's beautiful."

ISC will continue its efforts to unite the student body throughout the year. Next on their agenda is a multi-faith dinner Oct. 2 in celebration of Yom Kippur, Ramadan and Dussera. All of ISC's events have a common theme, Bilici said.

"We want to do events that will leave a legacy, that will unite people and that will make BU's name better," he said.

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