Writers After Class at Kenyon (WACK) announced on Feb. 3 that it will begin hosting weekly Poetry in Marker Night events after a successful trial run on Jan. 30. Participants, who gather every Thursday at 8:30 p.m. in the basement of Keithley House, are invited to follow optional prompts and to use the markers and paper provided to write their own poetry, especially in ways which bridge the gap between writing and visual art. 

Hannah Ehrlich ’26, WACK treasurer, discussed how she came up with the idea for Poetry in Marker Night in an interview with the Collegian. “It’s definitely kind of related to my process with poetry, which I think sometimes it’s hard to get into a creative mindset when you’re looking at a blank computer screen.” Ehrlich said. “There’s a lot more you can do on the page when you’re not limited to a screen, so it just kind of encourages that handwriting, colorful process.”

WACK is a newer student organization, approved by Student Council in October 2024. WACK president and founder Marilyn Gates ’26 elaborated on how the event fits into the club’s larger purpose. “The idea of [WACK] is that we host writing sessions at different times and places across campus. Not just Poetry in Marker Night per se, but straight up writing where you can type, you can handwrite… and I think that’s important because it allows for a greater degree of accessibility, right? Because we’re not limiting meetings to one particular time and place, people who are in a bit more of a writing mood at certain times of the day or live in certain places on campus can come. We try to have a wide outreach.”

Ehrlich also spoke on the club’s decision to implement the event on a weekly basis. “Getting into the rhythm of poetry writing is a process that requires a lot of practice. So, having a place where people can choose to come, whatever week it may be… it’s just always there so they can improve their practice or just have a place to decompress,” she said.

“I think it’s good that Poetry in Marker Night happens weekly because it gives WACK a greater degree of structure, in addition to the more regularly occurring but also sporadic writing sessions that we do,” Gates added. 

Ehrlich invites students of all experiences to attend Poetry in Marker Nights, regardless of prior experience: “I wanted to create an event where people who identify as poets or who haven’t really tried it before can approach it from a more fun place with colorful markers, and some music playing, and a social atmosphere.”