BSU President Thomas Battle gave an unexpected performance at last night’s Poetry Night.

Toward the end, the senior finance major began randomly picking audience members to recite. Some audience members were prepared and recited a poem.

Battle was about to pick another poet from the audience when someone asked him to recite some of his work. He grabbed his cell phone where he had a poem saved and began to recite.

Battle’s poem was untitled and talked about long distance relationships.

He commented on wanting to be by a loved one’s side and the desire to see them again. Battle got the biggest ‘snap,’ with the women in the audience showing the most appreciation with an “ahhh.”

Preparation for the night started in April. The stage was set with music and soft lighting to help set the mood for the performers. It was not a full house event, but five students performed their work plus Battle.

“We were packed last year. This is just a way for them to have free expression and get their material out there,” said Ashley Coleman, senior health studies major and BSU vice president.

Communications major Tiara Fulton recited her poem titled “What If?” It was a powerful piece about how the world would be if things were different from our normal situations. With inspiration from a strong female writer, Maya Angelou, she made statements that made listeners think about the meaning behind the words.

“Change needs to happen, woman-to-woman, man-to-man and person-to-person. Something needs to be different,” Fulton said.

In one line from her poem she said: “black is beautiful and beauty is skin deep.”

With her audience supporting her, she made bold statements, like this, that got her message across that change is needed and nothing can alter her views on this issue.

The date of the next poetry slam is not yet determined, but every Thursday is open mic night at 7th Street Underground, if any unheard poets are interested in sharing their gifts.