2008 Woodie Awards
Virginia Tech professor lectures at CMU
Poet famous for poem about campus shooting
By: David Veselenak
Issue date: 2/18/08 Section: News
Sean Novak is at a loss for words when he tries to describe Virginia Tech professor Nikki Giovanni.
"Giovanni is inspiring," said the interim assistant director of Minority Student Services. "It never ceases to amaze me the caliber speakers we have here."
The international poet and writer will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Warriner Hall's Plachta Auditorium.
Giovanni is known for her recent poem, "We are Virginia Tech," which she recited after 32 Virginia Tech students were shot and killed on campus on April 16.
She was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Spoken Word for her album, "The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection," and continues to be a distinguished English professor.
"You have to experience her for herself," Novak said. "It's hard for me to put it into words."
Pontiac senior Ashley N. Smith said Giovanni is a great contributor to the black community, as well as the nation.
"Black history is not a history that just stops," said Smith, the president of CMU's NAACP chapter. "She is one of the greatest writers in American history."
Smith said she was more than thrilled when MSS decided to bring Giovanni to campus.
"When I found out, I was really happy about it," she said. "I told them I was all for it."
Giovanni also may speak about the shooting that left five students dead Thursday at Northern Illinois University, Novak said.
"I think it would be relevant for her to touch on," he said.
The presentation, which is open to the public, is expected to fill Plachta Auditorium.
"I think it'll be filled," Novak said. "I suggest being there 6:15 or 6:30 (p.m.)"
Giovanni's speech will conclude by the series of events for Black History Month put on by MSS.
Smith said Giovanni uses what she is good at - writing - to get her message across.
"She never attempted to go and do something she wasn't good at," she said. "You can really make a change by developing your own talent."
news@cm-life.com
"Giovanni is inspiring," said the interim assistant director of Minority Student Services. "It never ceases to amaze me the caliber speakers we have here."
The international poet and writer will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Warriner Hall's Plachta Auditorium.
Giovanni is known for her recent poem, "We are Virginia Tech," which she recited after 32 Virginia Tech students were shot and killed on campus on April 16.
She was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Spoken Word for her album, "The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection," and continues to be a distinguished English professor.
"You have to experience her for herself," Novak said. "It's hard for me to put it into words."
Pontiac senior Ashley N. Smith said Giovanni is a great contributor to the black community, as well as the nation.
"Black history is not a history that just stops," said Smith, the president of CMU's NAACP chapter. "She is one of the greatest writers in American history."
Smith said she was more than thrilled when MSS decided to bring Giovanni to campus.
"When I found out, I was really happy about it," she said. "I told them I was all for it."
Giovanni also may speak about the shooting that left five students dead Thursday at Northern Illinois University, Novak said.
"I think it would be relevant for her to touch on," he said.
The presentation, which is open to the public, is expected to fill Plachta Auditorium.
"I think it'll be filled," Novak said. "I suggest being there 6:15 or 6:30 (p.m.)"
Giovanni's speech will conclude by the series of events for Black History Month put on by MSS.
Smith said Giovanni uses what she is good at - writing - to get her message across.
"She never attempted to go and do something she wasn't good at," she said. "You can really make a change by developing your own talent."
news@cm-life.com
Be the first to comment on this story