-
1 of 10
-
2 of 10
-
3 of 10
-
4 of 10
-
5 of 10
-
6 of 10
-
7 of 10
-
8 of 10
-
9 of 10
-
10 of 10
Spitfire tour rallies Kent State students
Archive
Comments
Story
Musicians, including Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic and Dead Kennedys founder Jello Biafra, encouraged Kent State University students to become involved in political activism Tuesday night in the Student Center Ballroom.
The May 4 Task Force hosted the Spitfire Tour, which includes musicians, actors and activists speaking on global affairs. They talked to students about how to change the state of the world around them.
“We always have a fall program, and this year I wanted something big,” said Kelley Garbett, co-chair of the task force. “It’s an incredibly good show for the amount of money it costs, and it”s incredibly unique. They all have an important thing to say.”
Adam Werbach, former president of the national environmental group, the Sierra Club and the current host of the newsmagazine “The Thin Green Line,” mediated the event. The musicians, who spoke on various political topics, were Novoselic, Biafra and singer and songwriter Jill Sobule, founder of the Joint Artists and Music Promotions Political Action Committee.
Novoselic opened the show by urging students to participate in a meaningful electoral reform.
“The electoral process is like a rundown greasy spoon,” Novoselic said. “You go in and there’s one table but only two chairs, and they’re reserved for Republicans and Democrats.”
Novoselic promotes an inclusive democratic process that will make it possible for third-party candidates to successfully run in elections and for there to truly be no taxation without representation.
“I really liked what Krist had to say,” senior English major Sue Savickas said. “The more informed people are, the easier it is to get younger people to make a difference.”
Sobule has been for social reform since her song “I Kissed a Girl” was banned from many radio stations. “I felt like Ice-T doing “Cop Killer,” Sobule said.
She performed an acoustic set of songs of social commentary, including a love song to New York and one on the difference between drug laws for George W. Bush and a kid across the tracks.
Biafra also faced issues with censorship as a musician. His Dead Kennedys album “Frankenchrist” was the first album ever to go to trial for content. Biafra’s speech focused on the events of Sept. 11, and he argued against the resulting war in Afghanistan.
“I’m frightened of Bush saying “You’re with us or with the terrorists,"” Biafra said.
“”We need to stand up and say
“”No