Forwarded conversation
Subject: Making Parties a Safer Space for Everyone
------------------------

From: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 1:38 PM
To: Phikaps Actives <phikaps-active@mit.edu>


Hi Bros,



It’s been wonderful to see everyone really sit down and thoroughly examine our values as a house when it comes to both internal and external interactions. The recent House Excellence Committee meeting was unlike anything I’ve seen before in my four years at the house, and it’s extremely impressive how quickly progress is being made in areas in which we, frankly, were quite static on for years. Massive props to all the underclassmen especially.



Still though, I think that there are some things that we can fairly quickly change that would bring great progress in making sure that our social events – especially parties – are welcoming and fun for everyone involved. Skullhouse has definitely struggled in the past with people feeling uncomfortable at our party settings (top 3 creepiest frats anyone?), and if we want to make sure that our fraternity is positively viewed in the MIT community, we need to make very effort to ensure that people who come to our parties don’t feel threatened or uncomfortable. This is an issue that I’ve thought about for quite a while, but until witnessing the recent strides the house is making towards social awareness, I haven’t felt inspired to speak up. I’m happy to say that at this point, this has changed.



The most pervasive and apparent part of our parties (especially BFPs) is the music. The music defines the setting and is always audible to everyone at a party. It’s easy to ignore the content of the music we play and dismiss it as background, but let’s take a closer look at the messages we are sending and the toxic cultures we are supporting with our current music selection. Forgive me for not being too familiar with the playlists, but I will make my argument as best I can.



The first example that comes to mind is Ignition (Remix) by R Kelly. I’ve definitely heard it played at parties before, and will admit it’s rather catchy. But R Kelly is a known child predator, and by openly supporting him by playing his music at our parties, how awful of a message are we sending to our guests? Spotify has removed him from all their curated playlists in protest of his atrocious behavior. Another example is Freaky Friday. Playing a song that features Chris Brown, a domestic abuser and violent criminal, tells people that we can look past this vile, disgusting behavior from literal human garbage. What kind of people do we as a house want to support? I hope it’s not these types of people.



Thankfully, I think instances of support for such astoundingly awful criminals and predators are not that common. But given recent discussions centering around rape culture, toxic masculinity, objectification of women, etc. it is absolutely imperative that we examine more closely the artists that are more commonly played at our parties.



Take a look at Big Sean. In his song “I Don’t Fuck With You” we can find lyrics like “I got a bitch that text me she ain’t got no clothes on, and then another one text, then your ass next, …”. What I see here is blatant objectification and misogynistic language. Look at his song “Dance (A$$) [Remix]”. The chorus literally goes “Ass ass ass ass ass …” and the verses have lyrics like “How your waist anorexic and then your ass is colossal”. Is this not objectification, toxic masculinity, and misogyny? What message are we sending to our guests by playing these songs?



Similar themes exist in Post Malone’s music. “Rockstar” has lines like “I been fuckin hoes and poppin pillies, man I feel just like a rockstar” and “Hundred bitches in my trailer say they ain’t got a man”. In “Psycho” you can find lines like “Boolin’ with a thot-thot, she gon’ give me top-top”, which ultimately, once properly deciphered, is blatant objectification. Many of his songs feature themes of excessive dominance (e.g. through wealth, status, attention from women, etc.), which ultimately is a cornerstone of toxic masculinity.



I could go through so many of the artists we play at parties, and find endless references to “bitches”, “hoes”, “thots”, or whatever other derogatory terms people use to refer to women. I can find hundreds upon hundreds of displays of excessive dominance, through many channels, which clearly illustrate the culture of toxic masculinity we want to eliminate from the house. Even female artists like Cardi B or Nicka Minaj, popular at our parties, use these terms and try to normalize them, but in reality they are just popularizing internalized misogyny. Are these the artists we want to show the world we support?



Given the standard to which we hold our brothers, we should apply the same standard to the music we listen to, and especially to the music we blast for all to hear at our parties. Because of this, I propose we remove any and all music by the following artists from our parties, forever.These artists range from violent criminals, child predators, and domestic abusers to proponents of toxic masculinity, homophobia, and misogyny who are eager to tolerate and even support the worst of them.



