In the great spirit of Allen Ginsberg and Gary Snyder, the Ames community has its own night to read home-spun poetry. Boheme has moved its Open Mic Night readings to Thursday nights. “It’s a good aim, offering types of programs,” Aimee Brown, the co-chair of the student organization Writer’s Block, said about the reading and Boheme. Writer’s Block produces the night along with help from the Boheme. This is the second year the group has held the Open Mic Night readings. However, this is the first year they have tried to involve the public. Though Open Mic Night is the organization’s only interaction with the general public, it also publishes a journal of creative writings and a magazine called Sketch, the student version of the journal. “We hope to not have a bunch of beat-type people showing up,” Matt Loftin, master of ceremonies for Open Mic Night and co-chair of Writer’s Block, said about the hopeful attendance of this year’s readings. The night isn’t only for reading poetry – people can also come and read works of fiction and non-fiction, freestyle rap, and perform spoken word. Last year, the Writer’s Block had a group visit and do a series of readings for them, which included freestyle rapping, spoken word and a series of other works. “I think the Boheme has what Ames is lacking. I mean, a club that doesn’t cater to just the frat crowd,” Loftin said. Open Mic Night is just one of many theme nights Boheme has to offer, along with Vinyl Groove, a night of pounding techno, and World Beat Dance Night, an enjoyable evening of world music. The readings are not new to the Boheme line-up; however, Writer’s Block is new to the Thursday night reading. There are plenty of opportunities for anyone looking to get involved with the Open Mic Night activities or Writer’s Block. People looking to read or attend the Open Mic Night can show up to Boheme on Thursday nights, but people planning on reading should show up at least 10 minutes early so they can be added to the list of readers, and should bring their own original material. Those that would like to get involved with Writer’s Block can e-mail Matt Loftin at [email protected] for more information. The group would like help with many of their various activities.