The Black Womyn’s Weekend Poetry Guild’s True Life Uncut: I Go to Stony Brook, brought many different groups on campus together to show those in the audience what resources are available to them as students. But when many entered the Student Activities Center Ballroom on Sept. 22, most of them did not know what to expect.
Close to 200 people attended the event to watch minor skits throughout the entire program. The first skit illustrated the initial stage of a relationship between a guy and a girl. This was followed with a thumping performance by dance team Déjà vu, with dances to hip-hop and reggae tracks.
The next skit portrayed the same girl being rejected by the boy after having casual sex the night before. As the girl verbalized her internal conflict with herself, another girl approaches her and suggests she visit the Women’s Center in the Union.
The next performer wound up the audience with powerful spoken words. The rhymes that were spoken expressed the realities of today’s urban youth. The performer touched controversial issues including the common absence of a father, disinterest in school and unstable family lives.
Following the spoken word artist was a monologue performed by the antagonist, the guy who had previously rejected the girl. He expressed his dire need for a religious intervention in his life. He was then given a card and told to contact Brothers and Sisters in Christ, BASIC. Following that scene, the Essence of Praise dance team took the stage with a powerful and spiritual dance performance.
The skits continued with two guys talking about their latest relationships with multiple girls. However, when one guy leaves, the other confesses how difficult it is to disguise his sexuality. A girl approaches him with the contact information for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Alliance, LGBTA. Afterwards, the Cadence step team charged the stage with their step routine.
The last skit of the night illustrated a girl struggling to admit her addiction to drugs. She is also approached and given contact information for the Center for Prevention and Outreach, CPO. The program closed with all skit members taking the stage and reminding the audience that these issues are inevitable and how important it is to take advantage of the resources available to students on campus.
Many audience members said they were completely satisfied with the event.
“I liked the production,” said Tiffany Osong a freshman biology major. “It was a great way to bring everyone together and exhibit all of the groups.”
Adal Regis, a senior and political science and philosophy major, said, “It was a very captivating way to let people know of the resources on campus. It was creative enough to get people’s attention. All the performances were good.”
