The Editorially Independent Voice of The University of Akron

The Buchtelite

The Editorially Independent Voice of The University of Akron

The Buchtelite

The Editorially Independent Voice of The University of Akron

The Buchtelite

Graphic courtesy of Liv Ream; movie flyer from IMDB
In defense of Skinamarink
By Liv Ream, Arts and Entertainment Editor • October 1, 2023
Alternative Spring Break 2023 volunteers in Washington, D.C. Courtesy of Natalie Mowad.
Applications open for Akron’s 2024 Alternative Spring Break
By Taylor Lorence, Correspondent • October 1, 2023
The Northern Cheyenne tribe and community walking the ancient Portage Path from Portage Path CLC to the John Brown Home during a previous years First Peoples Day event. Photo courtesy of Portage Path Collaborative.
UA Holds events in celebration of North American First People’s Day   
By Shananne Lewis, Online Editor • September 28, 2023
White swan on water during daytime photo - Free Uk Image on Unsplash
The Swan's Rapture: a poem
By Emily Price, editor in chief • September 27, 2023
Desperately Seeking an Amazon Fighter, sculpture by Kimberly Chapman
"Easy Prey" art exhibit on display at Myers School of Art
By Taylor Lorence, Reporter, Secretary • September 21, 2023
“On the left, there’s me at work! I received the New Student Orientation “Gold Standard” award alongside 
and at the same time as my friend Gillian.”
Courtesy of Connor VanMaele
Fall 2023 Print Edition: Going the Distance
By Connor VanMaele, Correspondent • September 19, 2023
L to R: Steve Horner, Heather Barhorst, Haley Kuczynski, Shawna Blankenship, Brynley Harris, Jessie Redwine at the Pop-Up Pantry. Image Courtesy of ZipAssist.
ZipAssist Holds Community Resource Fair Tuesday, September 19 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the SU 2nd Floor
By Shananne Lewis, Correspondent • September 18, 2023
Film critic Liv Ream and friend pose for photo (Image via Liv Ream)
My Barbie experience
By Liv Ream, Film Critic • September 17, 2023

Our View: Buchtelite staff response to poetry

As a scientist I don’t often find myself reading poetry, but I will say that there
are upsides and downsides to poetry. Homer, for example, contributes significantly to Western literature.

However, poetry is one of those subjects that can have a lot of snobbery associated with it. And by snobbery, I mean condescending people who believe their interpretation is more correct than any other.

One of the most meaningful contributions literature gives to any society is its ability to encourage society to think and imagine.

Matthew Balsinger
Sports Editor

Being an English major, I’ve read a lot of different poems and other literature. I think a lot of people go into reading poetry expecting to hate it or be confused by it, and the fact that most of the time students are required to read it for classes makes it that much less enjoyable.

Personally, I love language and how it’s used in most poetry, but I don’t often go out of my way to read it, and I definitely don’t expect the average student (or even the average English major) to start reading it for fun. However, I think reading poetry does have educational applications, since knowing the rhythm and flow of language can help improve writing. On the other hand, I seem to be the only person in the world who actually enjoys analyzing poetry, so my opinion on it is probably not shared by many.

Kara Hemphill
Copy Editor

I enjoy poetry very much. However, I have rather strict rules as to what I consider good poetry.
I enjoy the witty side of poetry: rhyme, rhythm, clever word-play, and so forth. I’m not the most openminded in the realm of poetry; my apologies to those of you who ascribe to the broader definition
of poetry.

Andrew Krigline
Page Designer/Web Designer

I don’t really care
About any poetry
Because I make art.

As a graphic design major, I am much more interested in the visual art world rather than the literary. I have always had an appreciation for books and writing, but poetry has never really been my strong suit. Sometimes it’s difficult for me to dissect the meaning behind the imagery in poetry but it is much easier for me to view a piece of art and interpret its meaning. So, I don’t dislike poetry or think that it is useless, but I don’t appreciate it as much as others might. I am much more comfortable in the visual world.

Katie Soinski
Page Designer/Advertising Designer

“Backward I see in my own days where I sweated through fog with
linguists and contenders,
I have no mockings or arguments…. I witness
and wait.”

-Walt Whitman

I believe that poetry is like music in the sense that there is a genre for everybody. While you may not like one type of poetry, there may be a genre out there that you do enjoy, you just have to search for it. Poetry allows for self-expression in a way that is different than any other form of writing. Reading and writing poetry, in my opinion, can effectively
expand the mind as well
as entertain.

Beau Brown
Arts and Life editor

Poet’s Tree

“Underneath the poet tree
Come and rest awhile with me,
And watch the way the word-web weaves
Between the shady story leaves.
The branches of the poet tree
Reach from the mountains to the sea.
So come and dream, or come and climb-
Just don’t get hit by falling rhymes.”

– Shel Silverstein

Katelyn Friel
New Editor

Poetry can be fun,
You can rhyme a ton.
It can be about sad things,
Or people that make
you sing!

I really like to eat food,
Which is why I have to run
like I’m being pursued.
I’m done rhyming now,
this is annoying…

Alexandra Didato
Copy Editor

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment,” Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Reading about the great poets and writers of literature has inspired me with my own writing. Great poets like Shakespeare, Whitman and Emerson serve as timeless models to aspiring writers by encouraging them to think outside of the box and not conform to societal norms. Instead, these brilliant thinkers inspire their readers to be independent thinkers and to not be afraid to stand by their beliefs.

Heather Beyer
Editor-in-chief

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