The power and artistry of words will take center stage at the Rane Arroyo Poetry Read-In 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10 in The University of Toledo’s Carlson Library Room 1005.

Cash, checks and credit card donations will be accepted at the free, public event. Funds raised will go toward establishing UT’s first LGBT scholarship.

The event is named in honor of Dr. Arroyo was a Distinguished University Professor of English who taught creative writing and literature at UT from 1997 until his death in 2010. The author of 10 poetry books, six chapbooks of poetry, a collection of short stories, and a collection of plays, Arroyo won an array of writing awards, including the John Ciardi Poetry Prize, the Carl Sandburg Poetry Prize and a Pushcart Prize.

“Rane wrote openly as an out, proud gay Puerto Rican male,” Dr. Glenn Sheldon, UT honors professor of humanities, said. “I want the audience to listen to the music of Rane’s words, to let intuitions of the poet lead us to our own personal discoveries, to just listen to a poem be — to enjoy.”

The scholarship is being created to honor Arroyo and former UT student Troy Anaya Jr., who died in 2016 at age 31.

“As gay Latinos from working class backgrounds, both Rane and Troy faced multiple oppressions, including financial hardship, racism and homophobia,” said Dr. Sharon L. Barnes, associate professor and chair of the Women’s and Gender Studies Department. “We honor their talent, intelligence and shining personalities by creating a path to higher education for someone similarly situated in the matrix of cultural privilege and oppression. They were both proud activists. I am certain that being remembered in this way would make them both proud.”

The Anaya/Arroyo Scholarship will be for one or more LGBT-identified undergraduates. The goal is to award the first scholarship in 2018, according to Sheldon.

Barnes will read poetry at the event, along with Leslie Ann B. Chambers, adjunct faculty member in the Jesup Scott Honors College; Sariah Flores-Shutts, resource specialist in the Center for Engagement; Wade Lee, electronic information services librarian, science research librarian and associate professor in University Libraries; Dr. Edmund Lingan, associate professor and chair of the Theatre and Film Department; and Dr. Skaidrite Stelzer, assistant professor of English. Also reading will be Toledo resident Bernie Filipski and Shannon Smith, associate professor of English at Owens Community College.

After the read-in, donations can be made through the UT Foundation at https://give2ut.utoledo.edu.

The read-in is one of several events taking place at UT in honor of National LGBTQ History Month.