·     R Kelly

·     Migos (all of them)

·     Drake

·     J Balvin

·     Big Sean

·     Kanye West

·     Post Malone

·     21 Savage

·     Ty Dolla $ign

·     Maluma

·     Cardi B

·     Nicki Minaj

·     Lil Pump

·     Tyler the Creator

·     A$AP Rocky

·     A$AP Ferg

·     XXXTentacion

·     Chris Brown

·     Rae Sremmurd

·     Travis Scott

·     Lil Uzi Vert

·     Yung Gravy



I’m sure there are more artists we can work together to identify and eliminate from our parties and culture. I was able to identify these artists as toxic and vile from a quick glance and the minor exposure I’ve had to them. Those of you with greater knowledge of them can help identify further why they are such poor choices to play at parties, and further identify artists that slipped through the cracks for me.



Now, removing these artists from our playlists will require some work, but there are many options we have in replacing these toxic artists.Why don’t we include more songs from wholesome rappers like Chance (from what I’ve heard), or play more EDM music, which generally doesn’t carry such consistently awful themes as the music the artists above produce? It will require some work, but as a house, let’s make a stand against objectification, misogyny and toxic masculinity and put in the effort necessary to rid our house of this garbage. We don’t need misogyny or deformed ideals of masculinity to “get lit”. Popularity does not imply acceptability.You know what else is popular besides this music? Objectification, misogyny, rape culture, and toxic masculinity.



Lastly, I don’t want this to become a witch-hunt for who listens to the worst music. Still though, take a look at the music you normalize. Call your friends out for supporting such awful people. If your friends don’t want to think critically about it, then evaluate whether you want those people as your friends after all.



Thanks for reading, and I would love to hear some second opinions.



For a better Skullhouse,

Wesley


--
Wesley Runnels
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department of Mathematics | Class of 2018
wrunnels@mit.edu | (214) 303-7216

----------
From: Isaac Garza <garzai@alum.mit.edu>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 1:55 PM
To: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>


+100000000

This is the most eloquent articulation of why I don't enjoy 'DOM music' I could have asked for. Hittin' the nail on the fuckin' head, Wesley.
--

Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Class of 2017
Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity | Alpha Mu Chapter

----------
From: Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 2:26 PM
To: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Cc: Phikaps Actives <phikaps-active@mit.edu>


Sorry to stick my crusty nose into this but just wanted to point out the obvious. DOMs are going to be very empty if you don't play Drake, the Jesus of hip hop.

But if you like empty parties, and need more help with identifying artists that seem to fit your criteria, I found a complete list.

Also who the fuck is Yung Gravy?

----------
From: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 2:43 PM
To: Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>
Cc: Phikaps Actives <phikaps-active@mit.edu>


Rose, I agree that it will be a difficult transition. But eliminating toxic masculinity from our culture is a difficult transition. Eliminating misogyny from our culture is a difficult transition. Convincing people that the music we dismiss as “fun” and “lit” is actually toxic and needs to be removed will be a difficult transition.

Besides, as I said in my email there are plenty of artists out there that don’t support such awful behavior and those that perpetrate it. EDM is very popular nowadays and I rarely hear EDM that brags about how many bitches and hoes they get every other line. Plenty of rappers are wholesome, and we just need to spend a bit of time popularizing them.

It is wildly hypocritical for us to police ourselves for saying “bitch” and “ho” or even “biddee” and “chick” between ourselves in private, but give 21 Savage and Migos a free pass when they say things 1000x worse. Given the current direction of social progress we as a house are adopting, I fail to see how it is not absoltely contradictory for us to play this awful music to all our guests every single week. As a house we need to send a completely different message to our friends and the community surrounding us.

----------
From: Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 2:52 PM
To: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Cc: Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-active <phikaps-active@mit.edu>


18's, beautiful job with the spoof on your road trip. I tip my hat to you all.

----------
From: Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 2:59 PM
To: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Cc: Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


18's, beautiful job with the spoof on your road trip. I tip my hat to you all.



On Tue, May 29, 2018 at 5:43 PM, Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com> wrote:


----------
From: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 3:07 PM
To: Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>
Cc: Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


Did the entire HEC meeting go over your head?

One of the most discussed points in the HEC meeting was about respecting brother's opinions. And now, based on your preconceived notions of me, you immediately dismiss everything I have to say about this? As I stated earlier, this is a matter I've wondered about for a while but never felt compelled to bring up until today. Several people have asked me if I was spoofed and since it is not clear, no this is not a spoof.


I understand that this topic is uncomfortable, but take a minute to really understand what I'm talking about here. Is there actually anything in my email you disagree with? Is there anything here that doesn't make any sense? Can you point to anything that falls under spoofing, trolling, or whatever bullshit you wish my email would fall under?

Do you not see the blatant hypocrisy I have pointed out multiple times in this email? How can we say that we want to eliminate misogyny, toxic masculinity, etc. while blasting the music that completely encapsulates this at our parties?


