About TOTUS
TOTUS (whole, all, total, complete, every part, all together, all at once) Spoken Word Experience is a unique course that explores structural inequality and centers marginalized identities in and through poetry to spark dialogue and action focused on dismantling, reimagining, and creating a more equitable and accessible global community. By participating in TOTUS you will have the opportunity to examine self and society through artistic expression while fostering meaningful relationships with classmates of all different backgrounds. This is a small dialogue-based course with a familial feel.
*No prior experience with poetry, performance, or art is required. Many TOTUS students do not have any prior performance art experience and come from a variety of majors including STEM. To learn more about past students' experiences you can view student E-Portfolios HERE. *Graduate students are welcome to enroll.
TOTUS runs once a year as a 1 credit ARHU course section taught by Dr. Naliyah Kaya (nkaya@umd.edu). The next course will run in the Spring of 2026. If you need registration clearance, please email Ross Angelella (jrangel@umd.edu). To learn more about the Jiménez-Porter Writers’ House or to apply visit their website.
History: TOTUS Spoken Word Experience is the spoken-word component of the campus-wide, multidimensional, and collaborative INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE CAMPAIGN (ILC) launched Fall 2012 by the Department of Resident Life (DRL) and the Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy (MICA) office at the University of Maryland, College Park. As of Fall 2020 the course is housed under the Jiménez-Porter Writers' House with continued programmatic support from MICA.
