2008 Woodie Awards
Slamming poetry in the UC
By: Meredith Mayberry
Issue date: 3/14/08 Section: News
Books aren't the only thing being slammed the first week back from spring break.
Poetry will be in motion at 7 p.m. today in the Bovee University Center Terrace Rooms A and B.
"Words of Unification," a slam poetry event, will give students a chance to put down their books and experience the transformation of the written word into the spoken word.
"It's not just reciting a poem," said Greg Pettway, the Detroit senior who is organizing the event. "The poets will have their poems memorized and will use non-verbal expression."
Pettway said poets use their hands, move around the stage and express themselves through emotional topics. The event is open mic.
"You don't have to pre-register or anything," Pettway said.
At least four poets are guaranteed performers, but Pettway is expecting about 10 students to step up and share their work with fellow poets and students.
"I'm still trying to get in contact with a few people," he said.
Pettway is looking forward to seeing regular poetry reading attendees at the event. He said it's nice to see familiar faces and poets.
"Words of Unification" is assisted by the Office for Institutional Diversity at CMU.
Hearing a number of poets will inform and give support to different cultures, Pettway said.
"You'll hear the verbal expressions of different types of people," he said.
Accompanying the poets will be drummer, Bambuti, according to allevents.cmich.edu.
Battle Creek senior Asher Long-Mendez said he definitely will attend the poetry session.
As a member of the campus group Poets Collective, Long-Mendez said he likes to take advantage of opportunities to support campus poets.
"The poetry scene here at CMU has a very small voice," Long-Mendez said. "The few times something like this comes up, it's a great chance to see what various people are capable of producing."
Pettway said poetry events in the past have been fairly popular, but he expects the timing of this event to be particularly helpful in gathering attendees.
"Coming up after spring break, people have no reason to go home," he said.
news@cm-life.com
Poetry will be in motion at 7 p.m. today in the Bovee University Center Terrace Rooms A and B.
"Words of Unification," a slam poetry event, will give students a chance to put down their books and experience the transformation of the written word into the spoken word.
"It's not just reciting a poem," said Greg Pettway, the Detroit senior who is organizing the event. "The poets will have their poems memorized and will use non-verbal expression."
Pettway said poets use their hands, move around the stage and express themselves through emotional topics. The event is open mic.
"You don't have to pre-register or anything," Pettway said.
At least four poets are guaranteed performers, but Pettway is expecting about 10 students to step up and share their work with fellow poets and students.
"I'm still trying to get in contact with a few people," he said.
Pettway is looking forward to seeing regular poetry reading attendees at the event. He said it's nice to see familiar faces and poets.
"Words of Unification" is assisted by the Office for Institutional Diversity at CMU.
Hearing a number of poets will inform and give support to different cultures, Pettway said.
"You'll hear the verbal expressions of different types of people," he said.
Accompanying the poets will be drummer, Bambuti, according to allevents.cmich.edu.
Battle Creek senior Asher Long-Mendez said he definitely will attend the poetry session.
As a member of the campus group Poets Collective, Long-Mendez said he likes to take advantage of opportunities to support campus poets.
"The poetry scene here at CMU has a very small voice," Long-Mendez said. "The few times something like this comes up, it's a great chance to see what various people are capable of producing."
Pettway said poetry events in the past have been fairly popular, but he expects the timing of this event to be particularly helpful in gathering attendees.
"Coming up after spring break, people have no reason to go home," he said.
news@cm-life.com
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