Lost and Jaded at the School of Rock
Think about this…. this bit is on the front page of the website for London’s Academy of Contemporary Music:
Top News Stories
| ACM – Coming to America |
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ACM today announced the creation of ACM@UCO in partnership with The University of Central Oklahoma. • Queens Award 2008 |
Yes, I’m talking about the “school of rock” again. First of all, let’s address the folks at the Lost Ogle. They’re funny, no doubt about it. And yeah, they can be pretty jaded. I was very, very amused at their description of my coverage of the Devon tower project. They nailed me.
But I’m going to take issue with their dissing of UCO’s effort to create a contemporary music school in Bricktown. UCO was indeed once a sleepy commuter school (I attended the university my freshman year before switching schools in the 1980s). But it’s not the same school it once was, and I’m wondering if Patrick and the gang have taken in a performance at the UCO Jazz Lab.
Of course every college and university will have its share of detractors. So let’s move on to another consideration – the mere publicity this development has garnered for Bricktown and Oklahoma City. Whether or not one likes the Flaming Lips, is there any denying their presence in Oklahoma City challenges the Grapes of Wrath/OU Sooners stereotype of Oklahoma? Keeping that in mind, consider then that Flaming Lips Alley, Bricktown and the deal with London’s Academy of Contemporary Music have attracted international attention this past week. I was initially proud to think The Oklahoman had broken the story – I discovered later to much amusement we got beat by the BBC.
Yeah, that’s right – BBC. The story also made the national wires. Don’t be surprised if it pops in Rolling Stone – which also made note of Flaming Lips Alley.
Now, let’s answer the questions to me at the Lost Ogle:
Q: What will happen on the first day of class when all the student moms in minivans try to park in one of the five free Bricktown parking spots?
A: Mass chaos. But the Bricktown police division has its own version of Dirty Harry … enough said.
Q: Which bar will get shut down for allowing the seven underage students at the school to get drunk?
A: Margarita Mamma’s.
Q: Will students be disciplined for not smoking?
A: Only at Makers.
Q: Maybe Steve Lackmeyer will tackle it in a future column.
A: No.
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I agree…Jazz Lab gives UCO a proven track record.