----------
From: Rodrigo Carrillo <rocasoccer@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 3:43 PM
To: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Cc: Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>, Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


Not sure if bait or...

----------
From: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 4:10 PM
To: Rodrigo Carrillo <rocasoccer@gmail.com>
Cc: Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>, Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


Care to share what you disagree with?

----------
From: Rodrigo Carrillo <rocasoccer@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 4:19 PM
To: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Cc: Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>, Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


Yes because it's gonna turn into a shitposting thread and I'm not even sure if this is serious or a prank

----------
From: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 4:38 PM
To: Rodrigo Carrillo <rocasoccer@gmail.com>
Cc: Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>, Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


If you want to avoid shitposting and actually discuss this, then feel free to message me directly, although signal is spotty out here.

I can’t convince people whether I’m trolling or not, but regardless the content of my emails should be evaluated outside of that. Do people actually think what I’m saying is wrong? If I’m trolling, would someone care to explain what assumption I have made is incorrect or what argument I have made that is wrong?

Whether you agree that certain artists should be removed from our parties or not, does nobody find it funky that Bros can’t say “chick” without riling up the brotherhood while we blast blatant objectification to anyone who enters our door?

----------
From: John R Parsons <parsonsj@mit.edu>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 5:12 PM
To: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Cc: Rodrigo Carrillo <rocasoccer@gmail.com>, Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>, Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


I'll give my crusty $0.02:

I think it's great that we're having this conversation—I don't get the sense Wesley is trolling—and it's important that we be able to discuss these matters publicly. The HEC meeting seems to have sparked something in the house, and I hope it continues.

With regard to the idea of removing these artists, I think we need to take more context into account. I agree that much of the work of the artists listed leverages words with ties to hate and the patriarchy. But we have to consider who is saying them and why.

Take Cardi B, for instance. I was surprised to see her on this list, since she is renowned for her feminism (there's more where that came from). Yeah, she says a lot of things I don't think should leave my mouth. But what is said perhaps matters less than the context in which it is said. Applying a rigid standard of "words that might be misogynistic in some contexts" for banning songs from our parties sounds good in practice but falls short when dealing with the uncertainty of the world. Artists will likely have to be considered case-by-case, and even then, there will be few easy answers.

On the other end of the spectrum, I agree that we shouldn't play monsters' music. XXXTentacion is an abuser of women and his work isn't that great or popular—striking his music is low-hanging fruit.

One thing to consider: If we're going to take a stand, we can't let popularity get in the way. Doing what's right has a cost. Consider Drake, who is ostensibly trying to appear to be a feminist, but perhaps falls short based on his past behavior. What do we want to do about him? It's not my call to make.

Keep fighting the good fight,
John

----------
From: Isaac Garza <garzai@alum.mit.edu>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 5:12 PM
To: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Cc: Rodrigo Carrillo <rocasoccer@gmail.com>, Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>, Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


Having messaged Wesley privately, can confirm that it's not a prank. As no one will find surprising, I agree 100% with the sentiments he expressed here, and I find it disconcerting bordering on annoying that people don't seem to be taking his points seriously.

All I'll say on this. Peace.
--

Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Class of 2017
Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity | Alpha Mu Chapter

----------
From: Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 5:20 PM
To: Isaac Garza <garzai@alum.mit.edu>
Cc: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>, Rodrigo Carrillo <rocasoccer@gmail.com>, Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


This is an appropriate conversation to have, but not one that I want to have over email. I think we all know how futile that is. Let's discuss it at the next HEC meeting in the fall.

----------
From: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 5:32 PM
To: Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>
Cc: Isaac Garza <garzai@alum.mit.edu>, Rodrigo Carrillo <rocasoccer@gmail.com>, Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


@Liam: I disagree. What downside is there to having this over email? Why wait 3+ months to have a discussion at an inconsistently scheduled meeting that I, the originator of this thread, won’t even be in next semester? Meetings are very often an echo chamber where people with dissenting opinions have a hard time articulating their thoughts in real time, and therefore don’t speak up. In house meetings there is no definitive record of points and people end up straw manning each other because they didn’t clearly hear what was said.

@John: good points. Honestly, I know little about most of the artists on that list (see: Cardi B) besides a couple vulgar songs. Maybe Cardi B is a great person and we shouldn’t shy away from playing her at DOM, and maybe not. Part of the point of this email is to identify that some artists are inappropriate given the current cultural direction of the house, and we should at some point figure out what we are comfortable with.

@Everyone: If you think I’m trolling, whatever. But think about one thing. If Tony, the most openly “woke” member of our fraternity, sent my emails, would you think he’s trolling? Do you think I’m trolling because you think what I’m saying is wrong, or because I, Wesley, sent the emails?

