Beating to their own rhythm at the SOA

There is a place in Columbus, Georgia that gets swarmed every year on one weekend in November by thousands of protestors of all types with one thing in mind, shutting down the School of the Americas, but this year was a little different. Rain or shine, the protestors came out to have their voices, and drumming skills heard.

Cakalak Thunder captain Gigi Burkhalter gives a countdown during a puppetista drum rehearsal at the SOA protest at Ft. Benning, GA, Nov. 21, 2009.

One of the major highlights of the protest is the puppetistas and the drums that give it rhythm and help drive and tell the story. The groups that lead the drumming sometimes varies from year to year, but this year the group just happened to be from Greensboro, North Carolina.

Cakalak Thunder, is a progressive drumming group that went down with about eight members and took on the role of rounding up drummers, teaching them the various rhythms, and getting them in shape to perform with the puppetistas and in a massive drum circle.

Cakalak Thunder drummer Chelsea Simpson said, “we called (SOAWatch) and said we were interested in coming, and they said great. They then put us in contact with the puppetistas who asked us to be part of their performance.”

This was the 20th annual School of the Americas protest, and though attendance was down, the spirit was still just as high.

Cakalak Thunder did this for the two days of the protest, and on the second day led a group of over 800 attendees to the protest into the streets, and some of those, including all of Cakalak, went onto one of Columbus, Georgia’s busiest highway bringing traffic to a one lane crawl.

Listening Out Loud

Keene State College students are very much aware of their LEC Champion sports teams, the fact that Pumpkin Fest weekend is the most raging weekend in Keene and that although you may not like everyone, one night a year, differences are put aside for some Midnight Madness.

One thing many students aren’t aware of is the fact that the college has a fully functioning radio station. WKNH (91.3 FM) is a student-run radio station owned by the college that has been around since 1971. Located on the third floor of the Young Student Center, the station provides swift beats to the campus, along with serving as a local community station.

From alternative rock, jazz, to rap, hip-hop and reggae, WKNH provides a variety of music for the eclectic listener. Along with hours of music, the station also includes local news and commentary shows such as “Two Guys, One Girl” and long time “Democracy Now,” which began in 2003 and still plays from 8 to 9am Monday mornings.

As a part of an occasional series known as “WKNH Radio Theater,” the station also airs live performances of plays and poetry readings.

Anyone can be a DJ for the station. However, before done so, you must complete a course on the station itself and pass the exam. Once passed and ready to go, you must become very familiar with the guidelines of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The FCC is an independent United States government agency. Established by the Communications Act of 1934 it is in charge of regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC’s jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions.

However, according to records on February 10, 2004, the FCC guidelines had been believed to be compromised after WKNH played a pair of songs on opposite sides of a abortion debate. The songs, pro-life’s “Diary Of An Unborn Fetus” with lyrics that read, “why did you kill me mommy, when God made me so special for you?” and pro-choice’s “Will The Fetus Be Aborted,” drew much attention. Although the songs stirred up quite the controversy the FCC declared the songs a part of the first Amendment. Had the DJ commit the violation, they would automatically lose their show.

Overall the station does not capture much student interest but intends to keep trying. Ideas of ways to promote interest and find new DJ’s is always welcomed.

Keene State Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club

By Lhens Juste and Chris Reynolds

Photo Credit: Chris Reynolds. Instructor JP Smith practices sparring techniques with KSC BJJ students.

According to a History of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu article, BJJ has had a long and respected history. It was originally

designed as a powerful system of self-defense that includes a sportive element. It also includes the idea of self cultivation and the benefit of all members of society.

The article also states, the overall strategy of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is designed to equip a physically smaller or weaker individual, with an effective method of defending themselves against someone who is much larger or stronger.

The art form has been a benefit to all those who have decided to participate in it. Instructor John Paul Smith states that one benefit of being a part of the club and it’s quite the regiment. He also stated that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is by far the hardest workout he’s  ever had in his life, and thing’s he has done such as running marathon’s, biking, boxing  and lifting weights just did not compare to it.

Keene State College student, Thomas Schoolcraft, has recently implemented a new Brazilian Jiu Jitsu club here on campus. The club is still holding the traditions and values that have made B.J.J. what it is today, and keeping those values at the essence of its teachings.

While Jiu Jitsu can take a physical toll on your body and on mind, it should not be confused with other kinds of combative forms such as Mixed Martial Arts. He said there used to be a MMA club on campus that had a bad reputation.

“It was more of a fight club,” Schoolcraft said.

It can be compared more so to a form of collegiate wrestling in which you can learn different holds and use grappling techniques to gain an advantage on your opponent.

Often times the misconception of the art form is something that Smith states is a recurring theme.

“There’s no ground and pound, there’s no learning how to beat up your roommate,” Smith said.

This sentiment is also offered up by Schoolcraft who also serves as the clubs creator and president. The club was officially created in the spring of 2008. He stated people can sometimes get the wrong impression of what Brazilian Jiu Jitsu really is.

 “A lot of people who come in for the wrong reason’s find out that it’s a lot of hard work and a lot of time and commitment, and those people don’t tend to last,” Schoolcraft said.

Another misconception about the club among students is a person must be “a tough guy” to join or  just to be a part of the action. This is a stigma that Smith thinks is completely inaccurate.

“There’s a lot of really strong weightlifter’s here that definitely get owned for a lack of a better word inside of a minute, because this stuff is just all using the body against itself,”  Smith said. “So I mean it’s not all strength and you definitely don’t have to be a tough guy either.”

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has certainly reached a wide range of people and has already left its imprint here at Keene State College, but as Schoolcraft stated,  getting the club off the ground was not an easy thing to do. There were obstacles with the gym, the reputation of the previous MMA fighting club was not at all good, and they were not officially a club.  They trained in rooms they were not supposed to be training in, and injured each other in the process.

It took some convincing and the club had a lot of doubt in the beginning if it eventually worked out, but it has been a success.

Both Schoolcraft and Smith think that the future of this club will be great, and they both hope that when their time at the school is over, that it could be in good hands. Smith stated he wants someone to take the club to the next level.

“I want someone to come in to this school that’s a lot better than I am and have them run it,” Smith said. “I want someone that’s like a purple belt, that’s been doing Jiu Jitsu for 10 years, and comes in and makes it ten times better. That’s what I want In the future.”

Whether you’re a fan of Jiu Jitsu or not one thing is for sure, it has definitely made an impact in other fighting arena’s such as the UFC and Mixed Martial arts, where Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is also applied. The art form is a respected one by those who practice it, and something that can build inner confidence and self-worth. Having a club that teaches those values here at Keene State College, will certainly be a benefit to students.