Meet Southern Virginia University’s Newest Club, Poets Of The Round Table

By Jacob Adams

On the night of Sep. 28, onlookers may have noticed a crowd gathered on the steps of Main Hall. In the picturesque September twilight, Southern Virginia University’s newest club, Poets of the Round Table, kicked off the year with an outdoor showing of “Dead Poets Society”, the literary cult classic starring Robin Williams. Dozens of students camped out with blankets, pillows and fresh popcorn to watch.

The film follows an unconventional English teacher at a wealthy prep school who strives to make a connection with his students and teach them to break out of their shells and appreciate life. The story is compelling, driven by an incredible and oft-quoted performance by Robin Williams, and well worth a watch and rewatch.

It’s fitting that the poetry club decided to kick off the year with Dead Poet’s Society, as their mission statement is a direct quote from the movie:

“You must strive to find your own voice, because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all.” — John Keating (played by Robin Williams)

Poetry Club President Benjamin Whitted (’25) explains, “Poetry invites the human soul into a world of deeper feeling, connection, investigation, intellect, empathy and expression. Poetry is not confined to rote rhyme and meter for the few who specialize therein. Poetry is a mentality that processes life and all its intricacy through an artistically spiritual lens, and whatever light refracts thereby is art, regardless of medium. The goal of the club is to thus clarify understandings of what poetry is, and then investigate whatever inhibits human expression. The club accomplishes this through a strong culture built from the bottom up and fostered by unique, inclusive activities and workshops.”

The Poetry Club also has other events in the works, such as hikes, an open mic night, where students are invited to share poetry, and more importantly, the experiences and emotions that make us all human, snapping included. The club is open to everyone: veteran, teary-eyed poets, people interested in writing their own poems but don’t know where to start, people looking to try something new and everyone in between.

If you’d like to learn more, send @poetsoftheroundtable_club a message on Instagram. If you’d like to share your poetry with us here at The Herald, we’d love to feature it! Email us your work at theherald@svu.edu