I fail to see how our party music and the statements made at the HEC meeting are consistent with each other. How convoluted are the mental hoops, how immense is the cognitive dissonance we must endure, to think that the same words I may be shunned for saying in private to my brothers are acceptable and even praiseworthy when put to a bass line and coming out of a speaker?

----------
From: Isaac Garza <garzai@alum.mit.edu>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 5:43 PM
To: Manuel A Montesino <mannym@mit.edu>


Since you say you didn't get the emails that Liam has forwarded. Feel free to forward this on your own if you find that Liam's efforts haven't worked.
Forwarded conversation
Subject: Making Parties a Safer Space for Everyone
------------------------

From: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 1:38 PM
To: Phikaps Actives <phikaps-active@mit.edu>

----------
From: Isaac Garza <garzai@alum.mit.edu>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 1:55 PM
To: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>


+100000000

This is the most eloquent articulation of why I don't enjoy 'DOM music' I could have asked for. Hittin' the nail on the fuckin' head, Wesley.
--

Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Class of 2017
Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity | Alpha Mu Chapter

----------
From: Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 2:26 PM
To: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Cc: Phikaps Actives <phikaps-active@mit.edu>


Sorry to stick my crusty nose into this but just wanted to point out the obvious. DOMs are going to be very empty if you don't play Drake, the Jesus of hip hop.

But if you like empty parties, and need more help with identifying artists that seem to fit your criteria, I found a complete list.

Also who the fuck is Yung Gravy?

----------
From: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 2:43 PM
To: Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>
Cc: Phikaps Actives <phikaps-active@mit.edu>


Rose, I agree that it will be a difficult transition. But eliminating toxic masculinity from our culture is a difficult transition. Eliminating misogyny from our culture is a difficult transition. Convincing people that the music we dismiss as “fun” and “lit” is actually toxic and needs to be removed will be a difficult transition.

Besides, as I said in my email there are plenty of artists out there that don’t support such awful behavior and those that perpetrate it. EDM is very popular nowadays and I rarely hear EDM that brags about how many bitches and hoes they get every other line. Plenty of rappers are wholesome, and we just need to spend a bit of time popularizing them.

It is wildly hypocritical for us to police ourselves for saying “bitch” and “ho” or even “biddee” and “chick” between ourselves in private, but give 21 Savage and Migos a free pass when they say things 1000x worse. Given the current direction of social progress we as a house are adopting, I fail to see how it is not absoltely contradictory for us to play this awful music to all our guests every single week. As a house we need to send a completely different message to our friends and the community surrounding us.

----------
From: Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 2:52 PM
To: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Cc: Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-active <phikaps-active@mit.edu>


18's, beautiful job with the spoof on your road trip. I tip my hat to you all.

----------
From: Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 2:59 PM
To: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Cc: Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


18's, beautiful job with the spoof on your road trip. I tip my hat to you all.



On Tue, May 29, 2018 at 5:43 PM, Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com> wrote:


----------
From: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 3:07 PM
To: Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>
Cc: Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


Did the entire HEC meeting go over your head?

One of the most discussed points in the HEC meeting was about respecting brother's opinions. And now, based on your preconceived notions of me, you immediately dismiss everything I have to say about this? As I stated earlier, this is a matter I've wondered about for a while but never felt compelled to bring up until today. Several people have asked me if I was spoofed and since it is not clear, no this is not a spoof.


I understand that this topic is uncomfortable, but take a minute to really understand what I'm talking about here. Is there actually anything in my email you disagree with? Is there anything here that doesn't make any sense? Can you point to anything that falls under spoofing, trolling, or whatever bullshit you wish my email would fall under?

Do you not see the blatant hypocrisy I have pointed out multiple times in this email? How can we say that we want to eliminate misogyny, toxic masculinity, etc. while blasting the music that completely encapsulates this at our parties?


----------
From: Rodrigo Carrillo <rocasoccer@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 3:43 PM
To: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Cc: Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>, Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


Not sure if bait or...

----------
From: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 4:10 PM
To: Rodrigo Carrillo <rocasoccer@gmail.com>
Cc: Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>, Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


Care to share what you disagree with?

----------
From: Rodrigo Carrillo <rocasoccer@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 4:19 PM
To: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Cc: Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>, Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


Yes because it's gonna turn into a shitposting thread and I'm not even sure if this is serious or a prank

----------
From: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 4:38 PM
To: Rodrigo Carrillo <rocasoccer@gmail.com>
Cc: Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>, Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


If you want to avoid shitposting and actually discuss this, then feel free to message me directly, although signal is spotty out here.

