PAGE THE STAR 9 SEPT. 20 - SEPT. 26, 2011 JURES Sonoma State University stu4ents ·. . get schooled by Amanda Diva
N1coLE BullKE Staff Writer
On Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Cooperage, Amanda Diva came to Sonoma State University, on behalf of Associated Students Productions, to give a presentation entitled, "Schoolin': Hip Hop in Academia." "Hip-hop is a necessity. The fact is that we, in this country, look past what we have and we take advantage of the abun dance of everything that we have," Diva said. "Hip-hop comes from America and comes from people that need a voice and people that have the ingenuity to have a voice and to help give other people a voice," she added. Diva received her master's degree in African American Studies, with a concentration in hip-hop, from Columbia Uni versity in New York City. Diva went on to become a host of MTV's Sucka Free Sundays, writer for XXL Magazine and AllHipHop.com, and a host of "Breakfast at Diva's" on XM/ Sirius Satellite Radio's Hip-Hop Nation. During her presentation, Diva explained why hip-hop not only belongs in academia as part of the culture, but why it is an important tool for education and how it influences the social culture of a community. "As a teacher, when you are trying to teach and trying to get the students to fully understand something, you are not only competing against the other students, you are battling against their headphones as well, explained Diva. "There is a culture relevance to the music and we can not let it go to waste." Sophomore Amber Daly agreed with Diva's approach to teaching students with what they are most familiar with. "We connect with the music, and if the teachers and profes Amanda Diva,former MTV personality and Columbia University alwna, greets SSU students in the Cooperage on Sept. 14. Her sors were to incorporate that into their lectures and lessons, it lecture, "Schoolin': Hip-Hop in Academia," enlightened students about the benefits of using hip-hop in education. could make students' comprehension of the subject stronger, and help them remember it more easily," Daly said. Diva began her discussion by asking the students who they She went on to say that students are influenced in so many everyone should try to include it in his or her everyday lives. felt were the founders of hip-hop, which included Gil Scott different ways, but that hip-hop is something that has been "Something I knew, but never really acknowledged before Heron and others, and why the students enjoyed listening to around for a very long time and will continue to be around for the lecture was the fact that hip-hop is so influential in our hip-hop. a long time in the future. daily lives," said Daly. Diva talked about the origins of hip-hop and how one has "About every 30 years, black folks come up with new mu- At the end of the lecture, Diva told the audience a little to know where hip-hop came from, therefore being more edu- sic," she said. "I do not know what is next, bui J am curious to about her life and where she grew up and why music is so big cated about the topic. Eventually, it will help to have the ability see where it goes. We need to start legitimizing it by putting in her life. to hold a conversation about it if brought up in a discussion in it on paper so we can see not only where it has been, but also Diva, who has only been presenting her "Schoolin"' lec academia. where it is going." ture and many others for a semester now, went on to perform a "I really enjoyed her energy and her ability to connect with Diva also credited today's youth with shaping world events. poem at the end of the lecture that she had written. the audience," said senior Matt Hotmer. "I learned that humor "You can not have a discussion about black Americans and Diva, who is originally from Grenada in the Bahamas, is an essential part in getting an important message across, es- music without talking about the youth," Diva told the audi moved around the country and ended up in New York, where pecially when the issue is so multifaceted like hip-hop." ence. "The youth is taking over. The youth v9ted for Obama, she said hip-hop helped her discover herself. .. "Amanda g-0t the audienre--!aughing; thinking asd-ai:guin~""""'tne""'(.f.Mltll\.helped-end th aparthe·d 3114.therijmtth helped ne "I was o umbl-ed and that is-wher hip~hop gave me a which all developed into a powerful message," Hotmer added. Mubarak out of Egypt." ' ' .,,i · voice and gave me a poetry voice, which led me on a road that Diva discussed how hip-hop is very influential, especially During her discussion Diva talked about how a huge part got me here," she said. in the lives of the youth and how today>s students are surround- of what js keeping hip-hop alive is the Internet, and that if aca "If we do not have hip-hop in academia, we are going to ed by different types of music. demia is not going to include hip-hop in the curriculum, than lose sight of a cultural phenomenon," she added.
