English endowment united for Spring Lights

Literary community gathered to raise funds to support education

On a warm sunny Friday evening, May 8, Linn-Benton faculty, students, family, and friends gathered in the atrium at the Benton Center to raise funds for the English Endowment Fund.

Chatter and friendly banter filled the echoing hall. It was music for the soul.

Served during the “Spring Lights” fundraiser were wines and beer donated by community member Colby Jones. There was a variety of assorted crackers, cheese, fruits, dips, and scones to fill up on - all in the name of fundraising.

The event began at 7 p.m. with a warm and uproarious welcome from master of ceremonies Chris Riseley, English instructor.

“We do hard work,” said Riseley.

The first poetry reading was from current student Poet Laureate Dari Lawrie. She read a poem called “What it’s like to be Virginia.”

The second poet of the evening was instructor and soon retiree Paul Hawkwood. He read “Priest Lake” and “Looking Out.” Not only did he read, but he shared his admiration and appreciation for his students.

“It was an honor to be a part of Linn-Benton.”

Robert Rodgers, English instructor, performed on the staircase to give the illusion of rafters in an opera house. As a medievalist fan, he sang “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera because of its range of poetry and celebration of imagination as literary art.

“Close your eyes and imagine,” said Rodgers.

Former student Poet Laureate Ruth Kruger shared a short story she wrote called “The Things I Have and Have Not Loved.” It is a journey into love discoveries, an in-depth look into what love really is, and what it may not actually be.

Introduced by Chris Riseley as the “earthquake of rock-n-roll,” Bruce Nicholson read a poem about Oregon otters. He started out by mentioning that he would like to give an entire history lesson, but he only had five minutes. The crowd enjoyed his humor.

Another former student Poet Laureate Kiera Eller performed a poem based on Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl.”

Eller’s Howl, a type of poem, was titled “Ululate” and appears to be a sprawling, disorganized poem, but it's not. It consists of three sections. Each section is a prolonged "riff" on a single subject. You could even think of the poem as three enormous run-on sentences.

“I like those kind of performances with outbursts of emotion,” said Rob Priewe, journalism instructor.

After a brief intermission, master of ceremonies Chris Riseley got the audience together again.

To start the second half of the fundraiser, Alison Clement, English faculty, read a short piece she had written about a Rhonda Honey. And Victoria Fridley, writing center coordinator, read a poem that she had written inspired by a small bronze piece.

Benton Center’s very own Jeff Davis, aka J.D. Mackenzie, read a few poems as well. One was called “Overdue” and expressed a love for librarians. It made the crowd chuckle with a familiar flash-black to those fateful book checkouts.

Robin Havenick, English instructor, read two of her own and one from Billy Collins called “The Lanyard.” It brought everyone in the room back to summer camp, making gifts for their mother. It was quite perfect especially with Mother’s Day on the same weekend.

Last, but certainly not least, English Department Chair Karelia Stetz-Waters read a comical piece. It was about a “missed connections” section on craigslist. It had vivid imagery and it most certainly got the point across.

After the last poet read there was only one last thing to do. The master of ceremonies, Chris Riseley, came up to the stage and thanked everyone for coming to support the English Endowment fund. With one last hooray Riseley said, “Those who can, do; we do!”  

“It was fun to hear the faculty for once,” said Kate Carr, creative writing student.