Professor clarifies pagan statement
I need to clarify a statement that was attributed to me in Wednesday’s Campus 411 column regarding Halloween. The offending sentence concerning Samhain was not only ungrammatical, but it implied I had indicated that contemporary pagan celebrations of Samhain represent “the attempt to do away with the Christian religion.” I do not know how the reporter drew this idea from my remarks. As I noted during our phone conversation, “Halloween” (a corruption of All Hallows Eve) is a Christian term that developed when these ancient Celtic traditions were “baptized” into Christianity. Thus, contemporary pagan celebrations of Samhain are not attempts to “do away” with Christianity but to return to both a name and a tradition that preceded this Christian adaptation.
Perhaps the reporter would have understood these points better had she contacted Open Circle, the student pagan association, in an effort to provide more insight into contemporary pagan practices. As the current faculty advisor of Open Circle, I was both embarrassed and disappointed by the misinterpretation of my comments.
Rodger Payne
Interim Chair — Dept. of Philosophy and Religious Studies
Columnist knows little about hip hop
Blatant ignorance of hip hop culture should be no reason to oppose the offering of a course examining its effect on society. Mr. Kurtz’s editoral condemning the hip hop/athletics course being offered next spring displays ignorance of more than hip hop, and I would hope readers of The Reveille will give this endeavor a little more consideration.
Hip hop has had an overwhelming impact on American culture, not just black culture, over the last 20+ years. Sure, hip hop is associated with the negative images of drugs, pimp, and violence, but even if hip hop was all bad, does that mean we should ignore its effect on American history and society, on economics and on the development of children? We study other negative historical events and themes such as war, racism and slavery. Should we ignore them, like the “rap [that] hasn’t had the best history in the world”? This foolish angle on history will lead our students to ignore the mistakes of the past.
And to claim that hip hop is all about Mr. Kurtz’ ramblings on Tupac, Dr. Dre and B.I.G. is to ignore the many, many positive contributions and themes that hip hop embodies. Hip hop promotes knowledge of history, culture and identity. Artists that you may not have heard of promote positive themes in their lyrics, and that is the true basis of hip hop, not the money-hungry works by MTV’s finest.
This class will examine economics, politics, mainstream athletic culture (which in itself is a powerful modern force that deserves advanced study), psychology and the marketing of hip hop and athletics to America’s youth. Are these “important” enough topics to study as part of a liberal education?
Mr. Kurtz, ask yourself if you would be bashing a course on the history of rock and roll? Is that history more important? I’ll have my eyes out for your future editorials …
Justin Cormier
Senior — History and Political Science
‘Hammer Time’ column demeaning
The column entitled “Hammer Time” is demeaning and belittling. If Jeff Kurtz’s point is to say instead of adding new classes, LSU should focus on already-existing classes and their lack of room and availability, then he should stick to that. But the fact that he uses that topic as an envelope to send his message of disgust for the addition of a class that focuses on African-American culture is offensive.
As an African-American student attending a predominantly white university, I am always glad to hear about a new class that will allow me to better understand my culture. This column implies this class is insignificant. What gives him the right to make such a judgment? The comment, “I don’t blame the students who want to take the class. Who wouldn’t want to take something that basically has nothing to do with regular schoolwork,” makes it seem as though the class will be completely effortless. Mr. Kurtz asks, “How could you use any of this information to better your career after school?” In this case, you could say the same of any information learned in any class which does not pertain to your major but must be taken to fulfill University core requirements.
He says, “… rap hasn’t had the best history in the world.” I want him to show me a history that has been without its share of ups and downs. If he were to examine the history of the great nation in which we live, would he not find that its history was not “the best?”
He acknowledges rap’s impact on American culture, but then says that the study of it should not be allowed at a “prestigious” University.
If Mr. Kurtz thinks that rap is just about women, beer and good music with lots of bass, then he should be the first person in line to sign up for a class which will not only educate African Americans on part of their heritage but also give people like himself a better understanding of the importance of rap to the African-American culture and American society.
Jolaina Matthews
Junior — Accounting
Hip hop class part of diverse education
Mr. Kurtz has missed a valuable point of Higher Education. Thankfully, the value of a well-rounded, diverse education is foremost in the minds of LSU administrators. In these times of attempts to bridge gaps between people of different backgrounds, races, religions, cultures and personal interest, the course in question is very much needed.
The fact that Mr. Kurtz does not “… exactly feel comfortable with LSU’s decision …” clearly indicates the importance of offering such a course for him and those of like minds. Unlike Mr. Kurtz, the forward-thinking student would relish the opportunity to learn the truth and dispel the cultural myths which have been modified and handed down through generations.
