Students merge scholarship with spoken word Dec. 9

Verbal Blend, a spoken-word poetry program out of the Office of Multicultural Affairs at Syracuse University, will host its campus-wide “Take the Mic” poetry slam on Sunday, Dec. 9, at 6:30 p.m. in Hergenhan Auditorium in Newhouse 3. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Admission is free.

The poetry slam is a competition that includes students from Syracuse University, SUNY-ESF and Onondaga Community College. Each participant will read or recite up to three minutes of original material. The competition is made up of two rounds that will be based on: (1) originality; (2) stage presence; (3) content; (4) delivery and  (5) time. Trophies will be awarded to the students who finish in first, second and third place.

“’Take the Mic’ poetry slam is a powerful way for students to showcase their experiences from the classroom to the stage,” says Cedric Bolton, coordinator of student engagement in the Office of Multicultural Affairs. “The campus and community get to see how creative expression and scholarship go hand in hand”

Verbal Blend is a spoken-word poetry program designed to enhance students’ confidence in writing and performance of original poems. The program consists of a six-week workshop series on poetry forms, formats, journal entries and peer reviews.

Participants have showcased their work at public venues, such as themed open mic nights, Light Work’s 2009 Night Artist Reading/Reception with Admas Habteslasie, a day workshop with poet Quyarsh Ali Lansana, SU’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, Take the Mic poetry slams and a special reading with author Tracy Sugarman.

The event is sponsored by Verbal Blend with support from the Poet’s Learning Community and Nu Rho Poetic Society.

To sign up for the slam, contact Cedric Bolton at 443-9676 or ctbolton@syr.edu.