Grand Slam Event Program

Fourth Annual

Grand Slam

__________________________________________

Event Program

Special Acknowledgement The members of WU-SLam are incredibly grateful to the Washington University in St. Louis English Department, for not only educating us in the delicate art of the written word, but also enthusiastically encouraging WU-SLam’s activities over the past four years of our existence, and providing generous financial support, without which these chapbooks and programs could not have been printed.

We absolutely cannot thank you enough.

And now, A word from the President Dear esteemed audience member, I know that you were probably expecting, as a member of the audience, to be watching a poetry slam tonight. But I’m afraid that isn’t going to be enough. We forgot to tell you this, but you are a critical part of tonight’s show. In fact, you are probably the single most important person in this theatre tonight.

Tonight, the four poets that you, the audience, choose to be the best, will become our delegation to represent Wash U at the national college tournament. Last year the audience picked a team that placed second in the country. This year, the sky is the limit.

You may or may not be one of tonight’s five randomly appointed judges, but even if you are not holding a scoreboard right now, you control the outcome of this slam. When you hear a poem, it will make you feel a certain way. It will make you think certain thoughts. And your job, audience, is to let everyone — the judges, the poets, the other audience members — know. Be loud. What do you appreciate? What blows your mind? What makes you happy, or scared, or awkwardly aroused?

Tonight’s event is not a performance. It is a conversation. The poets will share their stories and you will share your responses: your snaps and laughs and cheers and gasps and moans. The conversation continues after the slam, when you tell the poets how their poem made you feel. It continues when you write poems of your own.

Please, enjoy yourself tonight. Participate as much as you are comfortable with (hopefully a little more than you are comfortable with), and be heard. With the fullest sincerity, I welcome you to WU-SLam’s 4th annual Grand Slam, 2012, featuring guest poet Aaron Samuels.

Thank you for your support, your energy, and your company.

Love, Adam Segal, WU-SLam President

About WU-Slam WU-SLam, Washington University in St. Louis’s premier spoken word poetry group, has been an actively growing organi-zation since 2008. We aim to build a community of artists and to offer all people in the Washington University community a safe space to share poetry while developing writing and performance skills. Along with our monthly poetry slams, our weekly writing workshop called Inklings and biweekly editing workshop called WUrkshop offer many ways for the Washington University community to participate in the national and international movement of spoken word poetry. Founded by Aaron Samuels and Chris Kammerer a mere three years ago, WU-SLam has sent teams to the College Union’s Poetry Slam Invitational for the past two years and received numerous awards, including Best Group Piece, Most Innovative Team, and Best Peformance.

In 2010, Washington University placed 5th in the nation and we hope to beat that record in Ann Arbor, Michigan this April. Members of WUSLam’s Performance Crew have performed for audiences of all sizes and backgrounds across the city of St. Louis and have traveled to Philadelphia, Boston, and New Hampshire. WU-SLam always welcomes new members to the expanding slamily.

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Tonight’s Events Feature Poet Sacrificial Poets Round One Competition Intermission Round Two Competition Round Three

Aaron Samuels Adam Segal, Meredith Irvin, Ben Tolkin All Ten Poets Perform, order TBA Purchase Food and Merchandise!

All Ten Poets Perform, order TBA Five Remaining Poets Perform

About Slam Poetry Slam poetry is a form of competitive performance poetry invented by construction worker Marc “So What” Smith* in 1985 and popularized in part through the TV series Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam. The competitive event is called a slam, and any poem slammed at a slam is a slam poem. A slam has five judges chosen at random from the audience and three rounds, with only the top-scoring poets advancing to the third round. Each poet has three minutes on stage and only two restrictions: All poems must be that poet’s original work, and no props may be used. There is no censorship of language or subject, and audience participation is strongly encouraged. Slam poetry has taken off in a powerful movement, and today there are many national competitions where people of all ages share their stories. *Slam poetry is intentionally irreverent, democratic, and anti-authoritarian. In this vein, it’s traditional to shout “So What?” any time someone name-drops Marc Smith.

It is the manifestation of equity and love. It is the public utterance of one’s passion. It is the unashamed fusion of energy and an uncontrollable lust for words. It is the opportunity to share a piece of oneself with the movement and its people. This show has been in the works since November of 2011. With the help of a dedicated team, seven beloved collaborators, and two sponsors,

WU-SLam presents to you—The Grand Slam!

