Culture Shock events: Slam What: Film showing Where: Kiva When: Today, 8 p.m. Saul Williams What: Guest speaker Where: KSC Ballroom When: Wednesday, 7 p.m. Muntu Kuntu Energy Ensemble What: African Where: Risman Plaza When: Thursday, noon to 12:35 p.m. Multicultural food served Where: Risman Plaza When: Thursday, noon to 1:30 p.m. MacCallum Highlanders What: Scottish Where: Risman Plaza When: Thursday, 1 to 1:35 p.m. Fancy Dancers What: Native American Where: Risman Plaza When: Thursday, 2 to 2:30 p.m. Csardas What: Hungarian Where: Risman Plaza When: Thursday, 3 to 3:30 p.m. Kent State School of Theatre and Dance What: African Where: Risman Plaza When: Thursday, 3:30 to 4 p.m. Caricature artists present Where: Risman Plaza When: Thursday, 2 to 4 p.m.

From the start, Kent State All Campus Programming Board members said they wanted a slam poet as part of their annual series of events in April, better known as Culture Shock. And when ACPB Artist/Lecture Chairwoman Colleen Burch saw Saul Williams’ name on a list of possibilities, she said she knew there was no need to look further.

“I, myself, am a fan of his but also slam poetry in general,” said Burch, a sophomore political science major. “There were many slam poets and spoken-word artists to choose from, but I wanted one with a more established name.”

Williams’ visit is just one slice of the pie Culture Shock will serve up to students this week.

To kick off the week, the International Film Society will join ACPB in showing the film Slam at 8 p.m. tonight in the Kiva. Admission will be free for students with identification.

Williams stars in Slam as a black poet who is inspired to use his talent while serving time in jail. The film won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival and was honored at Festival De Cannes that year, as well.

“We knew Saul was coming, and wanted to show a movie on Monday, so the (International Film Society) suggested that we show Slam,” said ACPB Festival Arts Director Shana Scott, a senior communications studies major and main coordinator of Culture Shock. “I think Slam brings an envelope of cultural diversity, and it is something correlated with other events. It brings a togetherness to the whole week.”

Culture Shock will continue Wednesday when Williams will speak, sing and read poetry starting at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the event is free for students. There will also be a book sale and signing after the event concludes.

In addition to acting, Williams is the author of the book The Dead Emcee Scrolls: The Lost Teachings of Hip-Hop. Musically, he has performed with hip-hop artists like The Fugees, De La Soul and Erykah Badu.

“I thought a slam poet like Saul would be a really good program to bring to campus,” Burch said. “It would be entertaining but also open many people’s eyes to the many forms of writing and expression.”

Culture Shock will come to a close on Thursday by offering students culturally varied entertainment in Risman Plaza, she said.

At noon, the Muntu Kuntu Energy Ensemble will perform poetry with musical accompaniment from African culture.

“We’ve performed all over the country and at Kent numerous times,” said ensemble member Eric Gould. “We always have a good time while we’re at Kent. I’m looking forward to coming back.”

Following, at 1 p.m., is the Akron bagpipe group MacCallum Highlanders. At 2 p.m., traditional Native American fancy dancers from Cleveland’s American Indian Education Center will perform in full dress. Traveling troupe Csardas will take over at 3 p.m. with Hungarian dancing and music. At 3:30 p.m., an African-American dance studio from the School of Theatre and Dance will perform until 4 p.m.

From noon until 1:30 p.m., multicultural themed foods such as falafel, African sweet potato salad and bruschetta will be featured on a first-come-first-serve basis, Burch said.

There will also be caricature artists present from 2 to 4 p.m., and the student band The Boffers will provide backup music.

“As an organization funded by students, our goal was to address student interest,” Scott said. “With Culture Shock, we wanted to represent as much of the student population as possible. It’s difficult sometimes because it’s so diverse, and we don’t get much student feedback. But we’re trying, and I think this week is another big step in the right direction.”

Contact on-campus entertainment reporter Ally Melling at [email protected].