The Library Club had its fourth annual Poetry Night in the Teleconference Room.

Chicano studies major Francisco Arias won first place for the Poetry Night with his poem, titled, “El Viaje”.

Poetry Night gives students the opportunity to express themselves with poetry in front of an audience.

Students reciting their poetry for the Poetry Night had to submit an original poem that they wrote.

Francisco Arias also talked about what inspired him to do it.

“I love poetry. Second of all, I felt like I needed to express myself. I can’t explain it, but I just felt like I needed to get it out”.

Spanish instructor Froylan Cabuto talked about what they looked for in a winner.

“We actually looked at the format of the poem, and the consistency of the main message that they wanted to deliver.

“We also looked for images, metaphors, and all kinds of stuff”.

Fine Arts major Destiny Salazar talked about how she got started doing poetry.

“I’ve always written, whether it was quotes, whether it was feelings or thoughts, since sixth grade. I would write just to release, just to talk, kinda like a journal.

“I got into poetry [and] started doing love letters, love poems, and I started trying to take it serious so I’m going even more in depth now,” she said.

One of the students who won first place at the Poetry Night, guest studies major Franscico Arias, has been writing poetry since high school. “My English teacher really inspired [me] to write, so ever since, I’ve been writing”.

Following the initial performances, there was open mic, which gives people the chance to perform whatever they want to do”.

President of the Library Club Claudio Pavon talked about everyone’s performances, saying, “I think that they were wonderful. Destiny was amazing. Everybody was sharing their thoughts and feelings, and it was so amazing to hear them.”

The Poetry Night was able to raise $859 dollars for the Library Club.