Active Minds held a poetry slam for students Wednesday at The Student Center, and zero participants showed up to the event. 

Active Minds Vice President, Bobby McDonald, said the lack of participants in this year’s events may be due to Kent’s new policy, which requires all student organization members to participate in anti-hazing training. 

“I think that extra step has kind of hurt attendance … you have to have it completed to be an official member and to be able to come to all the events, and some people just haven’t been able to complete it,” McDonald said. “So I guess they’d rather not complete it and not come to events.” 

In previous years, this event brought in the club’s largest turnout of 40 students. Students were encouraged to share pre-approved poetry that related to mental health. Participants shared their own poems as well as ones written by published poets, McDonald said.

Active Minds will be hosting a public event, Paws for Mental Health, during the first week of May in preparation for finals week. This event is in partnership with Freedom Paws, and they are hoping for a larger turnout. 

“Active Minds provides a good, safe space for people to come and share with others, and make sure they’re heard and share experiences so that they’re not feeling so alone,” McDonald said. 

EmilyJo Jaeger is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].