- History -

The ECU Poetry Forum has been in continuous existence since its founding in 1965 by Vernon Ward.  With growing numbers of students and townspeople writing poetry, Ward saw a need for a workshop where writers could read their work and receive both encouragement and criticism.

Peter Makuck, English Department faculty member and editor of Tar River Poetry, directed the bi-monthly meetings of the Forum after Vernon Ward retired in 1978. After Makuck's retirement in May 2006, Luke Whisnant became the Forum's faculty advisor.

The ECU Poetry Forum has received financial support from both the English Department and the Student Government Association.  With allocations from the SGA, the Poetry Forum has sponsored the readings of visiting poets of national reputation. 

National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize winners like William Stafford, Carolyn Kizer, and Louis Simpson head a long list of distinguished poets who have visited ECU to give readings and free workshops that were open to the public.  Other visiting poets have included Betty Adcock, Lucille Clifton, Lawrence Lieberman, Patricia Goedicke, James Dickey, Robert Creeley, Brendan Galvin, A.R. Ammons, and Samuel Hazo.

Vernon Ward, Jr
ECU Archives

Peter Makuck

Luke Whisnant