Outfitted with woven bamboo tables, beaded curtains and painted walls depicting Islamic arches, the Casablanca Room in the Creative Arts building sat in a hush.

The occasional clank from the tattered fan served as the only background noise for what creative writing major Cyndera Quackenbush called extraordinarily good prose.

Refraining momentarily from the red wine and gently toasted crackers, Quackenbush called the first poet to take the mic.

For the past three years, "The Velvet Revolution," an open-mic night held every Tuesday for student poets and writers to share their recent work, was held in the Poetry Center on the fifth floor of the Humanities building. Now, with new leadership and fresh talent, the weekly revolution is getting a makeover.

Quackenbush has been a member of the program since spring 2006, but had big changes in store when she became director of the program this semester.

“[The Poetry Center] was like a lonely Rapunzel, surrounded by books, in five-floor-high isolation,” said Quackenbush, 22. “Nothing like a little revolution within a revolution.”

Unlike prior semesters, which limited the open-mic night to only poets and writers, Quackenbush and others wanted to encourage people from all disciplines.

“We're exploring new territory,” said Quackenbush. “I would love for people to come and share their art with us.”

In an effort to build what she called an artistic community at SF State, the Velvet Revolution welcomes and reaches out to undergraduate and graduate playwrights, poets, artists, musicians and comedians.

Theater arts major and visual artist Rae Tory highlighted the change with her paintings that were scattered around the room on Feb. 20 during the first session of the spring semester.

“Beauty is relative” said Tory, 21, in reference to one of her pieces depicting two contrasting faces. “Anything can be beautiful.”

"I loved the addition of the visual art on the walls because it really brought about a new creative side,” said junior creative writing major Rory Kelly, 20.

Senior Tamara Little was one of the three writers who participated in the open-mic session.

“I push myself to read every week to overcome [nerves], and also because I really enjoy reading to people,” said Little, 22, who performed her narrative about a woman whose boyfriend murdered a police officer.

Although it was supposed to be dramatic and somber, Little’s original tale incited a few chuckles among a crowd of about 25 audience members.

“I was a little annoyed, because the piece is very serious. I tried to read it very seriously,” said Little.

In addition to open-mic participants, the night also showcased the work of two featured poets, who were handpicked by members of the program according to the caliber of their work and past readings at Velvet Revolution.

Nathan Ladd, one of the featured poets of the night, read excerpts from his 49-poem manuscript tentatively called “Milk Fever,” which included mostly short pieces of what he called “orgasmic waves.”

“My poems are very psychedelic and abstract,” said the 24-year-old creative writing senior. “I like poetry because it allows possibilities for expressing ideas that are not capable of being expressed in conventional language.”

But according to Ladd, most people don’t like poetry.

“Like reggae, most [poetry] is junk," Ladd said. "However, most of the people who do like poetry, and who are not poets, like bad poetry.”

The other featured artist was senior creative writing major Donna Duffy, 22, who read a monologue about a married Jehovah's Witness couple, in addition to a few intense poems, one of which included sexual escapades in the "Burk Hall basement women's bathroom stall."

“It’s a great way to see what the university has to offer artistically,” said Duffy.

The program was originally created in 2004 by SF State students Chad Sweeney and Rose Haynes, who named it after the 1989 nonviolent revolution in Czechoslovakia that led to the overthrow of the communist government.

Although Quackenbush has heard rumors that Sweeney disapproves of her changes, those in attendance liked the changes.

“Poetry, short stories, a play monologue and even music with lyrics. Fun. Oh and how could I forget the wine and cheese?” said Beth Brauer, 61, senior creative writing major, who has been a member of Velvet Revolution since its inception.

“I like the exotic atmosphere, but I'm concerned the room might get to be too small, since it is smaller than the Poetry Center,” said Little.

Although some were skeptical about the size of the Casablanca Room, others embraced the new venue.

“The Casablanca Room is a very intimate and romantic setting and although it is smaller than the Poetry Center I think its vibe works perfectly, striking a unique balance between the classic and the groundbreaking" said Rory Kelly. "I have high hopes for this semester and expect great things."

The Velvet Revolution is held every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information contact the_velvet_revolution@yahoo.com.