November 4, 2005—The Oberlin College and Community Poets Against War will present "The Third Annual Veterans' Day Reading for Peace and Hope on Friday, November 11.

"The reading will be conducted as a practice of meditation--in a spirit of peace," say members Martha Collins, Lynn Powell, and Kara Carmosino '08. Collins is director of the College's creative writing program, and Powell is a visiting faculty in creative writing. "All Oberlin students, faculty and community poets are invited to read their own poetry or those of others," Collins says.  

The reading will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Room 101 of Wilder Hall, 135 W. Lorain St. Each participant will have maximum of five minutes in which to read. Reservations may be made by sending e-mail to martha.collins@oberlin.edu indicating times preferred.

Poets Against War began in early 2003 when a number of American poets protested the administration's plan for a unilateral "Shock and Awe" attack on Iraq by declining an invitation from Laura Bush to attend a White House symposium on poetry. They formed Poets Against the War, and a mong its actions was a nationwide call encouraging groups to sponsor readings against the war.

"When I received the notice, I was working with Nava EtShalom '04, who had designed an individual major in creative writing and social change," says Collins. "I suggested we add a reading to the work she was doing.

"She thought it was a great idea, and we decided to expand beyond the campus to include someone from the town. We contacted Lynn Powell, a poet and local resident. Later in 2003, as the Oberlin College and Community Poets Against War, we hosted the First Veterans' Day Reading for Peace and Hope, and since then have made it an annual event."