Students had the chance to perform at the first virtual open-mic night hosted by Amaranth, AACC’s award-winning literary magazine, last Tuesday.

Amaranth plans to hold two more virtual open-mic nights this semester, said Editor-in-Chief Leah Roche. They will be held via Zoom from 7-9 p.m. on Oct. 27 and Nov. 24. Amaranth will post the Zoom link on the Nest, as well as on the magazine’s social media.

“Our first virtual open-mic was a great success,” Roche said. “We were really excited about the turnout. It was great to see some new faces since everyone is a little stir-crazy right now.”

Open-mic night regular Bri Barone chose not to perform but said she loved hearing others read their poetry.

“You show up, and you just feel welcome,” Barone said. “You get this comfy, at-home feeling.”

“It’s a great way to meet other students,” Roche added. “It’s hard to meet people right now. The open-mic nights are a great, low-key way to meet other students.”

AACC alum and former Amaranth Editor-in-Chief Jonas Pallaro-Sonneborn said he enjoyed the open-mic event and would encourage students to join Amaranth.

“The fluidity of the journal being student-driven and student-led,” Pallaro-Sonneborn said, “leads the final product to be a true expression of the feeling of the college that year.”

Pallaro-Sonneborn performed three original poems.

Amaranth publishes one journal annually.

The student editors could not distribute a physical copy of the 2020 issue because of coronavirus, but said they will highlight artwork from the issue on aaccamaranth.com each week.

The editors are accepting student submissions for next year’s issue.