Poet Amir Sulaiman slams on campus

After about a two-week postponement due to scheduling conflicts, poetry slam fans can rejoice. The Muslim Student Union, Black Scholars Collective and the Union Board present Amir Sulaiman Friday in the Indiana Memorial Union Gallery.\nSulaiman is a hip-hop artist, spoken word poet and educator. He has recorded three albums and his latest, “Like a Thief in the Night” will be released sometime this year. Sulaiman has also been featured on HBO’s “Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry” twice.\nSulaiman was originally slated to perform in the Whittenberger Auditorium on March 29 during Muslim Awareness Month but the event was relocated to the IMUG after the rescheduling. Director of Diversity Performance Committee on the Union Board Kelli Zimmerman said the atmosphere of the IMUG is better suited for this event because poetry reading should be intimate. Poetry slams and readings staged there in the past have been successful, Zimmerman said.\n“Amir Sulaiman’s performance will present a type of entertainment that is not often seen on this campus, and because it is so unique, it will expand the horizons of those who attend,” Zimmerman said.\nPir Ali is the coordinator of the event for the Muslim Student Union. He also is excited about the change of venue, because it makes a better show for the audience.\n“Spoken word belongs in a coffeehouse setting,” Ali said.\nEmployees at the Starbucks are excited about the event, too.\n“(Poetry slams) make my job more enjoyable,” sophomore barista Brent Hirschy said. “I would normally not seek out a poetry event so it’s fun to see something different.”\nThe event starts at 8 p.m. Friday in the IMUG next to Starbucks. The show is free to all.