Lafayette Campus News (www.lafayette.edu), April 3, 2008 — Lafayette’s celebration of National Poetry Month includes readings from students, open mic nights, and interaction with the acclaimed poets who judged Lafayette’s student poetry competitions. All events are free and open to the public.
This year’s winner of the Jean Corrie Poetry Competition is government and law major Kyle deCant ’10 (Orange, Conn.). Amanda Whitbred ’11 (Doylestown, Pa.) received honorable mention. The competition was judged by poet, short story writer, and translator Kirk Nesset. The Jean Corrie Poetry Reading and Ice Cream Social will be held 4:10 p.m., April 17 in the Faculty Dining Room of Marquis Hall. DeCant, Whitbred, and Nesset will all read their poetry.
English major Megan Kaesshaefer ’08 (Philadelphia, Pa.) won the MacKnight Black Poetry Competition. Slovenian poet Tomaž Šalamun and American poet Brian Henry served as judges. All three will read their work at the MacKnight Black Poetry Reading held 7 p.m. April 9 in Kirby Hall of Civil Rights room 104.
Events are sponsored by the English department, the department of foreign languages and literatures, and the Arts Society. For more information on the month’s events, contact Lee Upton, professor of English and writer-in-residence, at x5250 or email.
National Poetry Month Schedule:
- Tuesday, April 8, 7 p.m.: Beat Open Mic Night at the Cosmic Cup
- Wednesday, April 9, 4:10 p.m.: Poetry and Translation in the Faculty Dining Room – Informal discussion session with Slovenian poet Tomaž Šalamun, one of the leading European poets, and his translator, the prominent American poet, Brian Henry.
- Wednesday, April 9, 7 p.m.: MacKnight Black Poetry Reading in Kirby room 104 – Competition winner Megan Kaesshaefer will read her poem, followed by competition judges Tomaž Šalamun and Brian Henry.
- Monday, April 14, noon: Favorite Poem Reading in the Williams Center for the Arts Lobby
- Monday, April 14, 9 p.m.: W.O.R.D.S.—Open Mic Night in Gilbert’s Cafe
- Wednesday, April 16, 4:10 p.m. "Mallarmé's Shadow” in the Gendebien Room of Skillman Library – A talk by Alastair Noble, assistant professor of art, about the relationship between his own sculpture and Mallarmé’s poetry.
- Thursday, April 17, 4:10 p.m.: Jean Corrie Poetry Reading & Ice Cream Social in the Faculty Dining Room – Competition winner Kyle deCant and runner up Amanda Whitbred will read their work, followed by competition judge Kirk Nesset. An open mic poetry reading will follow.
- Wednesday, April 30, 4:10 p.m.: Marquis Literary Magazine Reading/Release Party in Gendebien Room, Skillman Library
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