In the good old days, we would switch on the television and see people like Bill Cosby. Usually, one would’ve smiled at the TV set when celebrities, like good ole Bill, sent out a message for families about the importance of staying in school and getting an education. What ever happened to this kid-friendly world? Did it grow up, or did the kids? Nowadays, it doesn’t seem enough for celebrities to preach “stay in school” to the youth of today. Replacing the ever important promotion of educational institutions is the rebellious pop cultured version of “college.” But, is it all fun and games, or does it come with a huge helping of high school dropouts and corrupted under achieving youth?

       Although pro-school lyrics have been around for ages, a new song with the innocuous sounding title “I Love College” has recently taken over the airwaves—though the title seems good natured, the lyrics may not reveal what the title intends. In the song, artist Asher Roth sends not so subliminal messages about higher education and some people are not very happy about it. Professors and parents, watch out, this may sting a bit.

       Recent pop hit, “I Love College,” by Asher Roth, has swept today’s adolescent population off of its feet. It debuted early this year and sold over a million downloads in the first few weeks. In the last eight months or so, the song has stayed in the top-hundred list of various music charts. It depicts the life of a ‘typical’ college student. Throughout this hit, there is possibly not a one phrase about the actual purpose of going to college: studying.

Cell phones buzz and iPods sing, “I love college,” which indeed degrades everything hard working students strive for. The struggle to maintain good grades and succeed in college is conveniently overlooked. The refrain quite robotically says, “Man, I love college… I love women…Drink my beer and smoke my weed… pass out at 3:00, wake up at 10:00, go out to eat, then do it again….” So goes Asher Roth’s beloved anthem, presenting

drugs, alcohol and bad sleeping habits to children at young ages or those most influenced: teenagers.

       Roth’s song, though rather controversial, is not the first of the negative images presented through the media – but it is more dangerous. Movies such as Sixteen Candles and Mean Girls all portray the rather exaggerated obsession teenagers and college students have with sex, drugs, and alcohol. But with a catchy beat and mellow voice, the insidious power of Roth’s message, rendered in song, is dangerously effective. The problem with a song like Roth’s and many others of its kind is that most usually don’t have PG-13 or R ratings – especially if there are no swearwords. And when such songs blare on the radio, they permeate easily into young minds. Parents often do not have any clear advisory warnings and teens can easily download such songs from iTunes or other websites.

       Is this the future of higher education? Will the actual ‘intensive studying’ part of college be considered second priority when compared to the apparent high-paced party life depicted in so many songs such as this? What is the point of high school students slaving over high test scores and college essays, if their efforts are simply the topic of mockery in pop media which presents senseless debauchery as the ‘truth’ of college life? Poudre High School student, Kalyn Specht, agrees that this song is not so great. “It gives today’s children a false idea of what college is like and idolizes the idea of putting oneself in a dangerous situation,” she says.

        Artist Asher Roth, ironically enough, majored in elementary education at West Chester University. A surprising titbit from an interview of him by StopBeingFamous.com shows his glib double-speak. “College, for me, was a party. Do I want college to be known for that? No. Higher education is very important and a luxury for a lot of people. A lot of people don’t get to go to school. I encourage people to go to school,” says Roth publicly. It seems that Roth is a supporter of both school and partying – but obviously partying sells more than studying! Roth’s lip-service to celebrities’ “stay-in-school” message is not only hypocritical but also destructive, because it undercuts the real commitment of other artists to education.  

        Personally, I am not one to claim that Roth and similar artists are being socially irresponsible, but his celebration of college-funfests should not be ignored. What will Asher Roth and society gain from a future full of reckless underachievers? Fooling off and having “all play and no work” is not a very positive message or goal for today’s children. More than ever, kids are being pressured to be competitive and attend college, but by making college synonymous with constant partying, the message is being perverted. Such an approach is definitely not the way to get a decent grade point average and make a good living. With these plagued words infecting the minds of today’s children, brainwashing them, we may not be able to depend on our only hope for a better future. Thank you, Mr. Roth.