For years poets and authors have gathered in smoky cafes and bookstores to share their work. Helicon, Northwestern’s student literary magazine, hopes to offer students on campus same opportunity tonight with an open mic event.

“It’s such an old idea,” Whitney Purvis said of poetry readings. “In a certain way we’re hoping to continue that tradition.”

The event, in Norris University Center’s Gathering Place from 9 to 11 p.m., is the third open mic Helicon has sponsored this year, but the first one on campus.

One aim of the open mic is to promote the upcoming publication of Helicon’s first supplemental spring issue, said Purvis, a Weinberg sophomore.

“It’s a new thing we’re trying because it’s possible people will get excited about (the spring) issue and will conceivably have the desire to submit something new without having to wait until next fall to do it,” she said.

The deadline for the second spring issue is Friday. Submissions can be placed in the Helicon folder at the Norris main desk or in folders in the art and English departments.

Whether or not the open mic inspires submissions, publicity director Becky Shaw said she thinks the event will offer a good opportunity to students.

“You can hear a lot of thought-provoking, interesting things or some beautiful poetry or prose or amazing scat,” said Shaw, a Weinberg junior. “It’s just a chance to share one another’s works and have a good time.”

Managing editor Sarah Schutz said having open mics is a good way to expose student authors to Helicon and the writing community.

“It gives writers a chance to show off their work,” said Schutz, a Weinberg junior. “It also allows us to have other ways for people to show their work other than writing it down.”

Other open mics this year have been held at the Liquid Potion Lounge and at the Unicorn Caf