I can’t convince people whether I’m trolling or not, but regardless the content of my emails should be evaluated outside of that. Do people actually think what I’m saying is wrong? If I’m trolling, would someone care to explain what assumption I have made is incorrect or what argument I have made that is wrong?

Whether you agree that certain artists should be removed from our parties or not, does nobody find it funky that Bros can’t say “chick” without riling up the brotherhood while we blast blatant objectification to anyone who enters our door?

----------
From: John R Parsons <parsonsj@mit.edu>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 5:12 PM
To: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Cc: Rodrigo Carrillo <rocasoccer@gmail.com>, Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>, Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


I'll give my crusty $0.02:

I think it's great that we're having this conversation—I don't get the sense Wesley is trolling—and it's important that we be able to discuss these matters publicly. The HEC meeting seems to have sparked something in the house, and I hope it continues.

With regard to the idea of removing these artists, I think we need to take more context into account. I agree that much of the work of the artists listed leverages words with ties to hate and the patriarchy. But we have to consider who is saying them and why.

Take Cardi B, for instance. I was surprised to see her on this list, since she is renowned for her feminism (there's more where that came from). Yeah, she says a lot of things I don't think should leave my mouth. But what is said perhaps matters less than the context in which it is said. Applying a rigid standard of "words that might be misogynistic in some contexts" for banning songs from our parties sounds good in practice but falls short when dealing with the uncertainty of the world. Artists will likely have to be considered case-by-case, and even then, there will be few easy answers.

On the other end of the spectrum, I agree that we shouldn't play monsters' music. XXXTentacion is an abuser of women and his work isn't that great or popular—striking his music is low-hanging fruit.

One thing to consider: If we're going to take a stand, we can't let popularity get in the way. Doing what's right has a cost. Consider Drake, who is ostensibly trying to appear to be a feminist, but perhaps falls short based on his past behavior. What do we want to do about him? It's not my call to make.

Keep fighting the good fight,
John

----------
From: Isaac Garza <garzai@alum.mit.edu>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 5:12 PM
To: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Cc: Rodrigo Carrillo <rocasoccer@gmail.com>, Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>, Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


Having messaged Wesley privately, can confirm that it's not a prank. As no one will find surprising, I agree 100% with the sentiments he expressed here, and I find it disconcerting bordering on annoying that people don't seem to be taking his points seriously.

All I'll say on this. Peace.
--

Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Class of 2017
Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity | Alpha Mu Chapter

----------
From: Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 5:20 PM
To: Isaac Garza <garzai@alum.mit.edu>
Cc: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>, Rodrigo Carrillo <rocasoccer@gmail.com>, Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


This is an appropriate conversation to have, but not one that I want to have over email. I think we all know how futile that is. Let's discuss it at the next HEC meeting in the fall.

----------
From: Wesley Runnels <wes1350@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 5:32 PM
To: Liam Daniel Fenlon <ld.fenlon@gmail.com>
Cc: Isaac Garza <garzai@alum.mit.edu>, Rodrigo Carrillo <rocasoccer@gmail.com>, Rosemond Dorleans <rdorlean@mit.edu>, phikaps-actives <phikaps-actives@mit.edu>


@Liam: I disagree. What downside is there to having this over email? Why wait 3+ months to have a discussion at an inconsistently scheduled meeting that I, the originator of this thread, won’t even be in next semester? Meetings are very often an echo chamber where people with dissenting opinions have a hard time articulating their thoughts in real time, and therefore don’t speak up. In house meetings there is no definitive record of points and people end up straw manning each other because they didn’t clearly hear what was said.

@John: good points. Honestly, I know little about most of the artists on that list (see: Cardi B) besides a couple vulgar songs. Maybe Cardi B is a great person and we shouldn’t shy away from playing her at DOM, and maybe not. Part of the point of this email is to identify that some artists are inappropriate given the current cultural direction of the house, and we should at some point figure out what we are comfortable with.

@Everyone: If you think I’m trolling, whatever. But think about one thing. If Tony, the most openly “woke” member of our fraternity, sent my emails, would you think he’s trolling? Do you think I’m trolling because you think what I’m saying is wrong, or because I, Wesley, sent the emails?

I fail to see how our party music and the statements made at the HEC meeting are consistent with each other. How convoluted are the mental hoops, how immense is the cognitive dissonance we must endure, to think that the same words I may be shunned for saying in private to my brothers are acceptable and even praiseworthy when put to a bass line and coming out of a speaker?




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Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Class of 2017
Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity | Alpha Mu Chapter




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Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Class of 2017
Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity | Alpha Mu Chapter