On the third floor of Western Washington University’s Viking Union building, a room full of comfortable chairs, a piano and a stage await the night’s activity. This room is The Underground Coffeehouse, a dedicated space for creativity and performance.
The Underground Coffeehouse is run by Western’s Associated Students. The organization is committed to creating a fulfilling academic experience for students through activities, facilities and opportunities.
The coffeehouse began as a cafe where community members could order coffee and other goods. Now it serves as a lounge for artistic endeavors of all kinds.
On Mondays, the coffeehouse hosts specialty programs, such as a five-minute film competition. Tuesdays are open-mic nights for students, bands perform on Wednesdays, and Thursdays are for clubs such as comedy and poetry. Events at the coffeehouse begin at 7 p.m.
The coffeehouse often sees between 60 to 80 people.
“I just think it’s a fun creative expression,” said student Michael Richeson, who had just finished singing “Ride” by Twenty One Pilots. “You don’t get opportunities to get on stage much. It’s a fun, easy way to hone the performance art.”
CDN thanks Western Washington University professor John Harris for submitting student work from his newswriting class.
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