By Julia Mericle
Staff writer
Clubs discussed their plans for the rest of the semester at the Student Government Association (SGA) meeting Tuesday evening.
The Chattertons Slam Poetry Society, formerly the St. Bonaventure Slam Poetry Club, announced its name change. Club President Kevin Cooley, a senior English and sociology major, explained the name change allows the group to become more public and be identified outside of the university setting.
Cooley said the club has begun to go public by slamming at recent events including Trashion Fashion, Art from the Heart and Spring Into Bona’s.
Members of the club agreed upon the name “Chattertons” to honor English poet Thomas Chatterton, who died penniless at 19 without ever seeing his work appreciated.
“As broke, young poets ourselves, we look up to him,” Cooley said.
The name change is not the only news for the Chattertons. Cooley placed third in the Pure Ink Poetry Slam in Buffalo this past January. Through this competition, Cooley forged connections with poets from University of Buffalo and Fredonia, and he hopes to take a group of poets to this slam in the future.
“The group is ripe with skilled new poets. We have the talent,” Cooley said. “We just need the means of funding and transportation.”
According to Cooley, the Chattertons are currently working on expanding their YouTube channel and plan to compete with other slam poetry organizations in the next few years. The poets are also preparing for a poetry slam to be held on Wednesday, April 30, at 7 p.m. in the Rathskeller. Cooley encouraged new poets to get involved and contact him for details.
“The only criteria to get involved is something to write with. We love new poets,” Cooley said.
Cooley collaborated with Lilly Whelan, senior math major, and Bona Buddies to create Poetry Pals, a group that introduces poetics to children. Eight workshops have been held this year with children of different age groups.
“As soon as they realize that slam poetry is about breaking the rules instead of making them, they’re hooked,” Cooley said.
This spring the Physical Activities Club is hosting KinderKinetics, a program where young children learn games, physical activities, and team building skills. The organization is also helping with two Special Olympics events this semester.
On Saturday, seven teams of Special Olympic athletes ranging from ages 25 through 40 will compete in a tournament.
On Thursday, April 24, elementary and middle school Special Olympics athletes will participate in a basketball clinic. The men’s and women’s basketball teams plan to help organize and run the drills.
According to Andrea Burgess, secretary of PAC, the club, in conjunction with Paula Scraba, associate professor in physical education, have already planned the day, including the activities, lunch, and opening and closing ceremonies.
PAC announced the upcoming Women In Sports Day, which brings middle and high school age girls to campus to learn about the opportunities they can have in sports. The day allows the young women to listen to a speaker and choose two sports they would like to try out and learn about. The sports include all of the Division 1 women’s sports teams on campus, as well as some intramurals, including women’s rugby.
