By
Angela Orlando
Arizona Daily Wildcat
UAB presents forum where poets are free to speak up
Before they crumble, the walls of The Cellar will witness one last poetry event.
Last year, the dynamic feminist poet Alix Olsen read her words aloud to an awe-struck audience in the dimly lit venue.
Susu Gray, arts chairperson for the University Activities Board (UAB), was present for the performance that night. Hearing Olsen read her powerful works inspired Gray to repeat the experience with a twist of her own.
At 7 p.m. tonight, UAB will present the first poetry slam to ever take place in The Cellar.
Though not a true slam by strict definition, Gray is attempting to offer a venue in which performers feel free to express themselves with ease.
"We won't have a judge or prizes," Gray said. "This isn't going to be a slam in the competitive sense."
True slams are generally competitions as opposed to traditional readings. They feature audience participation and wild, sometimes raw content, in addition to awards. The event in The Cellar will be more of a "spoken word" performance than a competition.
However, true to the nature of a poetry slam, performers will be able to move around as they like, and blend theatrics with their words.
"There will be both a mic and a podium," Gray said. "I'm trying to accommodate what people need."
Gray said sometimes slams can get rowdy, an issue she said she'd deal with accordingly should passions flare.
"I'm just interested in having students from all over campus get together and (I want to) open it up to anyone who likes to perform," Gray said.
With the impending loss of The Cellar as an available venue, Gray wanted to present spoken word before the forum disappeared altogether.
Vincent Juarez, a history and political science sophomore, signed up to participate in the event.
"I've been doing spoken word for a while," Juarez said. "I'm from L.A., and I'm always complaining that there aren't many places for poetry slams in Tucson."
Though the word slam carries somewhat negative connotations, Juarez said he feels many slams take place in supportive environments.
"Poetry is a great way to provoke thought and promote whatever you're about," he said. "I just want to get my style across, not necessarily to compete."
Like other artists, poets congregate for encouragement, validation, and feedback from their audience.
"I want people to see what I'm about," Juarez said. "I also like to see what other people are into. I'm looking for inspiration here."
If the slam succeeds, Gray hopes to hold more of them.
"I'm interested to see how this turns out," she said.
