Feb 25 - Word and Voices: UAS poets to bring community together

This is event is sponsored by the UAS Media Club. President Katie Laster said, "We have the feeling (this event) won't be a onetime occurrence for us. We have attended many awesome poetry events local and afar as a group and separately, and we believe there is a great hunger for poetry in this community; for confession in stanzas and freedom found in ink! We plan on hosting and planning even more community and poetry kinds of events."

Juneau, Alaska

Date of Press Release: February 21, 2011

A wave of poetry will sweep the Auke Lake campus with "Words and Voices: Poets of UAS." The event is part of the Sound and Motion: Spring 2011 Arts at Egan Series. UAS students, faculty and staff will be reading their own poems centering on the theme of community Friday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Egan Lecture Hall.

Emceed by the UAS Media club, Words and Voices is club’s first big event on campus. Their Sunday night Excellent Radio program features poetry and spoken word in addition to music.  "Members could not be more excited about a UAS student organized poetry reading as part of Sound and Motion," said Kate Laster, also known from the radio as DJ Kayo Nekomata.

"As one of the most active UAS clubs, we wanted to bring a (little) something special to the event:  A vibrant energy to highlight how tough it might be to read our own words, to voice your own voice!" Laster said.

The Media Club is expecting a good turnout of readers and poetry lovers.

"We have about 15 confirmed performers laying down their words," Laster said. "We always count the possibility that perhaps some (shyer), secret poets checking out the showcase will maybe get the itch to read.  We welcome them to still submit poems, or at least perform the next time. Audience wise, we're expecting some eager, boisterous people ready to listen to others. There isn't anything much more inspiring."

Laster also expressed confidence that this is only the beginning of UAS events from the Media Club.

"We have the feeling (this event) won't be a onetime occurrence for us," Laster said. "We have attended many awesome poetry events local and afar as a group and separately, and we believe there is a great hunger for poetry in this community; for confession in stanzas and freedom found in ink! We plan on hosting and planning even more community and poetry kinds of events."

Words and Voices: Poets of UAS will begin at 7 p.m. in the Egan Lecture Hall on Friday February 25.

Tune in Sundays from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. to hear the Media Club talk poetry on KXLL Radio, 100.7 FM.