Source: theslateonline.com | By Ali Laughman – Asst. Copy Editor

‘United In Verse’ brings students together through poetry

“United in Verse,” a program to join the many languages that are spoken on Shippensburg University’s campus with poetry, was held in the Cora L. Grove Spiritual Center on April 18.

Robert Lesman, associate professor of Spanish, organized the event by contacting organizations around campus, looking for people who wanted to share poetry, whether it was in their native language or a language that they have been learning.

“When we’re young, we start learning [the poem] from a young age we all listen,” said Afia-Baria Quershi, an SU student who read “Al-Qaseedah” by Promised Messiah in Arabic. By reading this poem at the event, she connected with her self as much as with the audience, seeing as this poem is something taught all through youth in the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Islam, according to Quershi.

“In our religion we’re taught to bring humanity together,” Quershi said. “I’m connected by my faith [by] showing that we are diverse and everyone is different. It helps to see the other people. That’s what helps us see the difference in what helps unite people.

While some students read poems in their native language, others like Peggy Trayhey and Blair Garrett read in languages they were… read more at source.