Kent State’s Undergraduate Student Government (USG) hosted the Rhyme and Reason Poetry Slam Showcase on Monday, offering students the chance to share their poetry.
This event marked the first of its kind organized by USG, aimed at fostering students’ interest in poetry.
The idea for the showcase came after Hannah Sietz, a sophomore studying peace and conflict studies and USG senator for the College of Arts and Sciences, hosted a previous event. Students expressed interest in having a dedicated night to share their poetry.
“I held a meet-your-senator event earlier this semester,” Sietz said. “That’s when students told me they wanted a poetry slam. Many of them write poetry but don’t have an opportunity to share it beyond their professors. They wanted to share it with a larger audience.”
Although Sietz doesn’t write poetry herself, she believes events like this help people connect over shared interests.
“It’s a great way to meet people who like the same things you do,” Sietz said. “You might not know that your neighbor enjoys poetry.”
Marketing played a key role in promoting the event. USG’s director of marketing and communication handled the flyers, while other members promoted the event on social media.
“Our main focus is advertising through social media,” Sietz said. “Marketing is our number one priority.”
Madeleine Frutos, a sophomore fashion design major, shared that social media and flyers were how she learned about the event. She also expressed her long-standing love for poetry.
“I like that every word in a poem has a purpose. Changing a single word can change its entire meaning,” Frutos said. “In high school, I was often frustrated and started creating a Google Doc to jot down phrases and feelings.”
Frutos was part of a group in high school that organized similar events and still attends poetry events in downtown Kent.
“I ran a writing group in high school, and we held open mic nights twice a year,” Frutos said. “Just a few months ago, I went to an open mic at Last Exit.”
Sietz recognized the passion many students have for poetry and hopes the showcase gives them a chance to pursue it further.
“I know many people are passionate about poetry, and I love hearing it,” Sietz said. “My goal is to help people follow their passions.”
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