By Mary Best
Editor-in-Chief
Enthusiastic snaps, laughs and rip-roaring applause filled the Rathskeller Wednesday night as St. Bonaventure’s best poets took the stage in the SBU Spring Slam sponsored by the Slam Poetry Club.
The biannual slam featured 11 poets — seasoned veterans and fresh-faced slam newbies alike, all performing their pieces in their own vocal styles and flair in a much more unconventional way than a traditional poetry reading.
Hosted by the sassy Andrea Westerlund, ’12, who treated the audience to lighthearted commentary and puns throughout the evening, the slam began with a sacrificial non-competing poet. Sophomore journalism and mass communication major Sean O’Brien set the bar high with “The Sacrifice,” comparing his poem to a sermon and art as a deity, inviting the audience to join him in worship as the poets expressed their words.
Notable poems from the evening spanned topics including everything from sex and swearing to depression and insomnia. Each poet showcased immense care and value for his or her craft, each expressing his or her own words with unique rhythms and inspiring a cacophony of approving snaps from the audience.
The judges, assistant professor of English Daniel Ellis, associate professor of philosophy Daniel Tate and visiting assistant professor of sociology Benjamin Gross, chose which poets made it to the second round of competition and who would take home the coveted top three prizes.
Reid Gan, a senior Spanish major who took second place in his fall slam debut, won top prize against difficult competition. Senior theater and journalism and mass communication major Emily West and junior journalism and mass communication major Makeda Loney took second and third, respectively.
“It feels wonderful. I couldn’t believe it. (Loney and West) blew me out of the water,” Gan said. “I was always impressed by everybody who did this and I love to be associated with these people.”
With Gan, West and Loney taking the top prizes, second-round competitors Emily Steves, a sophomore journalism and mass communication major, Andrew Bevevino, a freshman strategic communication and digital media major and Tony Lee, an integrated marketing communications student, offered equally memorable performances, sharing stories inspired by personal experiences in sassy, inspiring and heart-warming ways.
Lea Battaglia, a sophomore English major, said she enjoyed attending her first poetry slam.
“It was something I could never do, so I was blown away,” Battaglia said. “The three who won were my three favorites.”
Sophomore theater and journalism and mass communication major Tori Lanzillo is no newcomer to slam and sat in the audience for a third time.
“I knew more people in it, so it was fun to root for some people,” Lanzillo said. “Their poems were incredibly funny and memorable this time around.”
Loney, also co-president of the Slam Poetry Club, took a different approach to her poems and found the competition to be tougher in her fourth slam.
“I wrote my poems more on a whim this time. I didn’t plan them out like I usually do, so I was more nervous,” Loney said. “I am really excited that with all the amazing talent, I was chosen to be in the top three.”
