Dear Editor,
Ludacris, the Grammy award-winning rapper and actor, was scheduled to perform a concert at Freedom Hall Oct. 27, that was canceled due to “security reasons.”
It was reported that Pete Peterson, the Johnson City city manager, said that he heard reports of riots starting due to Ludacris’ lyrics and that that was the main reason the concert was canceled.
My concern is that Peterson did not provide any real, concrete evidence of these riots. The students deserve to know exactly why the concert, which was going to be paid for by student funds, was canceled. As students and more importantly as adults we should have the choice of choosing what we do with our money.
According to the Johnson City Press, Peterson also said that he had done his own research and had listened to comments that he received from the community over the past weeks. That statement suggests that members of the community, who hold Peterson’s position in office in their hands, may have pressured him.
At last year’s Homecoming concert, the alternative band Everclear performed on the Intramural Field next to the CPA. The band must have gotten through about three songs before it started to rain. Students were also crowd-surfing to the front only to be led back by security.
If the security of the students was really an issue for city officials, why was the SGA allowed to host an outdoor concert with rain in the forecast? Why was the concert still being held while students crowd-surfed during the whole concert?
What about all the other famous rappers who have performed in Johnson City with similar lyrics to that of Ludacris’? Did they propose security concerns? Peterson has represented the rights of ETSU students unfairly, especially those of the African-American population at ETSU.
It seems as though we always get the raw end of the stick when it comes to quality performers for African-Americans at ETSU. I do not recall a single black person besides security that was at the Everclear concert. When that DJ-what’s-his-name came through there were only about 40 students there. All of which seemed to be fraternity and sorority students. What was that all about?
The bottom line is Peterson has no real evidence that Ludacris’ lyrics have incited any riots. I propose he provide the students with some real evidence as to what is really going on or just allow us to have the concert.
The concert was student-chosen and student-funded. Anyone with a problem with lyrics should not attend. Music is what you make it. People need to realize that music is entertainment and that we as adults can make that distinction for ourselves.
Jennifer Alexander

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