With BUSU club ratification just around the corner, two students are in the process of creating a new club.
A new poetry club is in the works at Brock University, spearheaded by students Andy Zhang, a second-year English major with a passion for modernist literature, and Jenny Simpson, a third-year English and Creative Writing student who enjoys working within restricted forms as a creative foundation. Their vision is to create a space where students can “dance with the words,” experiment with poetic forms and connect with like-minded individuals.
For both Zhang and Simpson, poetry is more than just an academic subject — it is an interactive, expressive and communal art form. They want to create an alternative space for poetry at Brock, one where students can play games, engage in creative exercises and share ideas freely. Their goal is to foster a “utopian space” for poetry, a place where experimentation is encouraged and where no one feels pressured to conform to traditional literary norms. Simpson jokingly added that she’d like to see club members wear capes to meetings.
Activities will range from structured exercises — such as writing haikus or experimenting with concrete poetry — to open discussions on poetic techniques, specific poets and personal works-in-progress. The club also plans to help emerging poets refine their craft for publication and plans to establish connections with poetry clubs at other universities.
Currently, Zhang and Simpson are in the process of gathering like-minded students and researching how best to structure their club. A preliminary meeting is scheduled for Sunday, March 9 at 12:30 p.m. in Market Hall, where they plan to discuss their vision in an open and democratic way.
However, the process of gaining official recognition has been challenging, with concerns over BUSU’s ratification transparency and potential overlaps with existing campus groups, such as the Brock Creative Writing Club. The pair worries they may not get a fair opportunity to present their unique concept because poetry falls under the very broad “creative writing” category. They emphasized that poetry can be wildly separate from generalized creative writing, and that their club would not only be about reading and writing poetry.
If successful in their ratification, the poetry club will host a variety of events, including poetry readings, writing workshops, form discussions, poet showcases, open mic nights and collaborative writing sessions. A major goal of theirs is to launch a poetry zine, allowing club members to see their work in print. The club also hopes to organize field trips to literary sites, host guest speakers and collaborate with other student organizations. Plans are already in motion to connect with the St. Catharines Poetry Slam and to establish a poetry club summit to showcase the strength of Brock’s English Department.
The club is committed to welcoming poets at all levels, whether they are beginners looking for a supportive space to practice or seasoned writers seeking mentorship. A drop-in Q&A format, informal workshops and a potential “adopt-a-poet” program, inspired by Dr. Tim Conley, will ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn and grow as writers.
The first major initiative post-ratification will be a general meeting and meet-and-greet event designed to create a fun and informal atmosphere. The aspiring club founders hope that by fostering an open and welcoming environment, they can help break down the intimidating stereotypes often associated with poetry.
They also plan to integrate multimedia elements into their projects, including podcasting, performance poetry and magazine cut-outs. Online platforms like Discord and WordPress will be used to keep members engaged beyond physical meetings.
To ensure the club’s success, Zhang and Simpson are seeking a consistent meeting space on campus, as well as funding for materials and other opportunities.
At its heart, this poetry club aims to enrich Brock’s literary community, making poetry more accessible and vibrant on campus. Whether through zines, collaborative writing or performance poetry, the duo hopes to cultivate an environment where poetry can thrive.
With a spirit of creativity, collaboration and a bit of humor, this club may soon become an exciting new addition to Brock’s student community.