The Anthem is celebrating its tenth anniversary Monday at 7 p.m. in the Chumash Auditorium, where a group of professional poets will share their thoughts on the social justice issues that have gained traction with today’s generation.
A common complaint of Cal Poly is that it lacks diversity. The Anthem hopes to share and highlight the more diverse factors within our school and the world. There is no set topic so race, weight, mental illness and gender could all be covered at this event.
“We do this in hopes of giving a voice to those who would have otherwise gone unheard,” event coordinator Megan Healy said.
Slam poetry is different than the traditional poetry we study in school. It is dependent more on audience participation, where they are encouraged, if not expected, to respond with snapping, clapping or shouting in agreement.
For the past ten years, this event has been successful in speaking about topics this generation cares about. It has served as an inspiration for not only activism, but also new authors who have started writing and speaking in the form as well.
Doors open at 6:40 p.m. More information about the event can be found on The Anthem’s Facebook page.