Why do we need poetry? To express our innermost thoughts. Beep. Wrong. Thank you for playing. To woo women. -- Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society.

Where can one find poetry at Penn State University? Nowhere? Beep. Wrong. One need only to open the eyes and search a little to find poetry around the campus. Poetry writing and reading can be found in the classrooms and in student-run clubs. Poetry contests are another easily accessible medium for poets who wish to compete.

One of the groups on campus in which students can write or read poetry is the Undergraduate Writers' Club. The club's headquarters is located in 219 Boucke, where the Writing Center is also located.

The Writers' Club is a combination of various types of writings from poetry to fiction and non-fiction, said adviser Ronald Maxwell, who is also the director of the Writing Center and an associate professor of English.

"The two main sections of the club are separated into poetry and fiction. These two sections generate the most interest," Maxwell said.

The students sometimes like to organize themselves into smaller groups to keep things intimate, he said. Sometimes there are two or three different groups in each section. In these groups, the students read and critique each others' works.

Anyone who wishes to join the Undergraduate Writers' Club may inquire at the Writing Center in 219 Boucke.

Associated with the Writers' Club is the literary magazine, Calliope.

"Calliope provides a literary outlet for students and writers. It is a place for the Writers' Club to show off their work," said editor Tammi Coles (junior-speech communications), also treasurer of the Writers' Club.

The magazine, which includes students' black and white photography, is a collection of mostly student-written poetry, fiction and non-fiction, Coles said.

"For a long time, there was not a place for students to publish their works. That is one of the functions of Calliope," Coles said.

Anyone may submit his / her work for publication in the magazine, and students will judge other students' works. A writer who wishes to publish in Calliope does not have to belong to the Writers' Club.

"We hope to have the spring edition of Calliope published by April," Coles said.

Manuscripts or poems for the spring semester's edition may be submitted in 219 Boucke or at the HUB information desk mailbox. March 9 is the deadline for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. March 15 is the deadline for black and white photography. Calliope meets at 8 p.m. every Tuesday in 165 Willard Building.

Poetry writing is also offered in the classroom. Specialized poetry courses include English 213, 413, 513, and 297A. These courses are designed for the English major curriculum; however, non-English majors are allowed to take the courses. Other University courses sometimes offer sections on poetry, such as English 210.

John Haag, an associate professor of English, has taught a number of these English courses.

"I can help anybody with poetry, but I don't like to teach basic grammar," Haag said.

According to Haag, it's difficult to grade a student on poetry. "I grade on the investment the students put into the course," Haag said.

The poetry courses in the English department are generally offered every semester.

Poetry competition also provides another opportunity for poetic expression. Affiliates of the University, as well as independent co-oporations sponsor poetry contests annually.

Just recently, said Charles Garoian, assistant director of the Palmer Museum of Art, the museum and the English department sponsored its fourth annual poetry contest.

"We think of images when we read poetry, and paintings are visual poetry. The purpose behind our contest was for students in University poetry classes to come up with poems about paintings that were on display at the Palmer Museum," Garoian said.

The grand prize winner of the contest has his / her poem published in the museum's newsletter, Garoian said. He said the contest gave the students a chance to experience a different medium in writing poetry and having their work published.

The poems for the contest are written during the fall semester and then judged during the following spring semester. The winners are announced and encouraged to read their poetry aloud at the museum, Garoian said.

Another contest is the National College Poetry Contest, Spring Concours, 1990. The contest is open to university students who wish to have their poetry anthologized, editor Val M. Churillo said in a prepared statement. The entries must be original and unpublished. There is no restriction on form or theme but the length is limited to 14 lines. Each poem must be titled.

Prizes include $250 in cash and book prizes as well as free printing for all accepted poems. The deadline is March 31.