Jackson Free Press

During a concert on the campus of Millsaps College, Kamikaze, local hip-hop artist and JFP columnist, gave social and political commentary about President George W. Bush Thursday, Sept. 28.

During "Sexual Awareness Week," Kamikaze was invited to speak on the Thursday night panel. Several organizations, including the Student Body Association (SBA) and Socializing Activities Programming for Students Board (SAPS), gave money to pay the artist to stay after the discussion for a performance.

While performing, Kamikaze criticized the Bush administration and the war in Iraq. Student Body Association President Stephen "Brad" Yakots saw no place for the comments.

One of the most offensive things Yakots claims Kamikaze said was, "F**k George W. Bush." Interestingly, no other individuals who made comments about the night's incident recollect the rapper saying those words, although some students in attendance did.

"I've gotten in trouble before for cursing on college campuses, so I make a point to have a profanity-free show," Kamikaze comments.

Nonetheless, Saturday, Sept. 30, two days after the concert, Kamikaze and several members of the Millsaps community received a letter from Yakots addressed to "Members of the Kamikaze Group." The leader of the SBA said that because he is a student and the individual chosen to represent the student body, he was completely within his rights to speak on behalf of the student population.

In the letter, Yakots claims that the college's campus was "treated to no other than a tacky, senseless and an absolute, astonishing, explicit blasphemy of the sitting President of the United States" and "an act that represented the worst that Millsaps College could offer to its students and alumni." Yakots concludes, "The Student Body Association along with the Socializing Activities and Programming for Student Board (SAPS), has no use for your shameful, adolescent, and worthless viewpoint of our leader and therefore we will not be supporting any more visits made by you or your group to our campus."

In an interview, Yakots said "certain members of the student body were displeased with Kamikaze's comments" and that "the letter was approved by three individuals who were copied" on the letter, though he would not identify those individuals.

One person copied was Chelsi West, SBA secretary and president of the Black Student Association. West says she was aware that Yakots was upset by Kamikaze's comments and planned to write a letter, but she had no idea the letter would be so harsh.

"(Kamikaze) was speaking what was on his mind. If students were offended by that, that's tough," West says. She said she made it clear in an e-mail response to the SBA president that she wanted nothing to do with any letter he wrote and that it should have at least spoken on behalf of some of the members of the student body.

The small liberal-arts college campus is now abuzz about when and where it's permissible to express unpopular speech. Millsaps has long prided itself on its encouragement of public debate and discussion.

Kamikaze, who says he considers himself more than just an artist but a community activist, says that he writes and performs in hopes of stirring debate, but never intends to offend. In a written response to Yakot's letter, he wrote, "I respect that you support the president, but in the same token, you should respect that I do not." He went on to challenge Yakots and "other young Republicans" to a debate.

In a letter to the SBA president, Kristen Tegtmeier Oertel, professor and sexual awareness week organizer, wrote, "I would hate for anyone to think that our student body is advocating censorship or omitting freedom of speech."

In response to the incidents, Brit Katz, dean of students and SBA adviser, while sitting with the SBA president, said, "On a campus like Millsaps that is nationally recognized for academic excellence, I respect both sides of the argument in this largely student body matter."

As the JFP goes to press, SBA plans a special session to address the Kamikaze controversy. At this meeting, executive board and campus senators will consider a motion ensuring that individuals are extended their constitutional right to freedom of expression.

Drew McDowell, campus-wide senator and main author of the resolution, says the letter sent out by Yakots represented his own personal opinion and not that of the SBA, SAPS or any other organization as a whole.

"We hope that Kamikaze will accept any further invitations to perform on our campus," McDowell said. "We hope that he and others know that not only are there Millsaps students who support his music, but that the college supports freedom of expression and speech."

Previous Comments

ID

66884

Comment

Waaayyy to go kamikaze!!!!!... 'Bout time some thangs got stirred up round here!!! my hats off to ya...who says rappers don't care anymore? that president was out of line!!! first Luke skywalker and 2 Live Crew(where ya at Ray?)...now Kamikaze standing up for freedom of speech!!!!

