By Josh Del Rio

The NE English department and humanities division will present a Poetry Slam and Open Mic Oct. 18. 

The event will be hosted by Mike Guinn, founder of Fort Worth National Poetry Slams and the DFW Brave New Voices Youth Poetry Slams. He also co-founded the National Poetry Awards.

Guinn and the National Fort Worth Poetry Slam Team will perform during the event.

Stacey Said, NE English instructor, said she’s bringing her class to the event.

“Just watching, you learn so much about different kinds of poetry, and you’re motivated and inspired in different ways,” she said. “Just come and experience it because you would be surprised.”

Students can bring in poetry they have worked on beforehand or follow along with the poem activity that Guinn will lead. The poems students write will be judged by a panel of audience members chosen by Guinn. Winners will receive cash prizes. The first-place winner’s poem will be published as NE’s Top Performance Poet in Under The Clock Tower, NE’s literary journal. The event will be 12:30-2:30 p.m. in the Center Corner (NSTU 1615A).