Freshmen attended a SLAM! poetry performance where the poets were hired to provide a more entertaining approach to serious issues.,”A mandatory freshman event held to address sexual assault, stalking and relationship violence ended up generating a mixed response, prompting Ball State University officials to send an apology e-mail to all freshmen.

Freshmen attended a SLAM! poetry performance where the poets were hired to provide a more entertaining approach to serious issues. However, some students were more offended than entertained.

"It was bashing guys," Dustin Lockhart said. "After the lady said 'F' the government and 'F' the military, I walked out. If you live in America, you shouldn't say those things; there are plenty of other countries to live in."

As the first performer approached the stage, students did not know what to expect and cheered her entrance. As soon as she opened her mouth, students were quickly silenced. She used vulgar words and terms, surprising the audience. Many cheered and clapped, but others sat in awe.

"Coming from a high school where I'm not used to that kind of language, I was shocked, but I wasn't offended," Alana Gardner said.

The performers addressed issues such as rape, partying, domestic abuse and political views.

"It was really informative and productive, but I didn't think it should've been mandatory," Monica Owen said.

After the program, many freshmen wrote e-mails and made distressed phone calls to the people in charge of the program about the vulgar language and some of the topics addressed onstage.

In response to the complaints that filled her mailbox, June Payne, director of counseling and health services, and Michele Cole, victim advocate for the office of victim services, sent a letter to every freshman on campus apologizing for the language and the 'male bashing.'

"The language went too far," Payne said, "and some of the political points were not wanted in the program."

Payne and Cole said the video clips they saw and the poems they read before the program did not have the language that was said onstage.

Students reacted differently to the apology letter and the program. Chuck Staples said he would willingly see the program again and felt the letter was not necessary.

"I thought (the program) was a good idea," he said. "A lot of times, people are sheltered and that prevents them from experiencing the things (one of the performers) talked about and it was good exposure."

However, Owen said he understood why Lockhart was so upset.

"It was really sexist," she said. "If I was a guy, I would've been offended."

Gardner said she felt the letter was an appropriate way to settle the issues.

"It was nice of them to care so much about their students," Gardner said.

Sarah Brenner agreed with the sending of the letter but didn't feel the freshmen needed an apology for the poets' language.

"I don't think the letter was necessarily needed, but it was enough," she said. "They don't need a personal apology from the performers."

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