Jam for Justice, an open mic event focused on promoting peace and justice, drew a standing room-only crowd of more than 100 present and former students to Espresso Royale last night.
The event, hosted by the Boston University student group Students Unite for Peace, was put together in the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, according to event organizer Pam Mendelsohn, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences.
In an introduction, Mendelsohn described the group as “committed to raising awareness and taking action for peace and justice.” She introduced the night as a “forum to voice your opinion on what’s going on. Everybody’s voices should be heard.”
The night began with two students playing the bongos, then the same students accompanied spoken poetry. The acts, some scheduled, some impromptu, included poetry and music on themes ranging from race relations to the effects of Sept. 11 to lame guys at bars.
One performance receiving particular appreciation from the crowd was a harmonica and keyboard version of Amazing Grace.
A comedy act by Melissa Shaw, a former BU student, took on such topics as lack of personal hygiene and flying on commercial flights after Sept. 11.
“Maybe it’s a terrorist plot, maybe it’s Maybellene,” Shaw said in response to the confiscation of an eyelash remover.
Former BU student Rich Mackin read letters he had written to large corporations as well as actual responses he had received in response.
Representatives from Global Justice Project, a student group at Boston College, expressed interest in joint events in the future with Students Unite for Peace, as they are groups with similar goals.
The audience included those waiting to perform, students and others who came to support either the performers or the cause, and also those who accidentally found the event.
Mendelsohn said she was pleased by the turnout.
“I was really pleasantly surprised,” she said. “It was very rewarding to see a lot people enthusiastic about it.”
Because the jam was so popular, Mendelsohn said she was planning similar events in the future.
“We want to make this a recurring event, once a month,” she said. “When we said that tonight, the whole audience was like, ‘Yeah, we want to come back.'”
Audience members agreed the show was entertaining.
“I was walking by and stopped in for coffee,” said Dean Radcliffe, a 1997 graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences. “I’m impressed by the amount of talent here tonight.”
Other students came to support friends who were planning on performing, such as Sam Krahn, a sophomore in the College of Fine Arts. After Krahn saw the beginning of the show, he signed up to perform.
“I came to see my friends play,” he said. “This is cool too, though. Peace is good.”
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