QCVC brings Alix Olson's slam poetry to campus

Jessica McLachlan Guest Writer

She is a woman, a poet, an activist, a radical, and a feminist among other things. It seems virtually impossible to place Alix Olson into any category without excluding some of her great qualities. Olson is a forceful voice, speaking of many pertinent issues in contemporary American society, such as capitalism, homosexuality, and women’s rights. In The People’s History of the United States, Howard Zinn describes her as “an ingenious poet, a brilliant performer, a funny person, a serious thinker. Quite simply, extraordinary.”

In the 2002/2003 school year, P.E.A.C.E, the Student Activist Union, Unbound, and the English, Women’s Studies, and Sociology departments brought her here to perform her slam poetry. Since then, Alix has produced a film entitled Left Lane, in which she and her road manager record life on the road visiting high schools, colleges, and release events. She was also part of the Nuyorican slam poetry team that took top prizes at that 1998 National Poetry Slam Competition in Austin, Texas.

Vassar’s Queer Coalition, along with P.E.A.C.E., WVKR, Unbound, and the Political Science Department, has decided to reprise an appearance by Olson. On Feb. 5 at 8 p.m., she will put on a 75-90 minute performance of her poetry in the Student Center above ACDC. Kelsey Smith, QCVC treasurer, says, “We really wanted to bring a performer to campus who both has an important message and gives a good show. There was great turn out when she came two years ago, and [we] thought she would be a good choice to come back. Alix is a particularly good choice for QCVC to bring to this campus because her material covers many topics, including queer issues, but also other issues that many students here are concerned about.”

Olson’s poetry reflects concerns about the ability to influence and change current wrongs in the system, but remains hopeful in its energy. Olson’s poem “Corporate Pricks” exhibits this cynical optimism in its lines: “and even writing this stuff isn’t enough/cause while we’re impressing/with rhyme and repetition/compressing politics into competition/beating each other with words and soul/it’s corporate prick who’s got the whole/picture.” Her vivacious exploration with words reveals the necessary steps to make changes.The answer is action.

In the South Carolina newspaper, The State, Olson says that those who are aware of problems in this country “are accountable to truth and responsible for creating change.” QCVC wants to give students a chance to hear and consider this message, and believes Alix Olson’s poetical voice is one that can inspire others to contribute to the changes necessary in today's society, changes that are discussed daily at a place such as Vassar.