On Tuesday, November 6, the Black Student Union hosted the 3rd annual “Poetry Slam.” Diversity definitely seemed like the issue here in this poetry reading, but not in the way we would originally think, nor in the way Professor Dansdill portrayed. The poems, the thoughts, the words, the feelings were all diverse in the things that mattered most to these artistic speakers. The poems ranged from big topics such as religion and global warming to a simple train ride on the way to Union Station.
Freshman representative Brittany Grimes had powerful words to share for the audience. “Everywhere we turn, there’s war and disaster,” but ended her poem with a hope, “Lord thank you for letting me live another day.” Interviewed later she said that her poems are religious oriented, and believes if we have faith that the world wouldn’t be as bad as it seemed.
Senior Kristen Moore wrote a poem comparing the treatment of women, to the treatment of our environment, or “Mother Nature,” as you could say. Moore ends her poem with something to think about, and surely this is on her mind as she will be graduating. “Here are our graduates, majoring in apathy and minoring in fear,” as President Lahey would announce. Do not be mistaken by this message, though, because when asked if she felt it was President Lahey’s fault because of the Quinnipiac student’s apathy, she responded, “Not at all, not even a little bit. Students should take full responsibility.”
Queen Sheba, as she is famously known by, is a winner of four International Team Slam competitions and performed for the troops on the U.S. Air Force base in K-Town Germany. At “Poetry Slam,” Quinnipiac had the pleasure of listening to her sing, shout, and speak (very fluently) of topics that hit home. The main themes her poems focused on was cheating men and the power of women. Sheba, as she prefers to be called, commented on Professor Dansdill’s disclaimer. “The more you discuss the obvious diversity, the more people will notice it.”
At the end of the “Poetry Slam,” freshman poet Jasmine Scott who wrote a poem about deep, meaningful relationships expressed her opinion on the turnout. “I feel people had to come for class, though to be honest, more people than I imagined showed up.” She also felt, on a brighter side, that this Poetry Slam was “a good way to let your feelings out.” Quinnipiac audience member, Ben Wald felt it was a “phenomenal experience,” as he was excited to hear the performance of Queen Sheba.
The “Poetry Slam” was definitely an experience and the poems reiterated a common theme: Quinnipiac students and college students as a whole are tired of being seen as apathetic, and problems of the world matter to them just as anyone else. The school needs more nights like this to hear the voices of these talented young adults.
