Poetry Slam invites students to showcase work

Cynde Puckett
In Motion Staff Writer

Anyone who has the habit of speaking in rhymes or wants to share their art with others needs to mark April 29 on their calendar. That’s when Student Publications — the literary magazine Aeolus and monthly newspaper In Motion — and Co-Curricular Activities are sponsoring a campus poetry slam.

It offers an excellent opportunity for poets to step onto the stage and have an audience listen to their original creations. Professor Jessica Kester, with the School of Humanities and Communication at Daytona State College, encourages students to participate.

“DSC supports the arts! A rich, vibrant college community needs students to think, act, dance, sing and generally be heard. Poetry slams are just one way for the college to show its support for students and their art. Students should attend this event because it will be real, emotional, funny, honest and a change from their everyday routine,” said Kester.

“A poetry slam,” as explained by Assistant Dean of Co-Curricular Activities Bruce Cook, “is basically a competition. Poets perform their work and are judged. Judges give numerical scores, based on content and performance. The audiences may react vocally to the show, as well as the judges’ scores.”

There are a few guidelines for this particular poetry slam. “All work must be original. Poets may briefly sample other work with attribution. Poets may not use recorded or live music during their performance. Limitations on language would be anything that is hateful or advocates violence,” said Cook.

Anyone who enjoys the art of storytelling through poetry and wants to participate or support those in the competition are welcome to attend. The slam will be held on the Daytona Beach campus, in Building 110, room 102, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 29. For more information contact Co-Curricular Activities at ext. 4417.

Admission is free and refreshments will be served. For winners, there will be prizes and copies of the campus newspaper and magazine will also be distributed.

For those who want to get their feet wet in the wonderful world of poetry writing, the perfect opportunity will be offered next spring when Professor Kester’s teaches her poetry class, CRW2300: Poetry Writing. In addition, look for the latest edition of Aeolus, which comes out once a year during the spring semester. It should be on the racks by the end of this month. Copies will be available at the rack in the entrance to the Lenholdt Student Center, Building 130. They also will be available at 4 p.m. Wednesdays in Building 130, room 119 during the weekly In Motion staff meeting or call 506-3268.