Author

trusip

Date

2006-10-04T17:02:17-06:00

ID

66885

Comment

Uh, did Yakots actually just refer to criticism of the sitting President as "blasphemy"? I hope his pastor sat him down and had a nice long talk with him about the sin of idolatry. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-10-04T17:12:52-06:00

ID

66886

Comment

Bout time things got stirred up at Milsaps too. Yakots is a dipstick in the George Bush kind of sense - he looks alright until you take a good look at him. Milsaps used to be liberal, openminded, and kind to opinions, ideas, and outsiders. In fact, I'm told that, in the good old early seventies, Milsaps was one of the few places Tougaloo students felt comfortable socializing with white kids and smoking and buying a little dope. I bet today there is no cursing, dope smoking or selling, sexing, questioning authority, or exchanging ideas over there. Ya'koot needs to chill. Yes, I'm against the dope smoking, sexing, and cursing too. College kids ain't 'spose to be doing that!

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-10-05T09:31:19-06:00

ID

66887

Comment

Ray, I'm sure it still is that way. I went there in the early 90's and it was pretty open minded. Was a stark contrast from MC at the time. Having said that, Yakots needs to lighten up. It was a friggin concert. Don't give me this crap about how an artist should just perform. What does the dumbass think art is but an expression of one's thoughts and feelings? Its not like K said it in a political debate or a more conservative forum. I bet no one else complained. yeesh.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-10-05T09:48:51-06:00

ID

66888

Comment

Tom, you are hilarious. We are still living in a democracy not a theocracy, right?

Author

Izzy

Date

2006-10-05T09:51:38-06:00

ID

66889

Comment

You got it Ray. Yakoots is a dip-something alright but I wouldnt put "stick" at the end. Ive got a more appropriate word as a suffix. LOL

Author

trusip

Date

2006-10-05T12:01:52-06:00

ID

66890

Comment

The saga continues...still waiting on the outcome of the special session the Millsaps SBA had last night. and STILL waitin to hear back from my challenge to publicly debate Yahoo and his young republican brethren. Turns out this is gonna be a crusade to teach one guy a valuable life lesson. but turns out he DID have some support from higher up. that person just cant "publicly" say they ok'd it.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2006-10-05T12:08:17-06:00

ID

66891

Comment

great. jim morrison has been resurrected as a black man in jackson, mississippi. This might get real interesting. ;-)

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-10-05T12:29:20-06:00

ID

66892

Comment

Thanks kingfish..Ill take that as a compliment!!! minus that infamous indecent exposure charge!!! we'll see where this goes, but I definiely will not go quietly into the night!!!

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2006-10-05T16:44:56-06:00

ID

66893

Comment

thanks kazi. Not to touch the earth not to touch the earth, nothing left to do but run....... Give em hell. By the way, don't tell me you listen to his stuff. ;-)

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-10-05T19:53:36-06:00

ID

66894

Comment

I like the Doors. I like good music period. the music of the 60's intrigues me anyway because most of it contained some type of social commentary. the musicians of that day really spoke their mind and they were the true voices of the people. Got interested after watching a documenatary on Jim morrison and his controversial death. He was a true rebel. that's what I strive to be. You never knew WHAT he was going to do

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2006-10-06T09:40:46-06:00

ID

66895

Comment

I'd hope you wouldn't sing The End with your mom sitting on the front row and then scream out "mother, I want to **** you" in her face. ;-) yeah, he really did that. You ever listened to any of his live stuff?

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-10-06T09:56:21-06:00

ID

66896

Comment

Kaz, way to go brother. You renew my hope in the younger generation. You have more huevos than many clergy who do not have the spines to speak out against the slaughter of thousands of innocents. Blasphemy!!! ??? I think that one can only blaspheme God and George Bush does not impress me as a god. Maybe not the devil (according to Chavez), but definitely not God. If he were God, surely he would have foreseen that there were no weapons of mass destruction nor any mission accomplished! These are sick people.

Author

FreeClif

Date

2006-10-06T18:20:21-06:00

ID

66897

Comment

I agree...Don't know what to make of it...But I will call them to task on it. although the administrationn has issued its "politically correct" response Im lookin for some kind of written or verbal reprimand of their SBA president who used school letterhead to push his views. If nothing else, he needs to be taught a lesson. In fact, the more alumni Ive spoken to, it seems that this "liberal arts" college is turning more and more right wing as the hours pass.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2006-10-07T16:08:04-06:00

ID

66898

Comment

We are still living in a democracy not a theocracy, right? One wonders. In fact, the more alumni Ive spoken to, it seems that this "liberal arts" college is turning more and more right wing as the hours pass. This has been my impression of the place for years (since roughly the late 1980s). As an alumnus, I'm ashamed of Millsaps right now because of this ridiculous incident.

