Photo by Dylan Hodgson
Jerrico W, Inna R, Lorenzo E, Chad W, Tressa L, River W, Topher C
By Dylan Hodgson
On Oct. 29, UAF's English Department, Sigma Tau Delta, and the Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability hosted the second annual Dead Poets reading in the Hess Rec Center.
Dead Poets is a collaborative event that encourages undergraduate participation, letting students share creative writing that is important to them, whether it be original material from presenters or writing from authors who have passed away.
Dead Poets places a strong emphasis on poetry, but presenters are also allowed to read prose.
This year's event was marked by a wide diversity in poetry both original and quoted. In addition to foundational writers such as Edgar Allan Poe and Emily Dickinson, students also shared work from Soviet and Russian poet Bulat Okudzhava and Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges.
Original work from students was impressive, ranging from Dena'ina poetry to slam poetry to original gothic poetry. “Reading and performing poems from dead authors is not just about honoring the legacies of past writers,” English Department representative and host Jerrico Willaims said.
“It is a testament to the way that poetry and creative writing help all of us understand our world, communities and ourselves.”