UT Student group of the week: D.E.E.P.

For students interested in polishing their poetry, a new group on campus offers them a chance to "deepen" their skills.

Developing Enhancing Empowering Poets, or D.E.E.P., is a UT student organization that focuses on promoting and developing poets and performers, as well as poetry as a whole. Founded in 2006, it was created for UT students seeking an outlet to express themselves through this artistic medium.

"D.E.E.P. was created by students for students," said Jasmine Deskins, president of the organization and a senior majoring in public health.

Anyone interested in joining just needs an interest in performing or the English language. In addition to offering UT poets a creative channel, D.E.E.P. also collaborates with the University of Toledo Writer's Guild in order to build their skills.

The group's ultimate goal is to give writers and poets the opportunity to showcase their talents as well as give any student the chance to improve their writing and poetry skills.  

"I have been actively involved in D.E.E.P. for about three years now," Deskins said. "I heard about it at meetings and I was hesitant, but one day during my junior year I decided to join. Things started to unfold rapidly."

In 2010, the group attended the Regional Academic and Cultural Collaborative Conference in Dayton.  The conference included workshops for the poets to develop their abilities as aspiring artists. The group received one-on-one time with stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle who was able to give some pointers to the students.

D.E.E.P. held their first on-campus Open Mic night last Thursday in Rocky's Attic. Over 30 people attended, and the show gave many students the opportunity to showcase their talents, including poetry, singing, rapping and stand-up comedy.

The next Open Mic Night, entitled "The Battle of the Sexes," will be held on Feb. 10 in Rocky's Attic and will feature male and female performers competing for audience approval.

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, D.E.E.P. will be highlighting poems on the subject of love, sex and relationships at the event. They will also have a table set up to promote safe sex during the event.

"I want other students to be able to come to D.E.E.P. and express themselves through poetry, and to have challenges and meet them and be able to see the results," Deskins said. "[They should] be able to share their work with their campus community and Toledo. I want to open the world back up to poetry and creativity."

The group often meets at The Atmosphere, a coffee shop in Rocket Plaza on Dorr Street. Atmosphere has Open Mic Nights on Wednesdays where any form of entertainment from poetry to stand-up comedy to music is welcome. All UT students are encouraged to attend.

D.E.E.P. also meets every Friday at 1:30 p.m. in Student Union Building Room 2579.  If students wish to join or get more involved in D.E.E.P. or poetry in general, they are encouraged to show up to the Friday meetings or the Open Mic Nights.