The Cal Poly annual literary magazine Byzantium is hosting a poetry reading called “Loverspeak” today at 8 p.m. in Ag Engineering building, room 123. The reading will raise money for the magazine’s upcoming yearly publication
All of the speakers are Cal Poly English professors who will each be reading their own poetry as a pre-Valentine’s Day production.
Cal Poly’s Byzantium is officially called a literary magazine, although it is published like a book. It features poems and stories written by Cal Poly students from all different majors.
“It’s a creative writing contest and we choose the top four poems and the top four short stories,”English major Maghan Bailey said.
Previous editions of the Byzantium will be sold, and donations are welcome at the event.
“The money will go towards the production of the magazine. In previous years, (the Byzantium staff) had to raise about $8,000 to produce the book, so we’re hoping to get in as many donations as we can,” Bailey said.
Committees comprised of faculty members blindly judge the poems and decide on first, second and third place winners, along with one honorable mention for each type of work. These eight pieces are then printed in the magazine, which is published annually.
The magazine is run by undergraduate students, and co-edited by two senior English majors, who worked for months on the magazine as a senior project. Beside Bailey, this year’s issue is co-edited by David Schwartz, also accompanied by the student art director, Julian Caustrita.
Byzantium has won numerous literary awards and is sold at the El Corral Bookstore.