NEWS
Tuesday, february 26, 2002
3
Students express opinion in poetry nEVENT: Open-mic night at the Pub gives individuals an outlet to share their artistic thoughts and feelings By Jenn Stewart
Daily Titan Staff Writer The background music faded and a hush fell over the crowd as the first performer stepped between the backlights and the microphone. His eyes shifted from the floor and he took one last breath before he initiated the night by breaking the silence. Students gathered Saturday night at the Pub in the Titan Student Union to participate in an open-mic night designed to give them an opportunity to express opinions and emotions. The program, which was presented toward the end of Black History Month, included spoken word, poetry, hip-hop and comedy. “We’re just trying to create an opportunity for students and artists, we have a really positive vibe,” said, an African-American studies student who goes by the stage name Wyyll. “It re-invents itself every time we do one of these.” Around 70 people crowded into the Pub by the time the performance started. Wyyll, the promoter and designer of these open- mic nights, has been hosting the event once a month for the past two semesters. Wyyll also produces and performs a radio show for Titan Internet Radio called “Fusion.” The show, performed Friday after-
The open-mic night gives firstnoons, also mixes spoken word with time performers a casual setting to a variety of music. Students from Cal State Fullerton hone their talents. Marie Leggette, a first-time perweren’t the only ones performing. Anyone, young or old, who had former, said she was nervous but her something to say was encouraged to experience was rewarding. participate. “I feel like I’ll be naked, stripped “You never get anyof all my clothes and getwhere by yourself. ting up there and showUs being students, we ing everyone my inner“We’re able most thoughts, telling didn’t get here alone…I think it’s important that everybody what I feel,” people are a part of the to have our Leggette said. “And community,” Wyyll that’s something I usualsaid. reserve for that special own voice as ly Some of the perperson, or paper.” formers were more “The Parables,” a pair far as being of smooth complexexperienced than others, but everyone that ioned stylish young men, performed was greeted heard though opened the night with an with a warm round of intricate weaving of spoapplause. ken rhyme. poetry or “I think students are Their piece was titled able to see what other “Beginner’s End,” and students or young although they tripped music or people have on their on their tongues once or minds,” said Alphonso whatever it twice, the duo performed McAuley, the emcee for like seasoned veterans. the night. After the crowd may be.” “A lot of the poetry warmed up, individual that goes through here, performers stood up and it’s mainly what people read various verse. are dealing with day to Audience members Alphonso day.” applauded, hollered and McAuley, McAuley kept the praised the people brave emcee for crowd laughing and the enough to share their open-mic night at applause roaring with inner thoughts. his stand-up comedy “Around Midnight,” a The Pub hip-hop group performed routine. next. Their pulsing beats Although McAuley and bouncing front men is recognized around campus as a comedian, occasionally mixed the night up by contradicting he’s been known to stun the audience the otherwise intense poetry. by reading a serious poem. “Basically what we try to do…is “We’re able to have our own voice, bring together a lot of different styles: as far as being heard through poetry poetry, literature, fiction, music, and or music or whatever it may be,” try to see what we can get,” Wyyll McAuley said. said.
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CHRIS DUNN/Daily Titan
Patrick Karatepetain reads his first self-written piece of poetry at the monthly event of “Fusion.”
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