DeKALB – NIU’s First-Year Composition program held their 24th annual open mic Wednesday in the Sky Room of the Holmes Student Center.
The event was an opportunity for students looking to showcase their own writing, including poems and essays.
Vincent Green, a freshman biological sciences major and a speaker at the event, expressed how this event can help up and coming writers.
“I feel like it’s a good opportunity because it can help writers like me or writers of another race to be able to express themselves in a way that they never did before,” he said.
Associate professor and program director Ryan Shepherd explained the First-Year Composition program hosts various events throughout the year where blooming writers are able to present their work to their desired audience.
“We try to allow students opportunities to get used to talking about their writing and also trying to reach the right audience,” he said.
Shepherd also discussed a new showcase the program is trying this semester.
“We’re also testing something this semester, which is we’re allowing everybody the chance to submit writings and then present to a panel of judges,” he said.
Not only do writers get to showcase their work, but they have a chance to speak about themselves as well.
“I feel very thankful that I have been offered this opportunity, especially since I am planning to show myself out there, like show who I truly am by writing,” said Zach Baugus, a first-year special education major.
There were eight speakers who shared their writing at Wednesday’s event. Other writers are encouraged to attend the First-Year Composition program’s writing showcase later in the spring.
