The Black Student Alliance transformed the Battelle Atrium, normally a place of workshops or studying, into a dimmed-light open mic session called "The Mic" on Tuesday night.
The Mic featured poet Jason Reynolds from the University of Maryland and others who wished to share their poetry and spoken word. The free event was standing room only as seats were filled quickly.
Ebony Duncan, vice president of the BSA, began the night.
"We hope that you are not just entertained but leave with a new point of view," Duncan said at the start of the event.
Reynolds began with a poem called "A Public Apology" which apologized to single mothers who struggle on their own. He ended the poem by pleading to the men in the audience to stay in their children's lives because they are needed.
Many women were in the audience and Reynolds dedicated several of his poems to the subject of women, love and self-confidence.
"Hey ladies, how many of you think that you are beautiful? I want you to say it then, say that you are beautiful," shouted Reynolds.
The audience was captivated by many of his poems, all of which were followed by an overwhelming amount of applause and hollers of praise.
"It is good that someone finally has a message for the ladies that is positive," freshman Diane Carroll said.
During the 90-minute open mic, five members from the audience spoke on various subjects including music, happiness, money and love. Freshman Nahal Tavanger shared two of her poems for the first time in a public setting.
"Naturally, I was nervous because poetry is a serious personal thing but the crowd was nice and I was able to say it with comfort," Tavanger said.
Some audience members said they felt fulfilled when they left the event.
"The event was good. Most of the subjects that the poets were talking about hit me right here," freshman Daron Jennings said, motioning to his heart.
The BSA has sponsored "The Mic" in previous years. This year BSA plans to have "The Mic" twice a month.
"It's a positive time that uplifts the campus and people are encouraged," said Nadia Towers, BSA president.
