The Reflector held their first open mic event of the year Thursday, Oct. 21st in Stewart Hall. The Halloween event kicked off the spooky season for The Reflector. Students and faculty alike were invited to read their creepiest works for a crowd of enthusiastic listeners.
The open mic combined classic and fun Halloween haunts with a warm, welcoming environment. Guests were invited to dress in costumes to and the venue’s decor mirrored this sentiment. Each Reflector committee coordinated a theme for their group’s costumes.
The hall’s aisles were lined with LED candles and haunted house music underscored the night’s readings. Board members also added an additional nostalgic touch and provided Halloween candy for their attendees.
Many members of The Reflector read at the open mic, including Megan Gardenhour the Editor in Chief, Hannah Cornell the Associate Editor and Autumn Jones the PR Chair. Students outside of the club also stepped up, some mentioning that it was their first time reading a poem in front of an audience.
There was an outpouring of support for this group of young writers. Gardenhour expressed her gratitude for everyone who decided to read as well. “I am so proud to see all of the young writers who came out for a spooky night and shared their work! It was so heartwarming to hear,” Gardenhour said.
The open mic event also served as an opportunity for students to connect with members of The Reflector’s committees and executive board before the publication’s submission deadline. Students who read were encouraged to lend their talents to The Reflector. The publication will be available in the Spring 2022 semester.
For those interested in submitting to The Reflector, the deadline is Oct. 31st at 11:59 p.m. Any works of art, poetry or prose may be submitted by email to reflect@ship.edu. The email should include the student’s name, email, genre and phone number.
Prose works must be doubled spaced and Times New Roman font, and the maximum length of a submission is 10 pages. Poetry submissions have no rigid guidelines. Art submissions must be high resolution JPEG images.
Editor’s Note: Author is a member of The Reflector’s editorial staff
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