Last Wednesday, Wayne State College hosted a celebration of Bavarian traditions in the lower level of the student center, complete with competitions and a live band performance.
Bavaria is a state in Southeastern Germany with a history dating back to the fifth century according to Britanica. Its eastern borders connect to modern day Austria and Czechia.
The event in the student center celebrated the region’s traditional music and games. WSC’s International Cultural Coordinator Elizabath Heaton said that Bavaria was chosen because it’s an area that had yet to receive events celebrating its culture.
“I tried stemming off of things that we usually do here on campus,” Heaton said. “One location I wanted to hit was Germany.”
The event began with a performance from the Polka Police, which is a duo musical group that combines polka with other genres of music. It is run by brothers Jamie and Jason Burmeister. Jamie said that their love of polka runs in the family with their grandfather being especially fond of it. The idea to start the band actually began with the name itself, which came from an art project.
“I made an art piece. It was like a zoetrope that had these little policemen on it,” Jamie said. “It spins, and they kind of animate, and they play a polka.”
The performance consisted of polka renditions of popular songs like Eye of the Tiger and Crazy Train. Jamie Burmeister stayed on-stage playing the drums while Jason walked around in front of the stage playing the accordion in a police officer costume. “We loved the crowd,” Jason said after the performance. “We love students who are very engaging and willing to have fun with us. And we didn’t get booed, so it’s a win.”
A competition took place outside the student center where participants competed to see who could carry the most water-filled steins. They had to do this while wearing goggles that simulated drunkenness. After the event, Heaton discussed other aspects of her job as WSC’s International Cultural Coordinator.
She shared an interaction she had with an international student during heritage week the week prior.
“I brought a special drink… from South Africa for some students,” Heaton said. “I had one that teared up and he was very happy to see the drink. It was a little bit of a reminder of home because some of my international students don’t get to go home. So, to see a little bit of back home; that’s what my office is trying to do.”
