San Bernardino Valley College Students Given Power Through Poetry

By Miguel Padilla

Student-led poetry readings were held Wednesday October 5th, in Gym 141 here at San Bernardino Valley College. The readings allowed students to showcase their talents, as they presented poetry and short fiction in front of an small audience of about thirty or so classmates, peers, and professors. Members from Writer’s Block, the student-run organization of writers with a passion for the written word, made their presence welcome as their members championed the event into action. An additional faculty reading was held on Tuesday, October 11th; open for any on-campus staff members.

Signs were put out to help students find their way

Those wishing to partake in the readings were welcome to join via sign-in sheet. The sign-in sheet, along with a variety of additional resources meant for students were visible upon entering Gym 141. The student readings are sponsored by the SBVC English Department and headed by Professor Joel Lamore. Special guest “Magic” Mario Alegria served as the opening act for the Wednesday reading.

There was an immediate sense of camaraderie among the hopeful participants who stirred in their seats moments prior to their readings. Students had the ability to read their own original poetry, or the poetry of established poets with a selection that played to the spirit of Halloween. “Magic” Mario Alegria, a New York native and America’s Got Talent hopeful, began his performance with smiles ablaze throughout the audience. With a trifecta of personality, charisma, and magical charm, Mario humbly performed with an arsenal of objects that facilitated his optical illusions. He not only entertained, but invited a sense of community onto the campus with his light-hearted and earnest approach to magic.

Poems available for students to read

Following his performance, students began to rise from their seats one by one, reading their poetry with an intensity that could only be born out of passion. Themes of love, queerness, horror, and pride were on full display throughout. From my seat, I heard words of praise given to those returning to their seats after bravely stepping up to the task. The environment was respectful, and heartening, with participants returning with a private joy after pouring their hearts on the stage. As the readings drew to a close, a student by the name of Connie Rivas made an impromptu shot at reading her poetry.. Her poem drew from a place of pain, and spoke of heartful disappointment that reverberated throughout and touched many in the room.

The event was a bastion of sprouting potential. Every student here at SBVC is given a platform to express themselves through poetry, and the event illustrated just how powerful our voices can be united in one small room. The event ended at 12:36 PM that Wednesday afternoon, in less than an hour. All in all, although brief, the casual, and impressive event gave me much hope for future student-run events here on campus. Poetry is a powerful force that gives a voice to the voiceless, and that much I understand after attending this event at SBVC.

Those interested in attending the next event can catch it on Tuesday November 8th at 3PM in the Library Viewing Room 149.