I love Ohio University. I love the Marching 110. But the censorship that the university imposed on the band this past weekend is saddening, especially as an alumna of the university and of the Marching 110.
It is an infringement on the academic freedom for the course content, because after all, Marching Band is a class in the School of Music (MUS 2510). Dr. Richard Suk states that he was told not to play it and “I wouldn’t say they gave me a choice” based on The Post article “Marching on Blurred Lines.” Further in the article, the student who first submitted the editorial, Allie Erwin, said “The main reason I sent in the letter was because the song is terrible,” and in her original letter she continues to say that song is promoting the rape culture quoting the lyrics “I know you want it.”
Robin Thicke is quoted as saying “It was about blurring the lines between men and women, and how much we’re the same … The song is really about women are everything that a man is, and can do anything a man can do,” according to CNN’s Marquee Blog. The lyrics continue to say, “The way you grab me, must want to get nasty” and can be interpreted that the woman is sexually assaulting the man. That’s the thing with music and lyrics; it can be interpreted different ways, depending on your argument and what you want it to say.
To argue the lyrics and meaning, a literature course is the place to discuss and debate, but not in a music class with the musical score.
The Marching 110 has consistently played top hits since its founding in 1967. They have played songs that have been written about topics like abortion (“Brick”), school shootings (“Pumped Up Kicks”), sex (“Cherry Pie,” “Save a Horse”) drugs and alcohol (“Gin and Juice,” “Light Up,”) just to name a few, and there has not been censorship.
Two weeks after 9/11, the Marching 110 went to New York City to play for the Giants and performed “Smooth Criminal,” a song about murder, and there were no repercussions.
To censor “Blurred Lines” has now opened the door for the university to censor every class, every organization that represents the university, and to monitor all material. Will all music organizations be required to submit their repertoire to the administration for approval? What gets censored and what doesn’t?
OU administration, I know you have your hearts in the right place. Rape and rape culture (a phrase that suggests rape is now a norm) are not to be taken lightly. Statistically, 17.7 million women and 2.78 million men in the United States have been survivors of attempted or completed rape.
However, censoring the Marching 110 from playing a song that is a top hit and is a piece selected by the professor as a part of the academic course does not solve the epidemic, just as the 110 playing the song does not support it.
Ann Cugliari is an OU alumna who received her bachelor’s degree in theater design in 2005 and her master’s degree in education in 2008.
