As if enough hasn't been said...

As if enough hasn't been said, I will be sharing my opinion on the plague of Deerfield High School. Class colors during homecoming week is a big deal at DHS. Freshmen wear white. Sophomores grey. Juniors red. And seniors black. Class colors are worn on the friday of homecoming week.
This year, our school decided that class colors were no more. Homecoming friday was now "red and grey" and my peers weren't happy. The topic consumed my class discussions. I have heard so many opinions on the issue that i want to pull my hair out. Senior claimed that their First Amendment rights were being violated because the school said that homecoming friday was red and grey day. There was such a commotion of this that enough people wined that they made class colors day earlier in the week. This is great, right? Apparently not. Everyone continued complaining! Why? I couldn't tell you.
I have heard both sides of the argument: "Class colors shouldn't happen because it singles freshmen out and they will get hazed." "Class colors is a right of passage and when I was a freshmen, nothing happened to me…"
Personally, I see validity on both sides. While freshmen are totally singled out for class colors, I think that it is part of the high school experience. Homecoming friday remained "red and grey" day and I still saw a large amount of students wearing their respective class colors. My main concern from all of this is how we let such minuscule things control us. I almost can't believe it. I think that things should go on as  we are told because a month from now, it won't matter what color shirt you were wearing on Friday, September 28th.

Jazz

Next year, I will be (hopefully) studying jazz in college. It is a dream come true for me. I am going to be able to learn about the music that brings me the most joy and fulfillment. But I ponder the question, "does it bring others joy and fulfillment?" I am becoming increasingly naive to the state of jazz today. It is an art music. Not by any means is it popular music. While filling college application after college application, I have to think of the future. What will a degree in jazz do for me? There's no answer.
The spectrum of what is considered jazz is getting broader by the minute. While traditionalists reject new music that won't swing, the overall idea is that jazz can be anything. I consider myself a traditionalist when it comes to my taste in jazz music. Duke Ellington said it best, "If it ain't got that swing, it don't mean a thing!"
I find people considering popular-instrumental music, from artists such as Chris Botti and Kenny G, with jazz. It upsets me. In the jazz world, Kenny G is taboo. He is labeled as a "sell out" and disregarded. That being said, the man can pay his bills. But regardless, Kenny G should be labeled in the genre of "instrumental pop music", not jazz. What makes jazz interesting, to me, is the swung feel and the interactive and improvised qualities between the musicians. Instrumental pop music is heavily rehearsed and focuses on melody. The contrast between the two makes it difficult for me to understand the appeal of instrumental pop music.
I would really just like to make a cry for attention. People, jazz isn't dead. If you would be so kind, listen to jazz. It is completely American and completely original. Let's all protect jazz because it is ours.

FIRE! FIRE! FIRE! in a crowded theatre.

Indiana University has pretty mild speech codes, in my opinion. They have restrictions on free speech zones, but really only to not disrupt the educational process. They also have codes on harassment and hate speech. But they are pretty standard measures. None of them catch my eye as striking or unfair. As a prospective student, Indiana University's speech codes do not offend me. They even advertise their commitment to free speech, "In accordance with the state and federal Constitution and university policy, the university recognizes the rights of all students to engage in discussion, to express thoughts and opinions, and to assemble, speak, write, publish or invite speakers on any subject without 
university interference or fear of university disciplinary action." That spells thing out for me. I believe that Indiana's codes are perfectly legitimate. 

If Indiana saw the parties at the fraternity, I would assume they would react the same way as Auburn did. They would withdraw recognition of the fraternities and dive into investigation. I cannot back this up with the rules of the university, but I believe that it would be common practice for a public school to punish kids engaging in such activities. The parties clearly accentuate stereotypes and demean minorities. Indiana has codes that restrict activities of that nature and I hope they would act upon their codes. I firmly agree to punish the fraternity after proper investigation.

I'm not too sure that I agree with everything that FIRE is saying. From what I've seen, they do not provide why the universities put speech codes in place. I believe that some speech codes are fair and have value. I don't believe that people, in an education setting, can demean others. While I understand that FIRE is trying to protect student's rights, it seems as though they are also trying to protect some really bigoted people from making others feel unsafe. The First Amendment shouldn't be compromised, but it shouldn't be taken to another level. I think the best judgement of speech is the speaker. If everyone would just put a filter on themselves and consider the time, place, and manner, I think we'd all get along just fine.

Ghetto Parties

What do you think? Should the behavior depicted be outlawed or banned on campus? Why or why not? Be sure to provide some context so that your readers know what you are writing about.

Students beware. The First Amendment doesn't fully protect everything you say or do at school. I feel that some actions taken on college campuses should be banned because of their clear offensive nature. A "ghetto party" is a modern day minstrel show. People show up in blackface makeup, KKK gowns, and other paraphanelia, to accentuate black stereotypes for entertainment. On college campuses, parties like this are becoming more and more popular. Ghetto parties should not happen. I feel that ghetto parties are extraordinarily offensive and a sick reminder of the racism that exists today.I think they should be banned on college campuses because they soil the marketplace of ideas. While participants may say it is harmless fun, ghetto parties are demeaning black people. They will reenact lynchings and promote racism. I know that banning ghetto parties may undermine the First Amendment but I feel more strongly that they are a moral misdemeanor. To see colege kids lynching a fellow student in balckface is offnsive to me! I am upset to their beliefs because they aren't ones  of acceptance and tolerance.

Ahmad Jamal

While at Birch Creek Music Camp this summer, my friend, Noah, introduced me to the music of Ahmad Jamal. I had many conversations at Birch Creek about the direction of jazz today. Noah claimed to be "stuck in the 50's". Noah showed me Ahmad Jamal's album Ahmad Jamal at the Pershing: But Not for Me. I instantly fell in love with the subtle elegance of Ahmad Jamal's playing. He has the most delicate touch on the piano. I can sing along to every tune on Ahmad Jamal at the Pershing. It is my favorite album as of right now.
This Saturday, I had the opportunity to see Ahmad Jamal play at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois. The concert was amazing. Ahmad got a triple encore! For one of his encore tunes, he played "Poinciana". "Poinciana" is off his Ahmad Jamal Live at the Pershing album. It was fantastic! I can't speak of Ahmad Jamal highly enough! After the show, I got to meet the legend!

Check him out!

http://www.ahmadjamal.net/

The Incredible Mr. Nathaniel Anthony Ayers

Last night I had the pleasure of watching the movie "The Soloist", featuring Jamie Foxx as Nathaniel Ayers and Robert Downey Jr. as Steve Lopez. Based on a true story, the film is about Los Angeles journalist Steve Lopez and schizophrenic musician Nathaniel Ayers became friends. While trying to find a topic for a column, Lopez found Ayers playing a two-stringed violin on skid row. Lopez saw a story in this man and began the columns. The columns eventually came a book, which then became the movie. I highly recommend the movie, however, the true story of Nathaniel Ayers is fascinating. He went to Juilliard for double bass but dropped out during his third year because of a mental breakdown. His mother saw no other choice but to put him through electroconvulsive therapy. This therapy failed and scarred Ayers. Years later, he is homeless on the streets of Los Angeles playing music for himself to calm the voices in his head. Currently, he is living in Los Angeles at Lamp Community. Lamp Community is a non-profit organization that helps take homeless men and women with serious mental illness off the streets. Ayers's story is amazing. It shows the true healing capabilities of music.