As the spring semester at UWG begins to cool down, the stage of The Coliseum is preparing to heat up. On Saturday, April 18, UWG students and faculty as well members of the surrounding metro Atlanta area will gather for the opportunity to see multi-platinum recording artists T.I. and B.o.B. perform for the spring concert of the 2014-2015 school year. The doors of the Coliseum will open at 7 p.m. and the show will begin at 8 p.m.
For the past four years, UWG and the Center for Student Involvement have invited big names in music to perform for the students as well as the public. The artists that have participated in these concerts represent a broad range of genres—everywhere from rap, country, alternative rock and beyond.
“The major concerts series in the Center for Student Involvement began four years ago with the first show being Ludacris, then The Band Perry, then Neon Trees with Phillip Phillips and 21 Pilots, and last year with Third Eye Blind and Panic! at the Disco,” said Emily Teitelbaum, assistant for Student Events and Programs for Student Involvement.
The process of planning for these concerts are take several months, and tedious scheduling efforts on the part of UWG as well as the visiting artists.
“Planning major concerts is an over six month process of doing research on artists and top, current songs and artists, finding what artists work with the budget, surveying students for who they would like to see on campus, getting references from other campuses, and making sure that we switch up the genre of music every year for students.”
This year, students chose to bring back a hip-hop show.
“This year we are back to a hip hop show with T.I. and B.o.B. This is a very exciting show, with two major, award-winning artists performing at our campus,” continued Teitelbaum. “Students can expect to have a high energy, exciting concert at our very own university!”
Tickets for UWG students are priced at $10 plus tax and $15 on the day of the show. All tickets for UWG faculty and staff are $15 plus tax and $20 on the day of the show. UWG ID must be presented in order to receive the discounted price, and up to six tickets can be bought per transaction. There a currently a limited amount of tickets available, and they are selling fast.
I am a concerned student at the University of West Georgia. I am confused and concerned with the choice in bringing an artist to campus whose lyrical content is misogynistic and violent. The Center of Student Involvement is paying or has paid rapper T.I. to provide entertainment to students. This entertainment will provide students and members of the community with messages condoning, promoting, and celebrating violence. Provided below are a few of T.I.’s songs, in which misogynistic and violent messages are massively prevalent.
Memories Back Then
T.I. starts the song Memories Back Then with, “In my apartment a long time ago I knew a bad bitch but she was kind of slow. She still gave it up to a few of us; she let me finger fuck her on the school bus. We used to cut school with her and run train, she wanted to hang with us, we want one thing. Just penetrating that throat, she choke on it like smoke”. Someone who is mentally incapacitated (or as T.I. describes as slow) cannot give consent. Glorifying sexually assaulting an individual by digital penetration and gang rape sends rather confusing messages to listeners.
Blurred Lines
References regarding the “blurry” concepts that surround sexual violence attributes to many victims choice in not reporting acts of sexual violence. Perhaps victims question the validity of many preconceived notions surrounding sexual assault, notions that are central to the song “Blurred Lines”. Lyrics include, “You’re a good girl” attributing to the notion that good girls are submissive, “Can’t let it get past me” attributing to the notion that some men can’t resist the urge to sexually assault, which casts further blame on the victim, “The way you grab me must want to get nasty” attributing to the notion that one act means consent to any and all acts, and “You’re an animal baby, it’s in your nature” attributing to the notion that women are nonhuman and inappropriate sexual behavior is normal and acceptable. Rapper, T.I. goes on to say “I’ll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two”, normalizing and celebrating violent and degrading behaviors. Sexual assault is an issue that the University of West Georgia has taken a proactive stance on by educating and advocating for students. Part of the education and advocacy provided convey messages regarding consent and explicitly defines sexual assault. Students are being told that the University of West Georgia cares about sexual violence and will advocate for those impacted by sexual violence. However, hosting concerts with individuals who explicitly describe acts of sexual assault he committed is perplexing. It is not necessarily a question of right or wrong, but rather a question of is this the wisest choice to make.
The University of West Georgia has gone to great measures to prevent sexual violence. Activities including a PSA in which students and leaders at the university take a stance against sexual violence, Take Back The Night in which hundreds of students rallied together to take a stand against sexual violence, and the Clothesline Project in which students write personal and uplifting messages to other students impacted by sexual violence. In all of those activities students are encouraged to take a stand in ending sexual violence, stand up for individuals who can’t stand up for themselves, and to protect our pack. It is perplexing that the same university wants to bring someone to campus who shares messages opposite of everything the University of West Georgia has strived to promote.