Relate to Purpose

Nicholls Mass Communication department hosted a Relate open-mic event, Relate to
Purpose, on Tuesday from 7pm-9pm in the Mary and Al Danos Theatre in Talbot Hall.

Chelsea Jackson, a senior mass communication student, was the host of the event.

Speech Instructor Farren Clark said, “I think it’s important to have Relate, because
everyone needs space to share and listen.”

About 90 people attended the event, while 15 people spoke on stage. Whether in the
form of a poem or story or an elaboration on a thought, all speeches related back to the central
theme of purpose.

Clark said he thinks people need events like Relate, not only to improve their public
speaking ability, but also to broaden their perspectives.

Clark said, “Students may show up for bonus points but then leave with something
more… the unique part about Relate is its unpredictability.”

He said he thinks social media, although beneficial for many reasons, has given people
an opportunity to be anti-social. “The immediacy of face to face interaction, there’s nothing like
it.”

Since establishing the event in 2011, Clark has directed about three Relate open-mic
events each semester.

Relate events are offered to everyone in the community, but most people in attendance
are Clark’s students from Nicholls and Fletcher Community College, both establishments in
which he teaches public speaking.

Clark encourages people to look at Relate’s Facebook page and attend the next Relate
event on Monday, Nov. 13 at 7:00pm in the Mary and Al Danos Theatre in Talbot Hall.