Author

Tim Kynerd

Date

2006-10-07T20:10:53-06:00

ID

66899

Comment

In response to the incidents, Brit Katz, dean of students and SBA adviser, while sitting with the SBA president, said, “On a campus like Millsaps that is nationally recognized for academic excellence, I respect both sides of the argument in this largely student body matter.” Respecting both sides of an argument is one thing, but Yakots's action was simply unacceptable, particularly at a college that is supposed to promote free intellectual inquiry and exchange of ideas. Drew McDowell, campus-wide senator and main author of the resolution, says the letter sent out by Yakots represented his own personal opinion and not that of the SBA, SAPS or any other organization as a whole. And therefore he should be disciplined for representing, in the letter, that he was speaking for the SBA and the SAPS.

Author

Tim Kynerd

Date

2006-10-07T20:15:55-06:00

ID

66900

Comment

the term "liberal arts" has nothing to do with politics, kamikaze. liberal arts  the academic course of instruction at a college intended to provide general knowledge and comprising the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, as opposed to professional or technical subjects. (from dictionary.com)

Author

djames

Date

2006-10-08T01:24:05-06:00

ID

66901

Comment

I'm a current Millsaps student. I would definitely like to emphasize that the predominant student body reaction to hearing about the letter was something along the lines of "he did WHAT?" Regardless of which higher-ups were aware of the letter, I strongly disagree with the notion that it represented the views of the student body as a whole. Please understand that one guy with access to a stack of paper with a particular letterhead printed on it doesn't automatically speak for all of our views, even if he happens to be the president of the student body. This definitely wasn't in his campaign platform. As for the proposed debate with the "young Republicans," what do you want to talk about, Kamikaze? I'm the Vice Chairman of the College Republicans, and I'm fairly certain that we haven't received any sort of invitation to a discussion with you. Honestly, I don't think it would be the heated debate that some people would expect it to be. Speaking strictly for my personal judgement, I feel that our CR chapter as a whole understands and respects the differences in political views that people have. We're certainly not hostile towards people simply because they don't share our views. We have a very good relationship with the College Democrats and plan to have a joint canned food drive with them this semester to show that regardless of political affiliation, we're all committed to making the world around us a little bit better. Don't worry about this place being left-leaning or right-leaning. When it comes down to it, the faculty is still 100% committed to teaching us HOW to think, not WHAT to think. We still know how to look at things rationally and have calm, civil disagreements. Please resist the urge to base your whole perception of Millsaps on this one incident.

Author

thesleepyman

Date

2006-10-08T05:44:58-06:00

ID

66902

Comment

I, and quite a few other alumni (including JFP contributors Brett Potter, Paul Dearing and Jerry Landry) all sent letters to the dean and to Brit Katz saying no matter what Millsaps should not be a place that tells guests its opinions are worthless. What worries me most is that guests won't go to Millsaps, fearing they'll be censored or sent a nasty e-mail afterward. There are enough strange things about Brad's letter (blasphemy? what?), but it truly is so out of order to tell someone his ideas are worthless. And what did they expect of Kamikaze? Rappers are political! And K writes critical pieces of Bush in the JFP! It's not like he sneaked on to the Millsaps campus then let a bomb fly. My understanding of that school (my beloved alma mater) is that it has always promoted free speech. We had so many debates while I was there, and while plenty of people have different ideas, I think they were always welcomed. I loved that about Millsaps. If that school loses that, the whole school is really lost.

Author

casey

Date

2006-10-08T19:42:27-06:00

ID

66903

Comment

sleepyman..I appreciate your response. and totally respect your point of view. In fact, Im ecstatic that you're one of the college republicans!!! I found it hard to fathom that ALL of you would support such a move. Adults can agree to disagree and your proposed canned food drive with the college democrats is a breath of fresh air...I would like to organize a debate where finally the two sides can express their views without fanatial reations such as the one your SBA president displayed. we can discuss any and all issues political and social..your call. The war in Iraq. Mark Foley etc...Ive already spoken to Chelsea West and she had a similar idea. We could even couple it with another concert that brings even MORE people out on that campus...give my assistant Teri a call at 601 566 9723 and lets set something up. I do know now that your president spoke for a small minority. but it also pains me that the dean didnt hand down SOME kind of reprimand.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2006-10-09T14:01:16-06:00