Performers Featured Poet Sacrificial Poets

Competing Poets

Aaron Samuels Adam Segal Meredith Irvin Ben Tolkin Bryan Baird Elliott Scheer Gabriel Cralley Jacqui Germain Josh Aiken Lauren Banka Mikkel Snyder Pat Hollinger Sam Lai Tabia Yapp

Crew Special Programming Chair Executive Producer Stage Manager Publicity Chair External Logistics Chair Internal Logistics Chair

Tabia Yapp Tayler Geiger Solomon Brown Gabriel Cralley Adam Segal Mikkel Snyder

Designer: Fliers, T-shirts Design: Program/Chapbook Design: Mini Trading Cards

Kelsey Eng Laura Beckman Lauren Banka

Finances Volunteer Coordinator Volunteer Coordinator Host Coordinator Music Coordinator Culinary Coordinator Culinary Coordinator Internal Morale

Sponsors E nglish Department CS40 Skandalaris Center Career Center Lock & Chain Cheeseology

Ian Suiter Jacqui Germain Ricker Bailey Josh Aiken Pat Hollinger Meredith Irvin Elliott Scheer Cecilia Appleberry

collaborators Kuumba.TV WUMixed Senior Class Council KWUR WUTV ABS

Featured Poet Aaron Samuels Raised in a Black-Jewish household in Providence Rhode Island, is an award-winning poet, educator, and community organizer.

Aaron has competed on performance poetry teams for the last six years, consistently ranking among the top poets in the youth, collegiate, and national competitions. He has served as a coach for the Providence, Washington DC, and Boston Youth Poetry teams. Aaron was the founder and coach for the Washington University collegiate and adult teams. As an educator, Aaron stresses the urgency for cross-cultural dialogue, teaching writing workshops to middle schools, high schools, college students, and community organizations across the country.

Competing Poets

let me hear you chant: spit poet!

Tabia Yapp is one of many “wise-fools” at Wash U. Aside from her jog-walks to class and late-night common room lounging, she spends a lot of time thinking about the best way to exist. For funzies, she goes on adventures with her suitemates, rummages through old photos and letters, and watches Real Housewives of Atlanta. Tabia is thankful for WU-SLam for giving her a home. She is thankful for her family and everyone in the audience for continued support of the WU-SLam community and the Poetry Movement. She’d also like to thank Google Calendar, a lot.

Elliott Scheer was raised by a diabetic cat in Portland, OR. He spent his childhood chasing small animals, developing an athletic quickness that paved his way to a middle school athletic award. By high school, his passions drifted from lacrosse to focus on academics. He now studies computer science, writing poetry in his free time. Once he graduates, he will use his computer knowledge to create the Replicat (copyright pending), which will act like a house cat, but will never die (if properly charged).

Joshua Aiken is a sophomore currently located in Chandler, Arizona. He is the youngest of three brothers and hopes to be all things substantive and sincere. Joshua has been a member of WU-SLam’s Performance Crew since freshman year and competed at CUPSI in spring of 2011.

Jacqui Germain is a Senior from Cincinnati, OH majoring in International & Area Studies.

She attended WU-SLam’s first Inklings back at its creation in 2008 and has been in love with slam poetry ever since. She went to CUPSI in 2011 and hopes to return this year.

Jacqui recently competed on WU-SLam’s team in Springfield, MO where they placed first in the region! She’s beyond excited to be on Edison Stage tonight and thankful to share it with 9 other phenomenal poets.

Gabriel Cralley is a junior double majoring in Religious Studies and Spanish. When he isn’t eating peanut butter, he roams the Illinois countryside, singing jaunty tunes to birds and drifters. He is not (NOT NOT NOT) a Power Ranger.

Pat Hollinger After incubating for years in the Chicago Suburbs, Pat is almost fully ready to hatch. He’s thankful for the shade of his mother’s wing, the friends who entertained his shenanigans, and the family who still claims him through all his ridiculousness. Catch him engaging the Homeless in Socratic Dialogue or analyzing the status quo for areas it can improve. He spreads his love to friends, family, fans, and the Universe in general. ‘Shout out to my baby niece Nahla born on February 5th’ Bryan Baird is a senior looking to end his WashU career not with a whimper but with a bang. He has spent a lot of time working hard at WashU, both in classes and for the Washington University Political Review, but he is incredibly grateful for WU-SLam for welcoming and supporting him as he discovered a whole new world of fun and passion and expression. He loves all of you, in blank verse, in PUNishment, and as the immortal Grandpappy. Go hard.

