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Guidry: Shinedown choice based on students’ opinions in survey

‘Lighting walk’ to promote campus safety

Staff Writer

Published: Thursday, March 4, 2010

Updated: Thursday, March 4, 2010 01:03

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HILARY SCHEINUK / The Daily Reveille

Student Government Director of Student Involvement Melissa Guidry shares this year’s Groovin’ on the Grounds poster during a senate chamber meeting Mar. 3.

Students may not be happy about the lineup for Groovin' on the Grounds, but SG Director of Student Involvement Melissa Guidry said she paid close attention to students' wishes while hiring the acts.

The headliners are rock band Shinedown and former Outkast member Big Boi. Many students have expressed their disappointment with SG's choice of Shinedown.

"I'm not a Shinedown fan, but I don't think there are a whole lot of students who are," said Christina Eskew, biology sophomore.

Guidry said SG looked into hiring MGMT, which students voted for the most when SG surveyed the student body.

"We read every answer, every sentence and analyzed it in every way we could," Guidry said.

The survey generated 4,500 student responses, and students suggested 1,178 artists. Shinedown was 22nd on the list of most suggested artists, which is in the top 2 percent.

Guidry said she and SG Senate adviser Michelle Eldredge read MGMT's lyrics and found them advocating substance abuse.

"If anyone says we haven't listened to the students, then they're wrong," Guidry said. "But whatever type of show we put on reflects us."

She said SG took students' considerations from last year's show. This year's show will be barricaded off just for LSU students, and students will need their LSU ID to get in.

There will also be bleachers to sit on, a catwalk so the artist can go into the crowd, video screens and 50 trash cans and 50 recycling bins.

CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT

Jordan Milazzo, SG director of campus development, announced there would be a "lighting walk" Thursday at 7 p.m.

The "lighting walk" will consist of seven teams looking for spots of low lighting around campus.

"The purpose is to encourage student safety and promote student involvement," Milazzo said.

SG campaigning officially began Wednesday when three students announced their candidacy for SG president.

SG Commissioner of Elections Alexis Sarver said 240 students filed for candidacy of various positions, but 23 were not eligible to run.

The Senate approved money for Veterinary School students to register for a conference next week in Madison, Wis. The Senate passed $2,930 to cover registration for 40 students and $192 to cover the cost of wet labs.

 

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Contact Catherine Threlkeld at cthrelkeld@lsureveille.com

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3 comments

Ryan Johnson
Sun Mar 7 2010 19:03
There really is no merit to the complaint of MGMT's lyrics encouraging drug use, and even if there was it's an insanely hypocritical stance by Student Government. We've had the likes of Chamillionaire and Corey Smith play groovin' on the grounds. Chamillionaire's one hit song was about riding around with drugs in his vehicle, and Corey Smith's music revolves around alcohol and sex. Not to mention the fact that Big Boi has mentioned alcohol and marijuana in many of his lyrics and Shinedown sing an unbelievable amount about suicide. It's quite clear that Student Government does not want to cater to a certain demographic of students who would be into the type of music MGMT makes. So why are we clearly being lied to? I have not heard one person I've asked say they are looking forward to seeing Shinedown play. Student government needs to tell the truth or ignore what people are saying altogether because their lies are making them look very disingenuous.
Anonymous
Fri Mar 5 2010 14:24
Dear Student Government,

If you could not get MGMT to perform at Groovin' on the Grounds because of your own shortcomings, that's ok! We expect that from you. You can also lie about it! That is also expected. But please at least make it a GOOD lie. Blaming MGMT's lyrical content is a preposterous "reason" not to have them play at Groovin'. The only mention of or allusion to drugs in their repertoire (besides mentioning someone who “used to be a coke fiend” in "Indie Rokkers") is in "Time to Pretend," which ANYONE who has actually listened to the song or read the lyrics in their entirety knows is an obvious satire criticizing the way typical rock stars live, in NO WAY advocating the use of drugs; actually, it's quite the opposite. Shinedown actually has a similar song entitled "Junkies for Fame," but this does not seem to be a cause for alarm.

And all of this for a concert which has been restricted to only LSU students, yet inexplicably maintains a PG-13 rating(?!). Last time I checked, the average age of LSU students was slightly higher than 13. But you’re right, I guess depression and angst are far more appropriate for an audience of 13-year-olds than to “flood the streets with love” or to “cut a rug, twist and shout, wave your hands.”

It is one thing to pass off your own ineptitudes onto a group of talented musicians, but do not insult the intelligence of our student body while doing so. I guess it can be expected from an organization who instead of wanting us to hear songs like MGMT's "Love Always Remains," would rather us hear Shinedown's "No More Love," and instead of wanting us to be tipsy and happy, would rather us be sober and "staring down the barrel of a 45."

Sincerely,
A concerned and slightly offended student

Anonymous
Thu Mar 4 2010 15:14
"Michelle Eldredge read MGMT’s lyrics and found them advocating substance abuse."
Is that a joke?

Here's a little sample of the lyrics from the Shinedown song "Save Me"

I got a candle
And I've got a spoon
I live in a hallway with no doors
And no rooms

Under a windowsill
They all were found
A touch of concrete within the doorway
Without a sound

Someone save me if you will
And take away all these pills
And please just save me if you can
From my blasphemy in my wasteland







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