Canceling Rutgersfest

This past Tuesday, Rutgers president Richard McCormick announced that he has canceled Rutgersfest for the foreseeable future. The annual concert, which has brought bands and performers such as Pitbull and Brand New, came under fire this year for 4 shootings and 11 arrests that occurred off of College Avenue campus in the late-night partying that ensued after the concert. New Brunswick police blamed the concert for attracting unsavory characters from all around and concentrating them in New Brunswick, essentially making College Avenue campus a boiling pot with no release; in essence, it was bound to explode. I find all of these excuses to be absurd.

First, I would like to quote President McCormick’s e-mail that he sent to the student body:
Many streets were congested with people and there were multiple reports of
disruptive conduct. Near the College Avenue campus there were many rowdy
student house parties, incidents of public intoxication, littering, and
vandalism, and several altercations among students and other
individuals. Most disturbing to report, four non-Rutgers people were
shot in three incidents during the course of the evening. The fact that
none of these shootings resulted in life-threatening injuries does not
diminish their violence, and I am gravely concerned about the danger to
our students and our neighbors.

That sounds like any typical Friday night (or even Thursday) at Rutgers, except without the shootings (or at least as many of them). If anyone has ever been to Rutgers on a Friday night, one could find “many rowdy student house parties, incidents of public intoxication, littering, and vandalism, and several altercations among students and other individuals.” Not only that, but people get mugged weekly while drunkenly stumbling around College Avenue. There are only 2 reasons why McCormick is actually canceling Rutgersfest: 1. It has been a terrible year for PR at Rutgers, and 2. Large pressure from the NBPD, who yearly have to deal with large, impossible crowds and large amounts of drunken disorderlies.
While I do understand the need for McCormick to feel that he has to take some sort of drastic action to counter all the negativity that has struck this school over the past 2 semesters, canceling the largest student celebration is not it. Those who were shot, did the shooting, and those who were arrested were all non-Rutgers students.




Shown: People NOT from Rutgers.

Don’t penalize all students for something that is clearly not the fault of the student body. Maybe reforming the concert for students only and having non-students pay a fee to enter would deter some, but obviously the main attraction is partying. As long as there are parties in Rutgers, people from all over are still going to come to this college and act stupidly. Unless McCormick somehow bans alcohol and turns Rutgers dryer than Dick Cheney’s internal organs, then I somehow doubt that people are going to stop coming here to have a good time.
As a reaction to the president’s decision, students have begun several Facebook events, including “Ragefest 2012″ and “Slutgersfest 2012,” among others. It’s obvious that there is not way to stop students from having their fun, so President McCormick, don’t be so strong-handed. We understand that it’s been a tough year for Rutgers; trust me, we’ve all lived through it. It’s enough to drive anyone to an extreme. Just trust me when I say that taking away our biggest privilege is not the way to rectify all problems.

Das Müsic!

Ah, music. For so many generations, music has guided us through periods of strife, carried stories through ancestries, inspired some, entranced others. Music has been a constant force in human development, even before the creation of instruments. It mirrors our thoughts and everyday actions in our lives. That begs the question, what does contemporary music reflect about our society?

I'll use the top ten songs according to www.billboard.com to make some general views about our society. At number 1, we have "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas. This song is primarily about going out every night to get drunk and be licentious, not to mention the repetitive and unoriginal lyrics (naming the days of the week and repeating the same verse over and over does NOT count as creativity). Also, the autotune only makes people sound constipated. Stop it.
At number 2, we have "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus. Sadly, it's just an itinerary of her travel from LAX to a dance club. It's really not that interesting, and honestly, I can't understand a damned word that she says. To me, at least, it sounds like an Alvin and the Chipmunks reunion.
At number 3, we have "Run This Town," by Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Rihanna. I will admit that it is a well made song, though the repetitive beat in the background sounds like a dog barking (after a while). I do respect Jay-Z for his activism, though I am not the hugest fan of any of them. The unfortunate aspect of such a fast song is the lack of lyrical development, as some words are just thrown in for the sake of a rhyme scheme. This song, on the whole, is mainly about spending money that is earned through their careers. So far, so meh.
At number 4, we have "You Belong with Me," by Taylor Swift. The lyrics reflect the loneliness of a less-than-popular girl who is enamored with her friend, who is dating the paragon of beauty (and empty-headedness). While it is a step up from Miley Cyrus, the idea is banal. I will give credit to Swift's singing voice (and from what I hear, a winning personality). She certainly does have talent, and this song is a good starting point for her to develop her creativity.
At number 5, we have "Use Somebody," by Kings of Leon. They are my friend's new favorite band, and I will admit that they do have talent, but they aren't my type of music. The lyrics reflect a lonely protagonist, possibly in love with someone that he cannot attain. One interesting facet about this song is the use of bass, which is very, very rare (unless, of course, you listen to the Red Hot Chili Peppers). It is a decent song, but not one that I would continually listen to. Once is enough for me.
At number 6, we have "Best I ever Had," by Drake. He sings about a girl that he has sex with. He also repeats the same lyrics over and over in the same verse. 'Nuff said.
At number 7, we have "Down," by Jay Sean featuring Lil' Wayne. It has something to do with only being with one girl and repeating the word "down" redundantly. When Lil' Wayne chimes in, I feel like I would have a better time translating whale sounds. Also, the autotune is excessive and extraordinarily terrible. Please, no more.
At number 8, we have "Knock you Down" by Keri Hilson, featuring Kanye West and Ne-Yo. Hilson sings about being surprised by falling in love with some Kanye West. I find that implausible, seeing as Kanye West is so in love with himself AND his ego. There is no room left for anything else. Aside from that, the chorus is used excessively and there is very little lyrical variation.
At number 9, we have "Good Girls Go Bad," by Cobra Starship featuring Leighton Meester. It has something to do with being so "badass," that any girl to enter the vicinity of this aforementioned baddassery turns into a raging slut. I understand the need for party songs, but I have heard this song before (in many different forms). It's instantly regrettable.
Finally, at number 10, we have "Hotel Room Service," by Pitbull. It is about meeting a girl in a hotel room to, I assume, compare stock and trading strategies. This song is as enjoyable as receiving a vasectomy from a billy goat. I'm not exactly sure how that would work, but I assure you, it would not be pleasant.

So, what have we learned about contemporary society from looking at the top 10 songs in America? Well, the lesson is simple: we are full of bullshit.

Das Flüg