Over the past several days, I have been stunned at the ongoing public debate about the Marching 110’s decision not to play “Blurred Lines.” So far, I’ve seen various sources label it “censorship,” claim it was inappropriate for administrators to step in on behalf of students, and dismiss students who were upset about the song (many of whom were themselves survivors of sexual assault and rape) as “overly sensitive” and “whiney.”
Aside from my concerns that so many people are willing to allege censorship apparently without knowing what it actually is, it is more disturbing how these comments demonstrate the extent to which rape culture is entrenched on this campus. It is a serious problem when vastly more people are upset about the marching band being asked not to play one song than there are people upset about two sexual assault crime alerts on campus within the first week of the semester. Where is the public outcry about the fact that people – mostly women – are raped on this campus regularly, most of whom are too afraid or ashamed to report it? If you are not at least as appalled by the rape epidemic taking place on our campus and others as you are by the fact that the Marching 110 was pressured to drop one song from one game, your priorities in life are at least a little backward. Actually, they are very backward.
Furthermore, it was not only a “handful of people” who would be impacted by this song, though it should not have mattered if it were. It was approximately one out of six women and one out of 33 men who are sexually assaulted during their lifetime, according to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network. Aside from the possibility of the song being potentially triggering for a significant portion of the audience, there were over 20,000 people in Peden Stadium and potentially millions of people on YouTube who would have seen the Marching 110 performing the song. That is, there are millions of people who would have received the message that it is socially acceptable, interesting, and even enjoyable to celebrate rape.
To the editors of The Post whose recent editorial insisted that the initiative to nix this song should have come from students if anyone, you should know that it has been students fighting this all along. It was students who brought it to the attention of administrators that the Marching 110’s plan to play this song was so problematic. One student in particular did so via an open letter that you published. Give credit where it is due.
Finally, I want to commend the members of the Marching 110 who have not tried to defend this song. To my knowledge, there are quite a few members who were unhappy with the song choice from the beginning but did not feel empowered to challenge it. You should know that your opinions are just as valid as the more outspoken defenders of “Blurred Lines” from within your ranks. The controversy is not your fault and it is not fair for you to be held accountable for it. After all, silence does not imply consent.
Tyler Barton is a graduate student enrolled in the College Student Personnel program.
