Open mic nights are often misunderstood as spaces reserved for English majors or already-published writers. Patrick Henry, director of the creative writing program and organizer of the campus open mic series, wants the campus community to know that thought could not be further from the truth. The program is intentionally designed as a warm, welcoming, and fun environment where anyone interested in storytelling, performance, or creative expression can participate.
Henry schedules two open mic nights each semester. The most recent event, held Feb. 11, drew between 45 and 50 attendees, demonstrating strong interest and a growing sense of community around creative expression. Each event is structured to be low-pressure while still celebrating those who come to share original work.
“First, all are welcome here, and we want you to share your work with the warm audience of readers. Your creativity is worth celebrating and uplifting,” Henry said.
The open mic night is intentionally flexible. While creative writing is considered home base, the space is open to many forms of expression. Participants have read poetry and prose, performed skits or sketches, and even incorporated live music ranging from ukulele to guitar. Henry hopes to continue expanding participation by encouraging actors and musicians to join writers on open mic nights, reinforcing the idea that creative work crosses disciplinary boundaries.
There is also a deeper purpose behind the program. Henry views storytelling as an essential human skill that connects people academically, socially, and professionally. He emphasizes that sharing creative work builds confidence and strengthens communication abilities in ways that apply far beyond the arts.
“At an academic level, stories are how we connect. How we make bridges and how we share ideas and collaborate,” Henry said. “By sharing your work, you are practicing the collaborative skills that you need in any workplace. By writing and performing work, you are practicing crafting skills and developing a narrative that will have an impact on the audience. Those skills cannot be underrated. People can be afraid of public speaking, and this is a low-pressure way to develop presentation skills and your persona as a presenter.”
Henry notes that modern academic and career pressures can cause students to hide creative talents in favor of more traditional paths. The open mic nights are designed to counter that trend by providing a supportive outlet where students can explore and showcase abilities that they might otherwise keep private. One of the primary goals is to help participants step out of their comfort zones and discover confidence in their voices.
The Feb. 11 event illustrated that goal in action. Student Brenden Kimpe served as MC, helping set an encouraging tone. According to Henry, the evening demonstrated how passionate participants are about their work and about supporting one another. At one point, there was only a single reader signed up to read, but when the event started to feel welcome all, the whole hour was filled with readers.
The open mic nights also connect to other creative opportunities on campus. The upcoming writers conference, which features an expanded lineup intended to reach students across disciplines, will be hosted from March 25 through 27. Events include panel discussions, community workshops, classroom visits, shared readings, community open mics scheduled for Wednesday and Friday, and a Thursday student publishing showcase. The showcase is designed as a campus-wide opportunity rather than an even limited to writers.
Submission opportunities are also available through Floodwall, with entries accepted through the 20th. A submission event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. that Friday in Merrifield, where students can receive help submitting work or ask questions about the process.
Floodwall is open to all creative minds on campus. Participation is not tied to a specific major or level of study. “It’s open to everybody, and that door is really open to anyone in the campus community, any major, discipline, and grad or undergrad students,” Henry said.
The next open mic night is scheduled for April 23. For Henry, events like these represent some of his favorite moments on campus when opportunities to hear what students are imagining, creating and refining occur. More than performances, they are spaces where individuals can claim ownership of their voices and recognize that creativity belongs to everyone willing to share it.
Rachel Held is a Dakota Student General Reporter. She can be reached at rachel.s[email protected].
