| UAlbany
Students Spread the Word
Can an off-campus event at a local cafe turn
into a Student Association-recognized (funded)
group? The correct answer is that anything is
possible for University at Albany students,
once they put their minds to it. That is precisely
how the performance poetry group called SPREAD
THE WORD got started. About three years
ago UAlbany alumna Farrah Fidler, '04, organized
open mic sessions at the Lionheart Blues Caf�, in
downtown Albany. The group soon moved to the
UAlbany campus and found its audience niche
with undergraduate students.
 |
| Oren Silverman |
SPREAD THE WORD creates an environment where
not only poets, but any artist can comfortably
share their work. "Poetry is encouraged and
appreciated," says Oren Silverman, president
of the STW group. Silverman, a junior from Brooklyn,
says, "STW is another facet of the community
that is neither political nor cultural, but
has its ties through poetic art." In fact STW
intentionally holds its open mic sessions on
Wednesday nights in Ritazza's, a coffee shop
in the Campus Center. "It creates an indirect
collaboration between students, faculty and
other members on campus," says Silverman.
One way STW is reaching its goals is by sponsoring
the UAlbany SLAM team. A SLAM is a spoken word
poetry competition. The team consists of four
members and an alternate. The team will compete
in a series of northeastern regional competitions
with hopes to make it to the Nationals this
year.
 |
| Liz Falardi |
STW has also become involved with the Liberty
Partnership Program. The LPP is a dropout
prevention program targeted at young men and
women in grades 7 - 12 in the Albany School
District who are at risk of leaving school prior
to graduation. STW has a connection to the LPP
through its program coordinator, Mojavi Wright,
who was last year's SLAM coach. The English
Honor Society, Sigma Tau
Delta, joined SPREAD THE WORD to host
writing workshops with local high school students
several times during the month. "The program's
benefits are two-fold. It allows us to give
back to the community and display our talents
simultaneously," says sophomore Liz Falardi,
STW member.
So what is in store for STW next semester?
The president's vision for STW includes preparing
for National Poetry Month in April when they
hope to have poetry-related events every day
of the month. They also want to organize with
other groups on campus beyond open mics, and
promote their group to become as well known
as some of the other nationally recognized organizations
on campus. In cooperation with the University
Art Museum, STW hopes to organize a series of
poetry writing workshops where pieces can be
critiqued and polished for future performances.
SPREAD THE WORD plans to live up to its name.
For more on Spread the Word information
contact: [email protected].
This story
was written by Esther Spencer, a junior, Business
Administration major and Spanish minor from
Brooklyn NY, who works in the University's Office
of Media & Marketing.
Related Links:
Liberty
Partnership Program
Sigma
Tau Delta |
