Students, faculty, members of the International Students Program and members of the community gathered in the Tarble Arts building at 4 p.m. Thursday, for the fourth annual International Poetry Reading.

“[Reading poems] is a way to celebrate the diversity that exists on this campus,” said Sandra Beauchamp-Karns, English instructor in the International Students Program.

Each speaker choose a poem that represented his or her language and culture. All the poems were read in the chosen language and the audience was also offered an English translation.

The following speakers volunteered to read at the forum: Eulalee Anderson, a member of the community and retired international advisor; Saifur Bhuiyan, a sophomore computer management major; Michael Louden, an English professor; Luis Clay Mendez, a foreign languages professor.

Four members of Eastern’s International Students Program spoke as well; Letty Amaya, Chan Kim, Oscar Salazar and Shiling Sze Tho.

“I hope the audience gathered that the beauty of the nature is the same everywhere, you love your own country,” said Bhuiyan.

“I liked hearing all the different languages,” said Andrea Fritz, a sophomore English and French major.

The reading was open to the public with no admission charge.

“I’m really happy this many people showed up and enjoyed the beauty of the different languages,” said Beauchamp-Karns said.