The room is quiet, filled with people of different races, genders and religious beliefs, all entranced by the one person on the mic whose spewing words a mile a minute. But these aren’t ordinary, run-of-the-mill words. They’ve been crafted into a story from emotion, or maybe just plain intellect. And in the three minutes allotted, a lesson is being taught, an experience is being shared, all for the sake of healthy competition.

This is what you can expect from a night of slam poetry.

But don’t think the only way you can catch this kind of intensity is from a glimpse at a Def Jam Poetry special. Right here at Binghamton University, students are taking slam poetry into their own hands. If you want to be part of the spoken word movement, a student group called Poetic Scriptures is here to guide the way.

Having sponsored with Late Nite the first of four major slam poetry events of the semester, Poetic Scriptures looks forward to choosing the four best poets at the end of this semester to compete at regionals in February and then nationals in April. But if you’re not familiar with how a slam event works, here’s a little insight. People sign up to share their pieces for two rounds and are judged each round by random audience members. Each performer is given three minutes to perform and the four highest scored poets are put on a team with a fifth person as an alternate. Jade Dougherty, a sophomore and comparative literature major, said she joined the group after being inspired by BU alum Matt Siegel. “When I see someone good, I want to perform just as fabulously as they did,” Dougherty said, “It’s just what I love to do.”

But if competing isn’t your thing, don’t worry. This Student Association-chartered group just wants to provide poets — novices and pros alike — with a place to both socialize and critique the work of their peers. “When we get together,” Dougherty said, “it’s really to read new stuff and go over upcoming events. It’s really informal and open.”

Jennifer Scheinhorn, a sophomore studio art major, said she joined the group because she just wanted to find a voice for herself. “Slam poetry gives people a chance to test their writing ability [and] share their experiences with others, and this group creates an open community for those shared experiences,” she said.

And if your concern is not being “good enough,” everyone has a different definition of what it means to be “good.” Scheinhorn said having a “no holds bar[red]” approach works best for her while Dougherty believes high energy is what makes a slam poet stand out. “You have to be entertaining and able to keep people’s attention,” she said.

As you can see, through these student poets, slam poetry isn’t just for stars. Whether you’re looking to keep people laughing, or just delve into your creative voice, Poetic Scriptures might be the group for you.

For more information on how to join, contact Jade Dougherty at jade09@binghamton.edu.