Comedy competitors ming ASP Events
face off in annual "The 800 Mile Wall" Film Showing Tuesday, Sept. 20: 7 p.m. in Darwin 102 competition FREE MELISSA WILLIS new activities, one being standup comedy. He This film highlights the construction of the new border Staff Writer describes himself as "ambitious, raw, aggres sive and truthful." And, with the support of his walls along the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as the effect family he hopes to win this competition and on migrants trying to cross into the U.S. The 90- minute On Sept. 21, Sonoma State University wel proudly follow in the footsteps of the greats film is an unflinching look at a failed U.S. border strategy comes a select group of comedians to display that came before him. ,their talents in hopes of winning the San Fran Another comedian to keep an eye on this that many believe has caused the death of thousands of cisco International Comedy Competition. year is Rob Martinez. A second grade role as migrants and violates fundamental human rights. A post SSU has a history of hosting the event Jesus Christ in "The Last Supper" is a far cry screening discussion will be hosted by Professor Ron Lo- which plucks comedians out of their normal from his current life on stage as a standup co lives and, for a select few, transports them in median. However, Martinez says his biggest pez. the pestigious comedian hall of fame. issue has been gaining the acceptance of his • Anticipation builds each year prior to the mullet. arrival of the comedians, prompting the ques Yes, this dude's got a mullet. Poetry Slam with Shihan tion, what future greats will debut this year? This up-and-comer really looks forward to Tuesday, Sept. p.m. in The Pub in Student Who will follow in the footsteps of champs and bringing his A game to the diverse venues that 29: 8 runner-ups like Robin Williams, Dana Carvey, await him as_the competition proceeds. His ad Union Rob Schneider, Ellen DeGeneres and Dane vice for any students with a future in comedy Cook? The competition carries a tradition of is, "Don't steal, have fun and, if you're ever on FREE unveiling varied talents and versatility from a a show with me, buy me a drink." group of hopefuls from every walk of life. A familiar face to the San Francisco In A native of New York's Lower East Side and a current resi- ternational Comedy Competition is Kevin dent and local legend of Los Angeles, Shihan is consid Young, having first participated in 2007. With "What future greats will his fondest memory of that year being a perfor ered one of the most dynamic spoken word artists of our debut this year? Who will mance at Sacramento State, hopefully his per generation. His abilities to transcend cultural and genera follow in the footsteps of formance at SSU will produce another success. tional boundaries have made Shihan a much sought after His belief on success in stand-up is the need to champs and runner-ups like "be original and try to stand out from the rest talent. Robin Williams, Dana Car of the pack, which isn't easy." vey, Rob Schneider, Ellen Jules Posner, a newcomer to the competi DeGeneres and Dane Cook? tion this year, says he is honored to be a part of Turning Away From Hate with TJ Leyden the widely-know competition. Posner was at tracted to comedy because he has "always had Monday, Oct. 3: 7:30 p.m. in Warren Theatre Thirty competitors, narrowed down from an interest in not doing real work for a living." (Ives 101) hundreds, are currently fighting for the final The San Francisco native can be described as five spots in this infamous competition, on "a comedian who puts the b in subtle." FREE which careers may be built. Winners of past Posner, Young, Martinez, Ouyang and the competitions have gone on to star in movies others promise to make this year's San Fran Leyden speaks about his history as a former Neo-Nazi and and television shows like "Saturday Night cisco International Comedy Competition one will educate the audience on his incredible past and trans Live." to remember. One of this year's better known competi The comedians will begin their sets at 8 formation over a lifetime. He helps people understand the tors is Jimmy Ouyang, a young man from a tra p.m. in Person Theater on Wednesday, Sept. 21. hurtful culture he immersed himself in and inspires them ditional Chinese family. After studying abroad The event is free for Sonoma State University with why he is so involved in fighting it today. one summer, Jimmy came home and discarded students and staff and $15 for general admis his tired old routines and replaced them with sion.