Students share poetry, prose at Cafe Shapiro in UGLI

The usual buzz in the Shapiro Undergraduate Library was amplified by the prose and poetry of University students last night as the front atrium was transformed into Cafe Shapiro, an event that is part of the University's celebration of the Year of Humanities and Arts.

Last night's program, sponsored by committees of library staff members in collaboration with the humanities department, consisted of three students reading original works.

The readings, which began last week, will take place again tonight and tomorrow evening at 8:30.

The committees worked together to find a new atmosphere for students to share their work.

"One of their aims was to get links out to campus where you might not expect it," said committee member Peggy Daub, head of the special collections and arts libraries.

The committee asked English professors teaching 200- and 300-level courses to choose students who had produced exceptional work last semester and ask them if they were interested in participating.

The students said they took part for various reasons.

LSA junior Stephanie Stowe said she felt honored to be asked by her professor to read.

"I felt really great about that," said Stowe, who hopes to be an English teacher.

LSA sophomore Nation Kehoe, who participated in the event, said he thought it would be an enjoyable experience to listen to prose and poetry written by his peers.

"I definitely wanted to be a part of it," Kehoe said. "I thought it would be fun."

Daub said that one of the purposes of the event was to create an atmosphere for writers and other interested students to flourish on campus.

"The whole goal is to become a place where students can come to hear their peers read from their own writing," Daub said.

She said that this was the first opportunity for many of them to publicly present their writing.

"A lot of them have told me they have never had a chance to read their writing before," Daub said.

One difficult obstacle to overcome was the bustling atmosphere of the library.

"The one thing I am disappointed in is the acoustics," Daub said. "The kids have to work a little harder."

Kehoe also said he was disappointed with the setting.

"I'm a little upset it's in the library," Kehoe said. "But I think it's a great idea."

The setting had benefits as well, such as allowing a variety of students to stop by between meetings and studying to hear the free readings.

"I'm interested in poetry and interested in seeing what work is produced," said Engineering first-year student Nir Kraukauer, who watched the readings while waiting in line for a computer at the library last night.

Daub said she has received a tremendous amount of feedback from the event.

"I'm very pleased with the response of the readers and the audience," Daub said.

Stowe, who read a fiction story and two works of poetry, said she chose to read her favorite personal works.

"I think the poems best reflect what I write poetry-wise," Stowe said.

The event may be a great benefit for aspiring writers, Stowe said.

"I think it helps us as writers to have a forum like this," Stowe said.

Daub said that overall, she felt the program has been effective and that many people have already asked her if it will be held again in the future.

"I certainly feel it has been a success," Daub said.

02-17-98