The second floor of Steely Library buzzes with quiet anticipation as students and faculty fill nearly every open chair. A supportive community gathers to celebrate artistic expression for one night. Open Mic Night, a monthly event at NKU, features different guest authors and ends with an open mic session that opens the floor to aspiring writers.
Open Mic offers a place for all voices to be heard. Whether it’s poetry, short stories, creative class assignments, songs or any type of performative art, students and community members alike can share their voices. The events are typically held once a month in Steely Library and occasionally extend off campus. The next will be held Oct. 9 at the Village Players Community Theatre in Fort Thomas at 5:30 p.m. followed by monthly on-campus open mics during the semester.
Northern Kentucky University’s Loch Norse Magazine Club hosted its first Open Mic Night of the semester, Sept. 11 in the Steely Library, bringing together literature and community. Co-editor-chiefs of Loch Norse Magazine, Katrina Rolfsen and Maira Faisal, organized the event and emphasized the deep emotional impact these gatherings have on NKU students.
“Here at Loch Norse Magazine, our overall goal is just to bring together writers and creators from across campus,” Rolfsen said. “We really want to champion student work, inspire them to share their wonderful creations with others, and just see the writing community and talent we have here at NKU.”
For Faisal, the purpose stretches beyond NKU.
“There are two aspects,” she said. “One is for NKU, and then one is for the greater literary community in the area. I think it’s really important to share your work, to hear that feedback directly… and then for NKU, we get to host really cool events and get students involved in the process.”
Before open mic participants took to the stage, guest feature speaker Sara Moore Wagner, an NKU associate professor and published poet, stepped up to the podium and read poems from her latest book, “Lady Wing Shot”. Her work moved the audience with its raw personal themes and sparked creativity throughout the room.
“Open mic nights are like a collage,” Wagner said. “Different people coming together with different styles, making something really neat.”
That evening’s diversity of voices is what gives the event its energy and meaning. For Faisal, hearing that variety in one evening is part of the magic.
“I think open mics are cathartic. Writing can feel very isolating at times, but to have it read out loud and see those responses physically is such a powerful connection,” she said.
Roy Faulkner, 71, NKU student, writer and regular attendee at the open mics, agrees. As a frequent participant, he finds the events to be an outlet for sharing his emotions through poetry in a supportive, encouraging environment.
“I enjoy the camaraderie. I enjoy hearing other people’s perspectives on things and their way of looking at the world,” Faulkner said. “And hearing a little bit of applause when you read is always a good thing too.”
He often leaves the events inspired, finding new ways to write and improve his work.
“Without feedback, it’s really hard to improve,” he said. “Sometimes people I don’t even know will come up afterward and say, ‘I really enjoyed that last night and it means a lot.”
Faulkner finds comfort and peace within his verses and sees how important these events are in building a community.
“I think it’s very supportive,” he said. “I’ve got friends that run the gamut from people [who are] bi to lesbian to trans and you know, they’re all people. They’re all people.”
Faisal said she hopes more students, regardless of major, take part.
“Please submit to Loch Norse, it’s open to everyone. I’m a biology major first and foremost, but I really care about it. Literary communities have a lot to offer everyone,” she said.