Students performed poems and sang karaoke at a Halloween-themed open mic event hosted by the student literary magazine on Wednesday. 

The Amaranth event had an in-person turnout of approximately 40 people. 

Zoë Sharp, Amaranth’s managing editor, said it was good to see the size of the audience compared with last semester.

“It was just me, professor [Simon] Ward, two people from Amaranth, and Campus Current, and a Campus Current photographer [last semester], Sharp said.

 “A lot of people came out to this and I’m really happy about that,” creative writing student Robert B. Rogers said. “Everyone blew me away. … Even the things that were bad, it fit in. And that’s what’s good with an open mic. If everyone fits in, even if it’s not good, that’s what it’s supposed to be. Because you’re supposed to hear, supposed to listen. You’re supposed to have a good time and that’s what it was.”

Grace Ferdock, an architecture student who performed two comedy skits, agreed.

“I bombed, but like, I had fun, you know?” Ferdock said. “And I think everyone else had fun, which is what matters.”

Ferdock said the open mic event “builds community. I think it builds friendship, and you know, like, I get to talk with my friends here and shout out how they’re amazing.” 

The next Amaranth open mic will be on Nov. 30.