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“Higher Learning” raises questions
by R. Carl Campbell 111
Ntwt Editor
Mark Twain once said, “Don’t
let college interfere with your
education.”
“Higher Learning,” a new
movie by John Singleton (“Boyz
in the Hood,” “Poetic Justice”),
stresses this point. “Higher
Learning” displays the maturation
of a young African-American
male in a violent and impartial
environment, the fictitious
Columbus University.
Singleton creates a realistic big
campus setting. He portrays all
aspects of campus life; the
cliques, the fraternity parties,
campus police, the dorms,
apartments, athletic fields, etc.
The viewer is transported to the
Columbus campus. It was that
real
Many of the contemporary
issues that college students face
were made evident in the movie,
such as: individual and
institutional racism, sexism,
identity, and the opening of one’s
mind to a diversified atmosphere.
Although the movie was
centered on Malik Williams
(Omar Epps), a former high
school track star who realizes dud.
the competition in college is
different, the lifestyles and
attitudes of Kristen Conner
(Kirsty Swanson) and Remy
(Michael Rapaport) are
interwoven into the plot. Kristen
is awakened to the harsh realities
Logan Series players 'Moore by Four*
Music at Noon: Logan
Wintergarden Series presents
Moore by Four
ERIE-Contemporary jazz
vocal ensemble Moore by Four
will perform twice at Penn State
Erie, The Behrend College, on
Friday, Feb. 17.
At noon on Feb. 17, the group
will give a one-hour performance
in the Wintostgardea of the Reed
Union Buildiag as put of Music
at Noon: The Logan
Wintergarden Series.
At 7 p.m. that evening, Moore
of life when she is date-raped.
Remy is shoved outside of
campus life and seeks refuge in
the only group that allows him
entrance, the while supremacists.
The three main characters’ lives
by Four will give a longer
performance in the Wintergarden.
Admission to both events is
free.
Moore by Four, an ensemble
of four polished vocalists and five
instrumentalists, is a three-time
winner of the Minnesota Music
Award for “Best Contemporary
Jazz Group." Although the
group originally specialized in
the music of the swing era, it has
Entertainment
are altered when they are
introduced to characters that offer
new and different trains of
thought.
For Malik, his life is changed
when he takes Professor Phipps’
expanded its repertoire to include
contemporary jazz, blues, latin,
gospel, original compositions,
and new arrangements of the great
standards from Broadway,
Hollywood, and Harlem.
Music at Noon: - The
Wintergarden Series, is an
informal fine-music performance
series funded by the Hairy A.
Logan, Jr. Foundation.
(Laurence Fishbume) Political
Science class and learns to think
for himself. Another pivotal
character in Malik’s life is senior
Fudge (Ice Cube). Fudge leaches
Malik that there’s more to
"Bluesman" K. J.
Bruno's Saturday
Night - K. J. James
K. J. James is performing at
Bruno’s Saturday Night at 9
p.m. and is open to the
public.
Formerly known as Dr.
Blue, he has toured tire
country extensively playing
at major festivals,
coffeehouses, special
events, and colleges.
Thursday, February 16,1995
college than education and
running.
Taryn (Jennifer Connelly)
befriends Kristen and teaches her
about trust and that “the first
thing you learn in college is that
you don’t have any wisdom at
all.”
Remy is intrigued by college
and being accepted into a group.
However, the more he tries to be
accepted the more he is pushed
away to become an outsider. He
doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere
except with the skinheads.
The climax of the movie is
probably the best I’ve ever seen
in a movie. It was a scene that
moved on pure adrenaline, energy
and emotion. I don’t want to
give the ending away, just trust
me, it’s powerful.
“Higher Learning” does what
college is supposed to do, make
you think. It really questions
how far society has gone since
the racial tensions of the sixties.
Yeah, it’s only a movie, but the
scenes and situations are real.
The interracial message of the
movie gives a message that life
is not a black thing, it’s not a
white thing, it’s a human thing
and we need to take care of the
problems.
He has shared the stage with
top recording artists,
including legendary blues
musicians John Hammond
and John Lee Hooker.
A gifted singer, songwriter,
and guitarist, James' act
covers the entire spectrum
of blues, boogie, and
rhythm and blue.