MU students presented current political issues and opinions through diverse artistic mediums at Political Expressions, held in The Shack on Thursday night.

Mizzou Change Today hosted the artistic showcase and it was sponsored by the Legion of Black Collegians. The event included both a gallery and a show.

Mizzou Change Today President Roshaunda McLean said after crafting the initial idea, the organization came up with a list of present-day issues. Interested artists chose from the list.

“We got together and asked, ‘What are some important issues in society at this moment? What issues affect students?’” McLean said.

McLean said the purpose behind Political Expressions is to make students aware of the issues or educate them on what they already know, so they may be more willing to vote.

“This is a great time to get out and voice your opinions and get educated on it,” McLean said. “That’s the route we’re taking. You get to complain, and you get the education factor.”

Acts included singing, rapping and poetry. After each act, the hosts read aloud a few facts about the previous issue.

Mizzou Change Today graphic designer Kailynd Beck is one of the artists whose work was displayed in the gallery.

“I already like to draw, and they needed somebody quickly,” Beck said. “I like giving subliminal messages through my work.”

Beck’s drawing is entitled “Life.” It shows four robots, the first two with signs saying they have jobs. The third is black, and he has a job. The fourth is white, and he doesn’t. The employer needed the quota, so the black robot got the job.

“That’s life,” Beck said.

Freshman Connor Relyea wrote a poem on gay rights. He said for homosexuals, there is a noose that slowly chokes. He equates the noose to the American flag.

“When I started thinking of ideas, I thought about how I feel,” Relyea said. “I started feeling a choking feeling in my throat. I started putting down everything I ever felt about the issue.”

McLean said Mizzou Change Today event coordinator Naomi Daugherty was the mastermind behind the event.

Daugherty said this was Mizzou Change Today’s first big event, and it was difficult to organize.

“Because we’re such a new organization, we had to instill faith in our part that it’s a worthy event to be a part of,” Daugherty said. “It’s not only arts, it’s political. The hard part was getting people to stay with us.”

Finding acts was a two-part screening process, Daugherty said. The first was open call, and the second part was primarily a run-through to see where artists should fit in the lineup.

“With 30,000 students, Mizzou is bound to have extremely talented students and being an MU graduate, it really makes me proud to see other future graduates are bound to succeed,” said Michael Butler, contender for state representative of the 79th district.

The event was nonprofit.

“This is strictly to inform people and do it in a way they might identify with better,” Daugherty said. “(It’s) sending a message from student to student in an artistic way.”

LBC President Whitney Williams said she was proud of everyone that worked on the event.

“They worked hard and took the time to think about the topics at hand,” Williams said. “I was really proud of all of them tonight.”