Mikkel Snyder What he will tell you: He builds worlds in his spare time. He slams because he’s pretty sure it saved his sanity at one point and gave him some of the best memories and best friends he has. What you need to know: He has a fondness for sufficiently analyzed magic, sufficiently advanced technology, narrative arcs, and pocket watches.

Lauren Banka is a founding member of WU-SLam and the first person ever to be in four consecutive Grand Slams. She splits her time between poetry, her major in Printmaking, and her deep and abiding love for television.

She is grateful to WU-SLam for the support, the wacky hijinks, and, most of all, the education.

Poetry Reading from Visiting Professor Visiting Hurst Professor Peter Gizzi will read from his poetry. The event will be followed by a reception and book signing. Peter Gizzi’s books include Threshold Songs, The Outernationale, Some Values of Landscape and Weather, Artificial Heart, and Periplum and other poems 1987-92.

Hurst Lounge, Duncker Hall, Room 201 February 23, 2012 6:00 pm

Cheeseology Kuumba TV is a website dedicated to sharing the stories of creative individuals in the Washington University community. We offer new artist profiles every month and blog content updated weekly.

Submit your photos, art, and creative content to our blog at kuumbatv@gmail.com If you would like to collaborate on a project also email us at kuumbatv@gmail.com.

Keep crafting. Keep Creating.

Sam Lai is a Chicago native who is actually from the Suburb “Naperville” which is actually just a bigger version of the “south forty.” Sam actually leads a double life in an alternate universe where he has the ability to turn into a “tiger.” Sam is a freshman planning on majoring in friendship with a minor in subversion, but he is really just here for the lols. Sam is a graduate of WuSlam’s very first Pre-orientation program and has gradually been transformed into a poet since. He still considers prose his first love but “poetry” is pretty “cool” “too.”

Design Team

Kelsey Eng is a junior majoring in Communication Design. Starting last semester, she has had a blast working as WU-SLam’s official graphic designer. You can see more of her work at kelseyeng.com. She would like to thank WU-SLam for including her in their creative vision, and her suitemates and friends for being awesome!

Laura Beckman is a senior studying illustration and design. When she’s not writing poetry, she’s inspired to make images that help bring poetry to life. In other words, call her if you want to make your chapbook awesome.

Check out her work at laurabeckman.com.

She would like to thank WU-SLam for being the single most welcoming community (and also the sexiest) that she has ever encountered in her four years at Wash U.

Spring Showcase coming up!

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for

WU-SLam’s Second Annual Spring Showcase.

The Spring Showcase is not a competition, but rather a theatrical performance of poetry, centered around a compelling theme. Last year’s show in the Black Box Theater, Genesis, was a smashing success! If you are interested in auditioning for the show or have suggestions for a theme, contact wu.slam@gmail.com.

Production Team

Solomon C. Brown is a sophomore from Washington DC who fell in love with the art and craft of poetry upon his arrival at the University. He has been working with WUSlam for over a year know serving as the Slam-Master and liaison to Poetry Slam Inc. the national level competition coordinators.

The Grand Slam is his favorite activity within WU-Slam because it’s the best showcase we have to the Wash U community. He can’t wait to fill Edison again and bring down the house with some powerful poetry. Outside of poetry he enjoys Cycling.

Tayler Geiger is a freshman in his first year as a member of WU-SLam. He’s probably studying English, but doesn’t want to tie himself down to something just yet. He writes, he loves, he plays hackysack, and his favorite roommate’s name is Jasraj. Thank you for your continuing support! We couldn’t do any of this without each and every one of you. WU-SLam love to all.

Sacrificial Poets let me hear you chant: spill the blood!

Adam Segal is a Junior from Denver, Colorado, and the current president of WU-SLam. He always says things and then contradicts himself.

No he doesn’t, he actually never does that. His hobbies include playing Super Smash Bros., cooking breakfast burritos, and retaining his blood. Wait, what exactly does a sacrificial poet do again?

Meredith Irvin is a Junior majoring in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology. In 2011 she attended iWPS, placed 2nd at the St. Louis Slam, and won the Undergraduate Award from the Academy of American Poets. Next month she will be competing at the Women of the World Poetry Slam in Denver. Her element is water and in her free times she enjoys charcoal drawing, measuring her life out in coffee spoons, and harmonizing with her suitemates.

Ben Tolkin makes terrible first impressions, but is a really excellent person once you know him.

He comes from Massachusetts, likes writing raps but is new to poetry, and loves ponies. No one’s quite sure what he’s studying, which could mean he hasn’t decided yet, but it also could mean it’s something totally awesome and secret like being a super cool spy or something.