Pullman Campus Poet selected

Joel Kemegue, Campus Civic Poet for 2023, presented his original poems “Saturn Devouring His Son” and “Afrocentric Studies: Geography” before a live audience in Avery Hall at the Department of English’s January Open Mic night. Kemegue is a fourth-year English major with a focus in creative writing.

Award finalists Jada Rome and Arshaan Kahn also read poems aloud, and then the microphone was opened to presenters from the audience.

The Campus Civic Poet Award is offered annually and jointly by the Department of English and the WSU MLK Program and is intended to celebrate a student’s commitment to activism and spoken word in our campus community. The award includes a $500 honorarium, mentorship, and invitation to read at civic-related events, such as the annual MLK Celebration, the National Day of Racial Healing, and the Elson S. Floyd Cultural & Performing Arts Series.

Top photo: From left: Bryan Fry, assistant professor, career track, English; award finalist Arshaan Kahn; Campus Civic Poet Joel Kemegue; award finalist Jada Rome; and Linda Russo, director of creative writing.