Free-Form Music Program Protests Prop. 21

By Patrick O'Donnell

There was music in the air with breaking, scratching and mixing for the opposition to Prop. 21 present Monday night at San Francisco State, as people from on and off campus came together to voice their opinions towards the initiative that passed today.

The program titled "Don't Sleep," was put together in order to educate the students living in the resident halls about Prop. 21, the Juvenile Crime Initiative. According to program coordinator Jonah Copi, "The dorms are like a giant bubble, keeping the kids from knowing what's going on in the outside world. What we're trying to do tonight is burst that bubble."

At least 75 people showed up to voice their opinions on the subject and to listen to the scratching and mixing. Some read poetry, some tossed out a rap, but everyone in attendance left with more knowledge than they came with. Five scratch artists and two poets entertained as well as educated the group.

The program came about when the group consisting of Copi and five of his buddies, who all rap together, decided that they wanted to get the message out. They worked with Copi's Resident Advisor, Jennifer Gasang, and together they put the word out. Putting up posters, fliers and spreading the message by word of mouth they let people know the event was going down.

Prop. 21 passing by a wide margin does not overly discourage the group. "We're not just gonna stop fighting this, says Copi, "We were prepared for this from the get-go...We're gonna keep fighting this until it's reversed."

According to Sean Germaine, another member of the group and amateur documentary film-maker, "Young people are like kindling, you gotta do whatever you can do to get them fired up. This is what I can do, so this is how I'm getting involved."

The event, which lasted three hours, allowed time for free-form expression on Prop. 21. "We had a pretty good crowd here tonight and I think that's all we can really ask for. We set out to enlighten the peeps and thats what we did. Some people came out and showed some mad talent. That's cool too," said Copi.