Offering this type of course on a flagship university campus sets the high level of standard essential for a commitment to diversity. Creating “real” diversity on this campus means availability of cultural education to all students. This seems to be a step in that direction.
Addressing Mr. Kurtz’s question, “How could you use any of this information to better your career after school?”, consider the amount of money corporations spend on diversity training to help employees understand each other and their clients better. Graduates who have taken electives on culturally diverse topics are more marketable.
Graduates with an understanding of why cultures value different kinds of dress, music, art, food or any other differences will be able to
communicate better with people from different cultures. Employers are looking at the overall picture. The more a student can do to enhance his or her communication skills the more in demand he or she will be to “global thinking” corporations.
There are open minded and forward thinking students who will see the value in understanding different cultures. They realize that in the work place you will have to work side by side with people of different cultures.
Mr. Kurtz may be correct about one thing. As a white male, choosing to remain closed minded to different culture, he may not see the value in learning about African Americans in Sports and African American Culture: Rap, Race, and Identity.
Janna S. Cleague
Coordinator — Career Services
Co-Advisor for NAACP
Author naive to hip hop’s importance
The column in Thursday’s Reveille “Hammer Time” is an absolute outrage. I know I am not alone in thinking it a good idea to offer such a dynamic class at LSU. Just because it isn’t the author’s priority doesn’t mean this subject isn’t of much interest.
The author of this is naive in his opinions and views on the subject. His knowledge only goes as far as the widely publicized 2Pac and Biggy Smalls. Rap and hip hop didn’t start in the 90s; there is an entire movement behind it that started in the early 70s and can even be tracked as far back as the days of slavery. What is important is the emergence and what the movement was/is all about; it’s a direct response to society.
Hip-hop has had such a great impact not only in the United States, but worldwide as well. It may not help you much in your interviews or what not, but really what here at LSU is going to help you through that. The author’s naivety is exactly the reason this class should be taught.
Katie Lambert
Junior — English and Photography
Landrieu the best choice for the future
As Louisiana begins its journey into the 21st Century, there is only one candidate in the U.S. Senate race that can successfully represent our moral principles, economic needs, and family values … and this candidate is Mary Landrieu.
Time and time again, Mary has stood up for Louisiana’s children through her support of education initiatives. She fights to support our local law enforcement agencies and national military. But, most importantly, Mary strives to achieve a quality healthcare system within our nation and our state. She stands firm in her fight to maximize our state’s potential. We, too, should stand firm and support her in her re-election.
We, as concerned citizens, should question the integrity of the Republican candidates who choose to distort the truth and dodge the real issues Louisiana is facing. Does Louisiana want to move into the 21st century by supporting Mary Landrieu … or will we shove ourselves back in time by supporting her Republican opposition? I know what choice I am making … what is yours?
Corey L. White
Graduate Student –Public Administration
Greeks finally get positive coverage
It’s about time the papers actually show a positive side of the Greek System. The front page from Wednesday’s Reveille article was on the Phi Delta Theta fraternity spending their afternoon reading Halloween stories to children at the Women’s Center as a way to give back to the University.
Normally any time you see an article about Greeks, it has a negative point of view. It appears that people just love to hate on the Greek system.
I don’t understand all of the bad publicity because every fraternity and sorority has a philanthropy that they raise money for. Each semester they spend numerous hours helping out with the community and service projects.
A majority of Greeks also hold leadership positions on our campus like Student Government Vice-President and Union Governing Board Representative.
The LSU Greeks contribute a lot to our school and community, and I believe that these positive aspects need to be recognized more often. Thanks to The Reveille for spotlighting a positive aspects of Greek life.
Emily Foreman
Junior — Mass Communication
Officials should crack down on frats
I was driving down Fraternity Row [Tuesday] night when I was witness to a rather disturbing sight. I saw a young guy wearing nothing but briefs running back and forth between the middle of the road and the lawn of one of the fraternity houses carrying a nude, inflatable woman. He was making suggestive motions with it and blocking traffic. Now, I’m certainly open to the idea the young man was doing this of his own volition, but the circumstances make the cynic in me want to believe he wasn’t — that he was the victim of yet another incident of fraternity hazing, forced to do this by his “brothers.”
With all the bad press frats are getting these days for hazing incidents, you’d think they’d be on their best behavior. Apparently not. In fact, if the spectacle I saw last night really was an incident of hazing, it was nothing less than profanely arrogant Greek upper echelon shoving a brazen middle finger into the face of LSU’s administration, the student body, their own organization’s national chapters and even their own freshman pledges. It’s time for LSU’s administration to stop playing around. If for nothing but the sake of LSU’s national image, it’s time to get tough on uncivilized behavior sanctioned by registered campus fraternities.
Christopher N. Harrison
Sophomore — English