Instead of the ambient lull of a compilation of pop hits, those at the Creese Lounge on Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008, were presented with the inner musings of Drexel's students and faculty. Perched at the top at the stairs of Behrakis Grand Hall, the voices of our own poets and writers streamed through the loudspeakers at the Maya poetry event. Maya is Drexel's undergraduate-run literary magazine, collecting the best of undergraduate fiction, poetry, and prose. The event started at noon to give those on their lunch breaks a respite from the daily white noise of the city, ringing telephones, and whining computers.

Many of Maya's regulars came to read, including Dr. Don Riggs, Eamon McIvor, Theodora Marcantonis, and Ali Cahill, in addition to some new arrivals, like Matthew Snyder and Katrina Mitchell. The poems presented were far from stereotypical idle musings of clouds and sunsets, but poems whose focus ranged from an obsessive youth being rejected for his egoism to a poem about a girl trying to kill her brother. There were also baked goods for sale, provided by Pr. Kathleen Volk Miller, who read a story published in The Painted Bride Quarterly, of which she is Co-Editor.

This reading was the second poetry reading this school year, and the Maya staff continues to call for support from undergraduate students both for submissions and for help on the editorial board. Last year's cover was designed by Drexel professor John Langdon, designer for graphics found in the The DaVinci Code. Maya's Round II submission deadline is April 1st, 2008. April 1st seems a long way off; however, there is rumor of an editorial event to be held before the deadline where students can meet with editors to discuss their work. Submissions can be sent to dsoMaya@drexel.edu.