Remarks for Introducing Sigma Kappa Delta, Psi Alpha Chapter's "Falloween" Event

Reminders

the usual: phones off; make this as distraction free as possible; feel free to have refreshments in the lobby, and please keep them in the lobby; please do the quiet "snap" thing as people recite lines you think are fire; do introduce yourself and say something about your set; make notes about poems or prose you heard and share them with the creators afterwards; remember there are a variety of people in this room and not all of us agree about everything. let me talk politics, you can complain about me. please tell my bosses that I don't think children should starve; keep this a positive and encouraging atmosphere for all.

I expect more people will stroll in and want to present. Quietly send them my way, please.

Remarks

Hi all. I'm Dr. Karra. I serve as Senior Advisor for Sigma Kappa Delta, Odessa College's English Honor Society. I've been privileged to hear poems and prose from our students and our community for four of these nights over the last two years. It's honestly very humbling to be a part of a student organization which is building a rich history, establishing itself as a sign that the future cares to listen, respond, and give.

I want to do more than thank you for being here. Gathering in today's day and age is an activity which can receive mild disapproval, if not outright hostility. I am not simply speaking of extreme introverts or gamers chatting on Discord for hours. Consider that many places don't want you to work from home because they want direct control over labor. Sometimes bringing you to a location is a way of atomizing you, separating you from others even though you are in proximity to so many.

This is different: we are gathering. You understand this implicitly. Many of you are accomplished artists with established bodies of work. You operate from the assumption that art is about creating a space in which people can move. They observe, they discuss, they interpret. These are forms of freedom which can lead to radical conclusions. When we ask for political and religious references to not be provocative or to be in good taste, we don't ask this for the sake of censorship. We ask it because in a time when everything is on the line, people need to know who their allies are. Allies know to build trust, to not pick fights until everyone can and will protect each other.

In my government classes, I mention that if Texas were an independent country, it would be the world's 8th largest economy. The Permian Basin, not so long ago, outproduced Saudi Arabia with regard to oil. Texas is an insanely rich state. Notoriously, it leads the nation in hunger. 22% of children in Texas–1 in 5–experience hunger. I know many have strong opinions about the lack of SNAP payments November 1st. I ask two things: 1) Please commit to the proposition that no one should starve, not in the wealthiest country on Earth. The United States has nearly double the gross domestic product of China. Sigma Kappa Delta, the organization hosting this event, will be running a food item drive for the food pantry on campus soon. We can use your help; details will be forthcoming next week. 2) Understand what you're doing when you make art. The activists I believe in the most, the ones who will put their bodies on the line for others, do not discount the arts. They fully understand that the arts are ultimately about imagining, learning to navigate different emotions and experiences in order to be able to envision different futures. You'll note that some with means are extremely possessive of the arts; they're not going to let just anyone on the Board of Directors for the ballet. This is more than a matter of class–this is about who has the right to imagine the future.

You're here. You know things have to change. You're ready to speak. We need to hear you.