The Revolution is Coming

Plymouth State University will be holding its first annual “Plymouth State Friends Revolution” event in the Hartman Union Building on Saturday, November 19th from 8:00 pm to 12:00 am. The free event is intended to help raise funds for the Jake T. Nawn Writing Scholarship through means of donation. The night will be full of creative workshops and activities all throughout the building, free of charge to all.

The event was inspired by Jake Nawn, a member of the Plymouth State community who passed away at age 23 in November of last year. Nawn was widely known in the community as an original musician and writer, a good friend, and source of inspiration to many in the Plymouth area.

Plymouth State Friends Revolution will consist of many exciting and creative activities. From 8 pm to 9:30 pm in the HUB Fireplace Lounge, there will be an open mic, as well as a raffle. An instrumental “Jam Room” will be open to all in the Hage Roomfrom8to10pm.From9pm to midnight there will be a painting room designated in room 123. In the Hage Room from 10 pm to midnight there will be live music consisting of local band Trout God and, headlining, The Grebes. There will also be a cash bar serving drinks in room 109 from 9 pm to midnight.

One of the event’s organizers, Jennifer “Forest” Steinberg said that “we wanted to make it so that whatever you’re into, even if you’re just passing through, you could get something out of it.” Steinberg is in charge of regulating basics like food, getting raffle prizes, and requesting funds and donations from student groups and businesses all around the Plymouth community. “We really just wanted to create something to the effect of what Jake would like to have seen in the community.”

The name of the event was inspired by a Facebook group started by Nawn his first year of Plymouth in 2012 called, “Plymouth State Friends Revolution.” The intent of the group was to bring people of all walks of life together on a single forum to boost positivity and to help expand friend groups that have, since, sustained themselves over the years. “Our intent is to bring people together,” says Steinberg, “to help recognize how important community is, but also writing and art and poetry. A lot of schools are cutting writing and art in their budgets, and this event can help show that it’s still something big, and something a lot of people at Plymouth value.”

Nawn’s mother, Marta Carlson Ferriera, is also involved with the organization of the event and scholarship will be in attendance. “I'm hoping to be able to connect with so many of the people that Jake loved as we are at the year mark since his passing,” she said. “The students at PSU have become more than friends- -they are now family, and we feel a warm embrace each time we return to Plymouth.”

Ferriera, in collaboration with Plymouth resident and former friend of Nawn, Brianna Coykendall, have set up a GoFundMe.com account called, “Jake T. Nawn Writing Scholarship” where funds for the event and scholarship can be donated. Donations will also be accepted at the event, which will consist of a raffle (prizes TBA), and a “Book-For- A-Buck” table. Further inquiries for donation can be made to Hannah Dutton at PSU Poets and Writer’s email, poetswriters@plymouth.edu.