By Jacob Saylor
Poetica, as it’s come to be called, is one of the more unique events held on Auburn Montgomery’s campus. Students get the opportunity to share their creative works, ranging from poetry to short story readings. Poetica is a veritable buffet for artists and has three different themes throughout each semester. Earlier this year, the English Club – who oversees the production – ran a Poetica that featured a myriad of spooky poems for Halloween. This month’s Poetica focused on Auburn Montgomery’s arts and literary magazine, the Filibuster. Attendees of Poetica read various entries from the magazine, some even choosing to present others’ work. I spoke with Dr. Robert Klevay, who is an assistant professor in the Department of English and Philosophy at Auburn Montgomery; he’s also the faculty adviser for the Filibuster. Klevay says his main concern at the moment is raising awareness for both Poetica and the Filibuster.
“Filibuster is important because it is one of the only places at AUM where students get to share their creative work outside of the classroom,” Klevay says. “Our magazine gets distributed on campus, and students get the opportunity to present their work to a much wider audience.” As I’m sure many of you’d agree, a poem, story, or photograph needs to be shared. Klevay wanted this last Poetica to serve as a sort of advertisement for the Filibuster. “The main thing that I’d like this Poetica to achieve is to raise awareness of the opportunity for sharing students’ creative work that the magazine represents,” Klevay explains. “Also, to remind previous contributors who haven’t yet submitted their work to us that we’d still love to see it and to motivate those who have never contributed to the magazine before to do so.”
Klevay wants students to know that everyone can submit their work. If you’ve got any creations that you think need to be seen, then you’re in luck: a new issue of the Filibuster is just around the corner. This upcoming issue will be released just after students get back from Spring Break in 2015. “Right now the best way to be involved is to contribute their work for our 2015 issue by December 31,” Klevay says. The students and faculty members in charge of the Filibuster will choose what gets put into the magazine. Klevay notes that working on a submission for the magazine will give students the opportunity to collaborate with other artists, an opportunity that can often be hard to find.
The Filibuster will be looking to fill vacant jobs at the end of the spring semester. “Towards the end of the spring 2015, a search will begin for a new editor-in-chief and graphic designer for the 2016 issue,” Klevay says. “If students are interested in either of these positions, they should watch for our job announcements then.” Interested creators should pay close attention to the job openings at the magazine. After the next issue of the Filibuster comes out, students and faculty members are invited to take part in a release party. During this event, recent contributors will have the opportunity to read their work aloud to attendees.
Photos taken by Jacob Saylor.