Artists of all genres and styles are hereby invited to an open-mic night at 10 p.m. tomorrow in 219 Boucke, hosted by the Undergraduate Writing Center.

Poems, pieces of music, raps, readings and songs are all encouraged.

The Writing Center is traditionally known as a place that offers tutoring and revision for essays, reports and literature reviews. However, tomorrow night is a free-for-all for those who have a painting, song, monologue, poem, piece of original music or any art their hearts wish to share.

"We want to open up the center to anybody," the event's organizer Christina Jordan (senior-English) said. "The idea is expression and feeling comfortable with it."

Open-mic night was the brainchild of the center's director, Jon Olson. He picked up on the trend at writing centers in California. Olson brought back a CD containing recordings from events at the schools he visited, and the Writing Center's staff quickly put together plans to start the tradition at Penn State.

Jordan said the event is part of the staff's mission to make students see the Writing Center in a different light -- not only as having a tutoring and school-related function at Penn State, but also as a safe haven for students.

Participants from the group's first open-mic night several weeks ago said they had positive experiences to recount.

"I thought it was fun," Kasey Soska (junior-psychology) said. "The people were supportive, and there was a welcoming environment.

Soska performed his original tunes about TV shows on guitar.

He said he enjoyed the chance to connect with people through his music at the first event.

"I like to play in front of an audience and expose people to my music," he said.

An appealing aspect of the open-mic night is that it is laid back and informal, Soska said. There are no auditions or requirements, and everyone is there for a stress-free time.

Aside from the free doughnut factor at the last open-mic night, emcee Greg Naylor (sophomore-psychology) said the event had other benefits.

"It's a group of unjudgmental people getting together, as opposed to a class where you are doing it for a grade," Naylor said.

Soska, who said he also likes the event's environment, plans on joining the list of performers again tomorrow

"It's a great opportunity to hear a lot of students," Soska said. "It's an inviting atmosphere, very chill and loose."