(Norfolk, VA) – On November 10, 2011 a group of students will write their way into history with the first annual Battle of the Bay Poetry Slam. This will be the first ever poetry event featuring two prominent Historically Black Universities.
Jarel Barnes of Norfolk State University (NSU), and Mack Curry of Hampton University (HU) along with others have worked nearly six months to put the event together. The poetry slam will be a five on five competition with three rounds: A sacrificial round, prop round and rivalry round.
The birth of this idea took place after Hampton’s Sarcen Lietrary Journal invited the Norfolk State Creative Writing Club to an open mic in the spring of 2011. From there, John Hamilton II and Adrianna Vargas of NSU and the Verbiage Society from HU began carving out the details. The Battle will alternate on a yearly basis.
On October 28, 2011, the Norfolk State University Honors College and English Department will be hosting an Open Mic Contest as a part of the festivities for Norfolk State University’s Homecoming.
