In two days, March 3rd, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi will be visiting James Madison University. I can't remember a more hotly discussed about event. Even when now-President Barak Obama came there wasn't as much hate spewed (okay, maybe that's a stretch). Snooki, more than probably any other entertainment figure these days, is loved by some and really hated by many others at the same time. For those that don't know, Nicole (originally from New York, and actually Chilean) was a part of the show "Jersey Shore", which followed the lives of several "guidos and guidettes" Real World-style. It was basically a train-wreck of a show and Snooki is most famous for getting punched in the face by a guy at a bar.
Over the past couple weeks, the news of Snooki coming to JMU has been all over the place, all the way from the Breeze and the DNR to Perez Hilton and the Huffington Post. Students, alumni, community members, and people from all over the country have been placing their judgment on Snooki, UPB, JMU, and JMU students. All the while, the show sold out in three days. I figured it's about time for the Windbreaker to step in and put its two cents in.
To start off with, I'd like to say I've maybe seen five minutes of the Jersey Shore (most of which was the child reenactment), because I'm not a fan of reality TV. I also don't like the fact that it glamorized that culture and while I enjoy making fun of it every now and then...this show was doing the opposite.
That having been said, I'd like to defend UPB on their decision as someone who was on their exec board for two years. The University Program Board tries to provide a variety of educational and entertaining events throughout the year. So far this year, according to UPB Public Relations Director Stephen Eure, they've "brought such events as the awareness program To Write Love on Her Arms, the educational How-To Series, and informational Sex Rules event." This event is purely for the entertainment value and is trying to hit a different segment of the JMU population. Not only that, UPB didn't really have much of a choice. Every semester they put out a survey to students giving different choices for comedy/lectures/musical performances in different price ranges and Snooki was an overwhelming favorite. None of the other choices got nearly that response, leaving UPB little choice other than to give students what they wanted. I've stated on here before how difficult it is to find an act to bring to campus that students are actually interested in, is in UPB's budget, and an act that has an open date on a rare night that campus locations are open. Again, anyone is welcome to join UPB for all the people who are always disappointed (it's pretty much your fault if you don't like what they bring).
To a majority of you that are judging Snooki and UPB...are you really in a place to judge. I love my school and am proud that anyone can come here and have a great time on any given night without having to pay to have fun, but it's a slippery slope. It's hard to walk around campus or talk to students without hearing about less-than-flattering things that happened over the weekend. And what reaction does this stuff get from their friends? Praise. The lifestyle people are condemning is happening every weekend (and most weeknights) at JMU, and the people living this very lifestyle are celebrated...but that's because these conversations are had in private (or at least not on TV)...out of the eyesight of others. Hypocritical? Maybe a little bit. Oh, and in case you didn't read the Huffington Post article, it was mainly talking about the fact that the event's Facebook wall had to be disabled because of the discriminatory posts from JMU students. And these are the people talking about being ashamed of their school? I'm all for giving feedback and saying you don't want to go (look to Josh Kelaher's Breeze letter or Facebook group for examples of good ways to do this), but to say some of the things that were posted is ridiculous.
So where do we go from here?
Most likely...nowhere. Snooki will come to campus. Some people will be pissed. Others will be entertained. Spring Break will happen. Everyone will forget or move on.
But is that really it?
All of you that are in an uproar...are offended...are ashamed...will you let this travesty just pass by?! Why not do something about it?
Get an educational lecture on campus. Bring in a senator, congressman, governor, or other political figure. Bring a debate on campus. Want to make a point? Get with UPB (or heck, maybe even join UPB) and help bring one of the above mentioned onto campus (UPB can help you get a list). Get them into Wilson Hall (after all, it has a higher capacity than Memorial). If UPB has already planned out their full budget, try SGA, other student orgs, or do some fundraising to get someone good and get them in there. Then pack the place out. Get it to be better attended than Snooki. Then do it again. And again. Make your event bigger than Snooki. Why not create a culture on campus of involvement in politics or education? Find something you're passionate about and pursue it. If you don't want to be known as just a party school that brings Snooki to campus...you know who can change that persona? YOU!
Stop being reactive to events on campus like Snooki and instead be proactive. Get out there and create a difference in your school. In my four years at JMU I saw a program formed by the a small group of student leaders on campus called jMubilee to bring together the JMU campus and Harrisonburg community. Every a year we put on at least one event, but my senior year a handful of awesome students helped me put together a huge event on Godwin Field the last day of classes. We scrounged together $10,000 from different places on campus and had free food, live music, an outdoor movie, and free games for over 1,600 people. Anything is possible at JMU. The faculty and staff are more than willing to help. Stop thinking small. Dream big. Complaining might make you feel better for the moment, but it doesn't help anyone and won't improve things for the future. Do something about it!
To UPB, I'd say make all of these people put up or shut up. Bring a good cultural event to campus and see if the attendance is even comparable.
I'm a huge fan of the "Be the change" campaign. There were a few phrases that always stuck out to me: Be exceptional, Be the example, Be visionary, and Be passionate. To extend that a bit further... Don't wait for someone else to start something...be the ignition. Don't join the trend...be the trend. Don't accept things the way they are...push the boundaries. There aren't too many things at JMU that are beyond the scope of a group of passionate, resourceful students. If I may borrow a page out of Dr. Mark Warner's book... "YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE!"
Your move JMU...
