Falling star?
Michael
By JAMES DOOLITTLE
Collegian Arts Writer
In the kingdom known as "Pop,"
there is no doubt that Michael
Jackson is king. In a land full of
court jesters, Jackson has risen to
the top of the pop world during the
last 20 years with record-shatter
ing album sales and constant
media attention centering on his
often quirky personality.
If there is anyone who can fill
the mold of the "troubled pop star"
today, Jackson is it. At 35, he
remains an electrifying performer
onstage, whose life offstage is all
the more interesting because of
the many rumors surrounding his
private life especially the cur
rent child molestation allegations
he faces.
And those charges have asked
the general public even here in
State College to take a side.
Brian Camps (senior-operations
management) said he believes the
charges are false, created by peo
ple out to get some of Jackson's
money.
"I think he's innocent," Camps
said. "I just can't see Michael
Jackson doing anybody any wrong.
It's just because Michael Jackson
is so big."
According to the civil suit filed
in September, a 13-year-old boy
alleged that the entertainer per
formed oral sex on him, among
other sexual acts. A criminal
investigation into the alleged
activities is currently being con
ducted by the Los Angeles Police
Department, although no criminal
charges have been filed. The civil
case is currently scheduled to go
before the L.A. Superior Court
March 21.
Motorists:
Watch Those Turns
„„„aQii4_,
7
„ r -
..4
..:8! ..'"' gal 'iii : :: : :6,P ;ii:: . :.: , : . ::,„:„.'i1 . :16 , .:i:. 'i'..,:::,...:],tiF
330 East College
237-7616
Jackson faces charges as well as public doubts
Michael Jackson
the singer before the allegations
Local reaction to the allegations
has tended to side with Jackson,
although there seems to be room
for suspicion. Jay Williams, assis
tant manager at Blue Train Com
pact Disc, 418 E. College Ave., said
too many of Jackson's actions in
the past seem to incriminate him.
"The way he looks, the way he
hangs out with little kids, I mean
he's 35 years old," Williams said.
"I don't know whether he did it or
not, but he's definitely weird
enough to have done it, I guess."
Dave Dallow, program director
at WBHV-FM (B-103), voiced a
similiar opinion.
"He hasn't been found guilty yet,
but a small percentage of the
public has already decided that he
is guilty, and that's because of his
past and the way he's dealt with
children," DaHow said.
Zat e V9 4 e
4
Michael Jackson
the singer after the allegations
Patrick Trimble, instructor of
integrative arts, said he believes
the media and the population at
large see a threat in Jackson
because the allegations are against
someone whose world and views
are geared toward a younger gen
eration.
"Michael Jackson's world is so
clearly associated with childhood,"
Trimble said, adding that our cul
ture is very protective of children.
"What we have here is a Pied Piper
who may be sleeping with his
mice."
Since the allegationi first sur
faced in August, Jackson has
received more than his share of
public humiliation. After the civil
suit was filed, Jackson soon
canceled his Dangerous world tour
and checked into a London hospital
because of an addiction to painkil
LOCATED DIRECTLY OVER THE CENTER OF THE EARTH
lers, supposedly brought on by the
allegations.
Jackson has also been faced with
plenty corporate back pedaling. A
greatest hits compilation of Jack
son's work was pushed back by his
label, Sony. Pepsi, his long-time
sponsor, also pulled out of its
relationship with Jackson.
But John Fredrickson, general
manager of B-103, believes that if
the charges were to have been
brought up against any other
entertainer, the trouble would
have probably blown over by now.
"I think the story has stayed this
hot simply because he is who he
is," Fredrickson said. "I think with
a lot of other artists it would have
come and gone very quickly."
Trimble added that much of the
concern lies in the fact that Jack
son remains such a mysterious
character a Peter Pan figure
who is trying to recapture a child
hood lost while living a rather sol
itary lifestyle.
"We've taken Michael Jackson,
brought him into the center, idol
ized him and now we must dismiss
him," Trimble said.
Williams said he could see Jack
son's future musical releases suf
fering as well.
"If he is found guilty, I would
say his name would be mud in
terms of selling anything in the
future, even from his back cata
logue," Williams said.
As for Jackson's future, Fre
drickson said everything hinges on
the outcome of the civil suit and
the current criminal investigation.
But no matter the outcome of
either, Fredrickson believes Jack
son's career is forever tainted.
"It will be part of the Michael
Jackson legend no matter what."
I
10. Save 25% on cosi of books
.
wit Shopo
h ' h e
ur s tore
ri
.iame-
Penn State dancers
move to world beat
By NAINA NARAYANA
Collegian Arts Writer
A group of dancers on cam
pus gets the chance to perform
songs and dances from another
country and at the same time
learn about that country's cul
ture, history and religion.
Then they put all of that into
a performance.
The Penn State International
Dancers exists to show people
all of the qualities and person
alities about different countries
through song and dance.
The group, which started in
1978, performs pieces from
almost any area of the world,
said Elizabeth Hanley, the
group's assistant/artistic direc
tor. Hanley said the group's
repertoire includes songs and
dances from Eastern and West
ern Europe, Asia and the United
States.
When practicing, Hanley said
members learn a lot about the
country whose dances and
songs they are performing. She
said viewers can see culture
through costumes, music and
particular dance steps. A coun
try's religion can also be seen
through performances such
Indian temple dances, Hanley
added.
The group tries to do the
dances traditionally but with a
touch of modern style, Hanley
said. Many of the dances per
formed are old folk dances, and
the dancers sometimes modify
the length and content of the
original village dances, she
added.
Although many of the cos-
9. Buy 4 used books of the cost of 3 new books
8. Buying used books is recycling
7. Buy used -- if's in fhe Clinfon Economic Plan.
6. Buying used books lefs professors know you want used books
5. Buying used books encourages the bookstore to stock
more used books
4. Buying used books makes the faculty think you're reading them.
3. Buy used -- A Rhodes scholar may have highlighted the book.
2. Dad/Mom, look at flie money I saved you!
1. The previous owner was a hunk/fox and
left their phone number in if!
The Daily Collegian Tuesday, Jan. 11, 1994-13
tumes worn by the group are no
longer present in the countries
represented, Hanley sees the
dancers as recreating history on
stage.
Assistant dance director Don
na Nester agreed. "I think a lot
of it is cultural awareness
through dance, songs ... with
our costumes from different
countries," she said.
Nester said the group usually
performs the same dances over
the years to perfect them; they
only learn one or two dances a
year because of possible cultu
ral confusion.
For the most part, the group
does line dances rather then
partner dances because of the
group's shortage of male mem
bers one of its biggest chal
lenges is recruiting more male
dancers. Keith Krahulik (senior
electrical engineering) is one of
only nine men in the 31-person
group.
"I think a large part of it is
that a lot of people are intim
idated by it," Krahulik said.
Krahulik said the type of
dancing they do is far from
easy. But he added that new
people are usually successful at
learning the dances.
In addition to dancers, there
are eight voices on stage while
the dancers perform. Carrie
Rupert, assistant director for
singing, said the singers per
form just about anything,
including Ukranian, Bulgarian,
American and Asian songs. This
spring, they will learn German
and possibly Filipino songs,
Rupert (senior-environmental
resource management) said.
ser'gvf,ettt sot ft,