Speakeasy creates intimate environment for student expression

The Daily Pennsylvanian
September 13, 2012

When Speakeasy was founded in 1997, it didn’t seem to have a promising future.

Then College sophomores Emily Cohen, Courtney Zoffness, and Adam Kaufman planned the first ever Penn Speakeasy, an open mic night open to Penn students and the local community. It was held beneath 1920 Commons in a small windowless room and didn’t attract many students.

But 15 years later, Speakeasy lives on. Now hosted at the Kelly Writers House, Speakeasy continues to create a sense of community for the students who drop by every month. People are encouraged to read their work, sing songs and — as the event’s tag line “poetry, prose, anything goes” suggests — perform whatever they like.

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