That’s what the lyrics of the songs played in the SUB have taught me.
The Makita drill in the utility closet looks mighty comforting — the sound of a half-inch drive bit penetrating — first through the delicate flesh and cartilage around my ear hole, then working its way through the acoustic meatus, the eardrum, shredding the cochlear nerve, and straight into the brain — it sounds extraordinarily pleasing compared to the sound of whatever evil falls from the ceiling of the SUB.
If the Student Union gets half as many complaints as The Cascade does, regarding the volume and kind of music played in the SUB, I’m shocked something hasn’t been done already.
“Hey, do you guys know who controls the music?” “Can we study in here, the music is kind of distracting.”
The music is only moderately short of excruciating. (Excruciate: from the Latin excruciatus. Cruciare: literally to crucify (from crux) on a cross.) But I am no martyr, and I can’t believe there’s any redemption from this. Sometimes I catch myself whistling a tune, not because it’s catchy, but because it’s been forcefully thrust into my dome, over and over and over again. I’m in love with your body.
I keep thinking, we gotta get away from here. I don’t even know what from. Don’t be afraid to catch feels. Huh?
Remember when CIVL was broadcasted in the SUB for one day? That was great. What about all the plans that ended in disaster?
Actually, CIVL station manager Aaron Levy went so far as get permission from the SUS, created a customized playlist, and wrote up a policy (the language SUS speaks) for playing CIVL programming. Not good enough. Promise me no promises. After one day of playing, for whatever reason, the plan was axed.
Initially, the resistance from the Student Union to CIVL programming playing in the SUB came from the assertion that it’s student study space — CIVL would be too distracting. But there’s always fewer students in the SUB later in the semester; I’m certain they’re ODing on the music. It’s too distracting to you make me feel like a dangerous woman study around. Estoy muy duro, sí, ok, ahí vamos.
My ears ache; my brain, colonized by trash. I could give a thousand reasons why. Quite frankly, most of these lyrics conflict with my values, c’mon strip that down for me baby, and the values that the institution keeps overcompensating with. Yeah I’m on fire and I know that it burns.
Exaggeration and sarcasm aside, here’s the real problem: far too many of the songs played in the SUB are offensive and crude. Actually, sometimes the sign of the times they’re disgusting. Am I coming out of left field?
I’m fired up and tired of the way that things have been, oh ooh.
Is it ironic that there’s this big kick to fight sexual harassment, the subjectification of women, and the commodification of sex, yet I can’t get a coffee without listening to someone sing about all three of those things? No, it’s just disheartening. Oh I’ve been shaking i love it when you go crazy.
I’m starting to sound like a broken record, or, to use a relevant idiom, the playlist in the SUB.
Final summation: if a song refers to a woman as a bitch, implies disagreement between physical contact, or promotes blurred lines as a way to get laid, it shouldn’t be played in a public space. Breaking it down, this is not an issue of taste, and this shouldn’t be a conversation about good versus bad music. This is an issue of over sexualization, misogyny, and values.
If you’re tired of it, email your union. Also, here’s a copy of the policy:
UFV Student Union and Campus Community Radio Societies
Student Union Building Public Address Content Memorandum
EFFECTIVE: March 5 2017
AUTHORITY: RATIFIED BY: Societies Committee
RELATED DOCUMENTS:
Purpose:
The Student Union Society utilizes a public address system throughout the SUB, while CIVL Radio produces content for servicing of UFV students, and the broader UFV community with music, local programming, and public service/events information. This document provides guidelines for what content may be included in SUB Public Address material, as provided by CIVL.
1.0 Responsibilities
1.1 CIVL will provide and maintain an electronic database of files that may include the following:
1.1.1 In-offensive music
1.1.2 Public Service Announcements relevant to UFV students;
1.1.3 Events promotion relevant to UFV students;
1.1.4 Show Promos alerting listeners to various CIVL programs;
1.1.5 CIVL station identifications.
1.2.1 SUS will ensure that content provided by CIVL is connected to the SUB public address system and that periodic updates to the content database are administered within a mutually agreeable timeframe.
2.0 Limitations
2.1 Content provided will not include the following:
2.1.1 Noticeable profanity;
2.1.2 Disturbing or offensive lyrics or imagery communicated through other auditory means;
2.1.3 Particularly loud, heavy, noisy, or intrusive musical selections;
2.1.4 Advertisements paid for by CIVL customers unless otherwise agreed upon by SUS.
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The SUB is student space; students can change the music.
