StorySlam returns to campus

With a successful debut last spring, StorySlam is back at Gonzaga by popular demand.

The first StorySlam of the year will kick off on Monday, Oct. 24, from 8-9 p.m. in Wolff Auditorium. The theme, which acts as a link between the narratives, will be rooted in "Masked: Stories from Behind It."

An idea that stemmed from Dr. Joe Albert's Leadership and Storytelling class, StorySlam is largely structured after the national storytelling organization The Moth.

Albert, a leadership professor and co-founder of the Comprehensive Leadership Program, said the class focuses on turning points.

"Things in your life that have really shaped you in some way, shape or form," Albert said. "They can be really positive, great things; they can be tragic, difficult things."

StorySlam aims to create stronger ties among the students, faculty and staff of the Gonzaga community by taking the intimate environment of the class a step further.

"People come to life," Albert said. "People that you pass by every day, and then you get to know their story and you can't ignore them anymore."

StorySlam intern Sloan Westerman said readers are asked not to read their story, but instead tell it in the hope of exposing themselves to the community. In turn, the listener is able to relate even though their tales may differ.

"The more personal your story, the more universal it is," Albert said.

Keeping the theme in mind, six individuals are chosen to share their stories by Westerman along with Kate Mulvaney-Kemp, the two StorySlam interns for 2011. Each storyteller recounts a personal narrative from his or her life within an eight to 10 minute time frame.

The event will feature students Sam Freedgood and Josh "Sparky" Garcia, along with faculty member Dr. Chris Stevens. The final three readers have yet to be determined.

The theme at last year's March StorySlam was "Uncharted Territories" and featured six readers, including senior Tyler Hobbs.

Hobbs took the Leadership and Storytelling class in the fall, prior to the March StorySlam. He originally presented his story to the class, and because of its relatable qualities, Hobbs was asked to share it on a larger scale.

"Despite being unnerved, there was something hopeful in the idea that perhaps one person out there could relate to my story, or learn from it, or even simply enjoy it," Hobbs said.

For Hobbs, there was a deeper appreciation for the discernment he went through in telling his story. Going beyond his personal narrative, he said listening to others helped him to realize how incredibly integrated all our lives are.

"What I loved about StorySlam is that despite the common theme which all storytellers have to address, not a single story is alike," Hobbs said. "I think it serves to show in a very real way how incredibly different we all are, but how our differences are rooted in some remarkably universal themes."

Westerman said they are hoping to have a total of four StorySlams this year, two in the fall and two in the spring.

"We want to open it up to more people, that's our biggest challenge right now," she said.

Westerman said much of the publicity is by word of mouth, but she is hopeful that once students hear about it they will be eager to spread the word.