By Satyne Doner, Arts and Culture Editor
Inspired by writers such as Edgar Allen Poe, Saint Leo University’s English Honors Society (Sigma Tau Delta) held their annual Halloween spooky reading. Students gathered around a table decorated with spooky skeletons, cobwebs, and pumpkins while enjoying baked goods and of course, candy!
While all students were invited to come to visit the table, members of Sigma Tau Delta eagerly clutched their writing in their hands, ready to participate in an evening of the spoken word. Chairs were set up to create the effect of a sit-in audience while Sigma Tau Delta members stood and presented their eerie works, inspired by Halloween.
Steven Richardson, a graduate student studying computer science, read his poem entitled “The River”. Although the poem was spine-chilling on the surface, plunging below its depths was a much deeper meaning.
“I wrote this poem specifically out of frustration of prejudice and violence,” said Richardson. “It occurs all over the world, not just in America. Hence the reason why I didn’t specify where the river was.”
Although the overarching theme of the night was mysterious and spooky, the poems read showed off the incredible diversity of Saint Leo writers. Khamille Labbe, vice president of Sigma Tau Delta and a senior studying English, read her work “From the Perspective of the Damned”, a poem about the deceitful nature of once-sworn lovers after a breakup.
Furthermore, Labbe explained why spoken word events are so important for young and upcoming writers. “It practices your communication skills, your speech skills, and of course, builds your confidence over time.”
Sigma Tau Delta is no stranger to hosting spoken word events. In the past, they’ve hosted open mic nights, Valentine’s Day spoken words, and other gatherings to encourage speech and communication skills.
In the future, the organization is hoping to combine these spoken word events with their fundraising efforts.
“We want to combine [the spoken word events]with our fundraising,” says Ryn Williams, a senior studying both medical humanities and English, as well as the president of Sigma Tau Delta. “We’re working on fundraising for Ukraine right now. We’re talking to some people overseas about hosting events to help improve their English.”
To sum it up, Sigma Tau Delta is working on hosting events that not only show off the artistic flair of Saint Leo but also help make a difference in the larger global community. Between the spoken word events, fundraisers, and the combinations of the two, the organization is pioneering a bright future for itself moving into the 2023 school year.
