SAPA prepares 'Food for Thought' poetry night

Poetry has always been used as a way to spark emotion in the hearts of readers, however, the emotion is not always pleasant.

Pages D. Matam, an award-winning spoken word artist and activist from Washington D.C., will join Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the Bovee University Center Rotunda for its "Food for Thought" poetry event.

SAPA is putting on the event to raise awareness for its annual fundraiser, "Heels for Her," which involves men walking a mile in high heels to raise money in support of women affected by sexual assault. Desserts and beverages will be served and the event is free and open to students and the public, though SAPA members will be accepting donations.

"Matam's poems are very hard-hitting on the subject of sexual aggression," said Amanda Revenaugh, a Burton senior. "We want to bring awareness to the impact of sexual aggression, not only on this campus, but on the entire community."

Along with Matam and a few Central Michigan University students performing poems, art from "Spoken: Art Exhibit" will be displayed. "Spoken" is an interactive series of portraits and audio testimonies of survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child sexual abuse.

Bringing awareness to the issue of sexual aggression, SAPA will have an information table about joining the organization, which includes a 24-hour crisis hotline to help those affected by sexual aggression. Applications are being accepted until Feb. 28.

"You should join SAPA if you're interested in making a difference and are passionate about the issue," said Meghann Smith, a Shelby Township junior. "SAPA allows you to be around people who are interested in the same things and starting a movement. It also is a way to learn a lot more about the issues of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking and harassment."

Members of SAPA hope the event will serve as an entertaining night of awareness, while reminding the campus and community that there is someone to turn to if ever in a situation of sexual aggression.

"This event presents SAPA as not only a registered student organization, but as a professional organization," said Ohio senior Emma Tuthill. "It shows how serious we are about the issue of sexual aggression and helping those affected by it"