The Journal

Issue date: 10/4/07 Section: Lifestyle

Media Credit: Jennifer Meinhardt Sophomore Steven Thompson's lively reading energized the crowd during Spiterature Poetry Jam Sept. 27 in the University Center Sunnen Lounge.

The lights dimmed, mellowing the atmosphere of the University Sunnen Lounge into one suitable for a poetry jam. The audience was all ears, but the darkness presented one problem.

"I can't read my paper," said the poet on stage.

The lights had to stay on for the rest of the night, but the poet, junior video production major Tyler Vitale, set the mood in other ways. Vitale, who goes by the stage name of James Anthony, wore dark sunglasses as he recited two original poems, "Ballet of Malice" and "This Letter Was Made for You and Me." Vitale set music to his reading of "This Letter," cueing up his laptop to play the song "Dig This Vibe" by
DJ Crush.

"I knew it had to have some kind of rhythm to it," Vitale said. "I wanted to do something unique as well. I thought it would leave more of an impression."

Vitale was one of 17 students who read their poetry to an audience of 40 on Sept. 27 as a part of Spiterature Poetry Jam, an open forum for students to speak
their minds.

"This is for people who love words," said host Benny Roberts, a junior sociology major who read two of his original poems. "It doesn't have to be just poetry. If it's just two words, and it's on your mind, say it."

Students recited from memory, read from their notebooks and even from their cell phones. While some signed up to speak ahead of time, others who were not scheduled also had the opportunity to do so.

Sophomore audio production major Steven Thompson recited a poem called "The Reason," beginning with a common opening line for an excuse, "What had happened was …" and improvising from there.

"I was just freestyling," he said. "I just wrote whatever I could get to come out of my brain."

Some students were inspired by personal experiences. Freshman Brijhette Farmer, a double major in architecture and German, read "Concepts of Transition and Change," an original poem based on her transition from high school to college.

"I think the main reason for my expression is to get it out," she said. "It's also interesting to hear what everyone else has to say."

Continued...

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