When it comes to “slamming” things, “words” are not typically the first thing that comes to people’s minds.
Despite this, there is a good amount of students on campus who do enjoy the occasional slamming of words, specifically in relation to things like rhythm, rhyme, and meter.
Those students will have the opportunity to get their fix this Wednesday, March 29 at the University’s annual poetry slam.
“I go to the poetry slam every year [it’s held], it’s one of my favorite events that the CAC [Campus Activity Center] puts on,” Natawsha Mitchell said. Mitchell is a senior studying History in African American Diaspora Studies at the University. Although she is not one of the ten to twenty students participating, she will be one of the many people there to enjoy some beautiful and powerful poetry.
“The number of students participating will be accurately determined the day of the event,” Julie Curtis, the Weekly Events lead student coordinator, said. “In years past, many of the sign ups occurred the day of the show.”
The poetry slam is actually a competition for students as well as an entertainment opportunity for the community.
“Winners will receive prizes in the form of $200 for first place, $100 for second place, and $50 for first place,” Curtis said. “The judges will consist of a panel of poetry experts,”
Participants must be students here at the University but the event is open and free to anyone who wants to attend. Students are just asked to keep their poems appropriate for the audience but the guidelines for poems are wide open besides that.
According to Curtis, if students would like to perform they need to sign up in the CAC office, room 012, located in the lower level of the union. The University website adds that students can sign up at the event, though spots are limited.
Many students on campus who are passionate about poetry are very excited for this event to be taking place this year.
The event is being hosted by 7220 Entertainment, which Curtis says is the student organization on campus that presents various activities and shows on campus. Students are always welcome to attend committee meetings for 7220 Entertainment and are highly encouraged to participate in the many other events put on by the organization.
“Other events 7220 Entertainment hosts includes “The Infamous Stringdusters”, “Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats”, “Rocky Horror Picture Show”, “Casino Night”, and “Step Afrika!”” Curtis said. All of these events have been very successful on campus this year and the organization is looking forward to just as much success with the poetry slam on Wednesday.
“I think the event is just a really awesome opportunity for people that are interested in poetry as well as other creative performance arts,” Mitchell said. “There aren’t a lot of outlets in Laramie to do that so I think the poetry slam is really cool.”
