Freedom Sings in Dan Rodden

By Frank Visco and Jen McShane
Collegian Editor and Collegian Staff
September 19, 2007

La Salle celebrated Constitution Day by hosting the half-concert, half-multi-media presentation, Freedom Sings, in the Dan Rodden Theatre Sept. 17. The event, which ran from 6-7:45 p.m. before a crowd of 180 people, traced the history of controversial music in the United States, and how such songs survived largely in part because of the First Amendment.

Angelo Ratini - Freedom Sings traced the history of contoversial music
and how the first ammendment allowed such music to survive.

“We’re here to celebrate some of America’s fundamental freedoms,” the narrator of Freedom Sings, Gene Polincinski, said. “If you write songs that have meaning, then you can move a generation.”

Freedom Sings, which was co-sponsored by the Division of Student affairs in conjunction with USA Today, had a musical act play a selection of songs that were banned or censored and then examined the controversial First Amendment battles surrounding them. Many of the songs featured in the presentation were originally banned in the United States for racial, drug-related or political reasons. Highlighted musicians include Billie Holiday, George Cohan, REM, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Black Eyed Peas and Eminem.

“It was nice,” Cheryl Ruffin, advisor of African American Student League, said. “I like the formatting, it was creative and educational. It really brought back memories.”

The approximate cost of the event was $13,500. La Salle paid for $5,000 of that, as well as an additional $1,500 in operating expenses, while USA Today handled the rest of the cost, said Anna Allen, assistant dean of student affairs.

According to Allen, the event satisfied the school’s requirement to the federal government, who three years ago mandated that all federally funded schools put on a program for Constitution Day. Last year, the school distributed copies of the Constitution and offered tokens to students who wanted to go downtown to the National Constitution Center, which has free admission on Constitution Day.

However, according to Allen, the Division of Student Affairs became involved with Freedom Sings, after being approached by USA Today’s Readership Program. Last year, the National Constitution Center hosted Freedom Sings, and the Division of Student Affairs was represented there by Jeff Hershberger, Director of Administrative Services, and Dr. Joseph Cicala, Dean of Students, Allen said.

“Representatives from USA Today were there, and they had contact with [Hershberger and Cicala],” Allen said. “Everyone loved the program, but the common belief was that they wished more college students had seen it. When USA Today’s Readership Program decided to bring the event to schools, they approached us as a potential site for the concert, and it grew from there.”

In addition to Student Affairs, a variety of La Salle groups and departments were involved with the program, including the College Democrats, History Department, Political Science Department and Young Republicans.

Before the performance, a Constitution quiz was offered to students. The winners received prizes at the end of the event. Additionally, the Cross Cultural Association donated a cake to celebrate.

The audience responded positively to the concert, as several students and staff members were on their feet throughout its duration.

“It was great,” senior history major Sarah Bischoff said. “It really gave us an insight into our history in a unique way.”

The positive responses elicited several students and administrators to lament the fact that the theater was only filled to a little over 50 percent capacity.

“I wish more students would have seen it, the theater wasn’t filled,” senior history major Victor de Couto said. “I think more students needed to see the show.”

Upon hearing the good word of mouth, Allen said she’d love to do it if it were feasible.

“If we had the money to do it, which we don’t, I would definitely want to put it on again next year,” Allen said. “The buzz following the event would’ve probably guaranteed a full house. Those who weren’t there, really missed out.”

viscof1@lasalle.edu mcshanej1@lasalle.edu