On Wednesday, Feb. 6, Julia Spicher Kasdorf and Steven Rubin put on Shale Play at 6 p.m. in Martin Chapel.

This presentation included photographs taken by Rubin and poetry written by Spicher Kasdorf. Both individuals were introduced by Doug Graber Neufeld, part of EMU’s Biology Department. They were invited to EMU as part of the Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions (CSCS) program.

The mission of this organization is to “further conversations about climate change.”

The presentation itself was a continuation from Convocation that morning, in Lehman Auditorium.

Historically, the Shenandoah Valley has been known for being a special location for the fracking of shale. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline is supposed to make this process more efficient in our area.

Vi Dutcher from the Language and Literature department introduced the pair while indicating this as a Writer’s Read event.

Spicher Kasdorf read from her fourth collection of poetry. Shale Play was a collaboration between Spicher Kasdorf and Rubin in an effort to reveal the impact shale fracking has on the environment and the people who live there.

Fracking occurs below the water table, and there is radium within the shale. Shale is fractured with incredibly high pressure. Much of the toxins that are fracked are pumped back into the ground.

As part of the pair’s research, they talked to many different people who were being impacted by this practice. Spicher Kasdorf ’s poems are mostly nonfiction, since they are based on those very conversations.

Writing professor Chad Gusler, who attended the play, commented on the impact of this event. Gusler said, “I thought the reading was a great example of the political power of poetry. When a poet can channel an ordinary citizen, that is speaking truth to power.”

The main argument for fracking is the jobs it creates; however, Spicher Kasdorf makes the convincing argument that the reward is not worth the damage. Many of the people who do benefit from fracking are not the same people who hurt from the practice.

Solastalgia is the feeling of belonging that comes when your home no longer feels like a home due to environmental changes.

Senior Claire Waidelich said, “[The play] was moving and eye opening in the ways that this company impacts the lives of people.”

A brief Q&A followed the Shale Play.