Students "Slam" Love for Valentine's Day

By Sarina Caragan

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, 14 Santa Clara students plan to shed light on the darker side of love.

The poetry slam, "Why You Hurt Me So Bad?," will feature original pieces by Santa Clara students, exploring various instances of love gone awry, on Monday evening — the night before Valentine's Day.

According to senior Jacob Teeny, the event's student organizer, slam poetry has often been used to address topics surrounding ethics and social justice — and does so effectively.

"Poetry is a medium that's hip, modern (and) entertaining, and I thought it would be a great way to get (ethical) ideas out there," said Teeny.

Although slam poetry is typically performed for a live audience in a competitive environment, Teeny explained that the poets performing at this event would not be judged.

"Because this is the first (poetry slam Santa Clara) has done, I just wanted to get people up there to perform," he said. When asked why he decided to focus on romantic issues, Teeny said that the proximity to Valentine's Day made the event's date convenient, but college students' approach to relationships made the event's issues pressing.

"I think Santa Clara, and our society in general, is in this hook-up mentality," explained Teeny. "More often than not, one person (involved in a casual hook-up) gets more attached to the other, and that's something we don't often consider. There are more than physical consequences (after a hook-up)."

The poetry slam itself, sponsored by the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, is part of the center's The Big Q program, which encourages discussion of ethical issues especially pertinent to college students.

The slam will be The Big Q's first event of winter quarter and third event of the academic year.

The Big Q launched last March in an attempt to facilitate conversation surrounding ethical questions college students face in their everyday lives, such as what to do after a roommate passes out after a night of drinking and how to handle romantic relationships.

The project serves as part of larger social media campaign, which includes anonymous weekly polls on its Facebook page, a Twitter account that links to national news stories that raise specific ethical questions, and a blog in which different scenarios are presented and on which students can comment for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card.

"Why You Hurt Me So Bad?" and The Big Q's two fall quarter events — a debate on lowering the legal drinking age and a coffee study break — are ways that the program has expanded into the offline world from its virtual platform.

Teeny joined The Big Q team after being awarded a Hackworth Fellowship in Applied Ethics. According to the Markkula Center's website, the fellowship is awarded to undergraduate seniors who wish to devise a project that promotes ethical reflection among Santa Clara students.

The poetry slam was included in Teeny's proposal for the fellowship, as a means to tie in slam poetry — "one love of my life," he explained.

"Slam poetry particularly is so charged with emotion," said Teeny. "It's so visceral and in your face. But, at the same time, these poets spend so much time honing their craft. It's a great way for people to discuss the gravitas of (ethical) situations."

The 14 students, who represent all class years and different academic disciplines, signed up for the slam after Teeny tabled and advertised his event campus-wide.

"There are lots of poets on-campus, and they don't have a forum to share their work," said Teeny.

But, aside from having a designated space for on-campus poets to showcase their talent, the poetry slam aims to raise big questions about how college students approach relationships.

As Teeny explained: "We get to speak sweetly about bitter topics."

The event takes place this Monday from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Bronco.

Contact Sarina Caragan at scaragan@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.