I would like to thank the Student Senate for their resolution in support of Amendment No. 2.
I was excited to see that this group of young people were so willing to get involved and are so informed on issues concerning the State of Louisiana. I especially thank Michael Busada for bringing the amendment before their group and for setting up the press conference at the Capitol.
Thanks again for all your hard work. I appreciate your support and look forward to working with you again. Together we can take the steps needed for tax reform in Louisiana. Please let me know if I can ever be of service.
Vic Stelly, Louisiana Representative
STOP! Take your head off the chopping block. All of LSU has been under the old axe of budget shortfalls and death blows from the State Legislature for too long. The past two years of small gains, thanks largely to our present governor, are not enough to redeem LSU from a third-tier ranking (which really does not help the value of our degrees). It also does not work to remove Louisiana’s ranking as the worst state in the union for education. For this we need something drastic, something now.
Here is our chance. This Tuesday, I ask that all students vote for Constitutional Amendments No. 2, No. 3, and No. 8. They have been in the works for years and have fought their way through “good ol’ boy” politics and dirty tactics to be placed on the ballot and provide this opportunity for change. Key Democrats and Republicans both have supported these measures.
Currently, higher education receives much of its funding from a 4-cent sales tax that must be debated and either renewed or killed every two years. According to one article, this biannual fight for our funding sees some legislators haggle and deal their way up to $40 million in pork barrel political deals before they will pass the tax renewal. What kind of system is this?
The Stelly Amendment (No. 2) would end this old system and base our funding on a much more stable income tax, giving up to 85 percent of the state a tax break. Amendment No. 3 allows the governor to cut up to 5 percent across the state budget when Louisiana runs deficits (which is often), instead of the current system where he can take funds from only two areas to keep the state running — health care and higher education. These measures are common sense and critical to our future. So borrow someone’s car, donate blood to raise money for a Greyhound bus ticket or taxi fare — just get to the polls and cast your vote for Amendments No. 2, No. 3, and No. 8 on Tuesday for all of us.
Patrick McCune, Senior — Mass Communication
After reading “Hammertime” I was left wondering how can someone be this closed-minded in 2002. I just had to laugh.
What is so funny? The pure ignorance displayed through this column. Clearly if Mr. Kurtz were to take such a class he would understand its importance.
The total lack of respect for culture in America is deplorable. Why don’t we cut the “History of Louisiana”? No, history majors need it or someone may just be interested in learning. How about we cut “Bowling” or “Jogging?” Are we wasting our money paying teachers for that? Why must an African-American history class be what grabs your attention?
As college students we are here to learn as well as grow. That is clearly why we are required to take humanities classes. This class is more than beneficial to many majors: music, anthropology, marketing, etc.
I have taken classes taught by Dr. Moore and trust me, it is no cakewalk. Furthermore, Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G., and Hammer are not the only rappers. Listen to Common or Mos Def who write lyrics about consciousness, not weed. Your understanding of rap — clearly shows the necessity of a class of this caliber.
Lastly it seems to me that LSU is striving to be among the best, such as UC-Berkeley, which offers a class that explores the lyrics of Tupac Shakur. This opens minds to understand the impact that a culture can have on the fabric of a nation.
The lack of teachers throughout the campus is not the fault of the African and African-American Studies department, so let’s not point blame. Who are you to say what classes are “important?” As an ISDS major and minor in AAAS, I personally am not interested in taking any mass communication classes; does this make them any less important?
Why is this class less important when we have a full major in African American Studies? I would ask that Mr. Kurtz do some research before writing another column about something he knows nothing about. Better yet, I challenge you to take the class.
Melody Robinson, Senior — ISDS, President — LSU NAACP
Frankly, I am not surprised by columnist Jeff Kurtz’s attitude in last Thursday’s Reveille concerning a class that will include, in part, a discussion of rap music. Too many young students feel it is the job of the University to prioritize and streamline their education for them.
Kurtz’s solution to an unsubstantiated claim of too few “important” classes is to do away with educational diversity for the sake of uniformity.
It is a shame so many students, like Kurtz, will miss the point of Professor Moore’s class and assume “If you watch VH1 on the right weekend, you could probably learn most of rap’s history.” By that same logic, if you watch the History Channel you can learn all you need to know about any major historical event or trend. But neither a timeline of events nor a roster of participants can accurately portray any historical event. Forget about what happened. Focus on why it happened. Most cultures and cultural trends of the 20th century in the U.S. have been defined at least in part by their music. Rap is no exception.
The title of Professor Moore’s course certainly indicates to me that this class will be more than just his list of the top 100 rap albums of all time. If you are concerned only with graduating with the required courses in you field, may I suggest a community college. Better yet, why don’t you stay at LSU and take Professor Moore’s class.
At least at LSU they are making an effort to diversify your education. Much to your dismay you will probably find that the course will challenge you. Are you up for the challenge? Maybe you will learn something about the culture and society in which you live. And it just might better prepare you for real life after college.
Kurtz is absolutely correct when he says “It’s the LSU officials’ job to take care of students’ most important needs.” By allowing this course to be offered, that is exactly what the “officials” are doing. My only complaint is why don’t they go further?
Aaron Johnson, PhD candidate — Music Composition
Knowledge of past events is a valuable tool available to us. After reading Jeff Kurtz’s closed-minded column, “Hammer Time,” I actually feel sorry for him. I tried to find humor in his comments about “Hammernomics” and “Macology,” but I was left struggling.
Kurtz’s column says, “History of African American Popular Culture: Rap, Race, and Identity Reality” shouldn’t be offered in spring because lack of teachers, credibility and relativity. Rap music may not directly influence his life, but that’s no reason to harshly pass judgment on this class and question this University’s priorities.
The author takes a low shot and says LSU should “take care of needs” by hiring teachers for, what he calls, “important” courses. Which ones are important? Depending on whose subjective opinion? Hand-picked by whose worldview? Where does that leave us on “credibility?”
This course, for instance, can be vastly important to anthropology majors or anyone interested in African-American culture. Or are these courses not important in Kurtz’s view?
How, Kurtz asks, can LSU add this cutting-edge course before “taking care of needs?” I guess LSU must halt classes taught by new teachers because we can only hire English 1002 and math teachers.
The article says rap music hasn’t had the best past. Who’s to say that it is not worthy of studying? Rap music is a spin off of jazz music, and has evolved since that time. After I watch that VH1 rap music special, why don’t I flip to the history channel so I can skip that western civilizations class this semester.
Oh yes, how could I forget to mention his ever popular played-out question to readers, “how could this information better our careers after school?” I beg your pardon? Who, in their student careers, hasn’t asked themselves that question when they’re plugging numbers into the quadratic formula?
I applaud Chancellor Mark Emmert for trying to open sheltered eyes to a world in which hip-hop is meaningful and very influential. This class is a much needed avenue for exploring cultural diversity. Or again, is that not “important” enough for Kurtz?
Crystal Accardo, Junior — Mass Communication