A Friday afternoon in the Erb Memorial Union means a short line for Chipotle, the possibility of actually snagging a booth by the window — and a cappella. Every Friday at 3:45 p.m., the sound of blended voices can be heard across the ground floor of the EMU as Mind The Gap, the University of Oregon’s gender inclusive a cappella group, harmonizes today’s hits.
Prior to Mind the Gap’s formation in 2007, the UO contained one all-male group and one all-female group. The founders of Mind the Gap noticed that students who felt they did not identify with a certain gender did not feel comfortable singing for either group. They created the group with the intention of giving students a space to sing, regardless of gender.
This past Friday, Oct. 26, group members lined the bottom of the first floor staircase decked out in various halloween costumes as they began their Halloween-themed performance. The group sang hits such as “Toxic” by Britney Spears and “Higher Love” by Steve Winwood — all while showing off their individual dance moves.
The gender-inclusive a capella group, Mind the Gap, performs in halloween costumes at the EMU on Oct. 26, 2018. (Madi Mather/Emerald)
With Halloween around the corner, Mind the Gap threw in a surprise twist for the audience when singing Portugal the Man’s “Feel It Still” by changing the lyrics from “rebel” to “zombie.”
Fourth-year student Danielle Field has been in Mind the Gap for three years and doubles as the group’s business manager. One of Field’s favorite things about Mind the Gap is the gender-inclusive aspect. “We accept anyone and everyone. In other groups, you have to identify as a certain gender to join, and for us, we will just take you and love you and we would love to sing with you regardless of gender,” she said.
Third-year member Andre Bunton appreciates the diversity of the group beyond gender too. “I really appreciate the ability to be close to everyone in a group of various genders. Our group really prides itself on diversity both in gender inclusivity and also race.”
Madison Breuer, a second-year member and public relations manager, says that a cappella groups rarely consist of mixed genders due to vocal ranges and sound preferences, but a variety of genders gives Mind the Gap an opportunity to sing songs that contain a wider range of notes.
Breuer added that singing with mixed genders has allowed for the group to connect in a special way beyond gender-specific things. “Each and every one of us are so different. We are all our own little people that has so many different interests and talents, but we connect on our mutual love of singing.”
In addition to gearing up for weekly performances, Mind the Gap represents UO at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA); they have placed first three times in the last four years and the group will compete again in January.
“There is no mold that you have to fit to be in Mind the Gap. And that is the greatest thing about the group” said Fields.
