(Posted April 11, 2005)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Students from a Juniata College music course, "History of American Popular Music," will hold a public forum to answer the question "Do the lyrics and driving rhythms and harmonies of pop music shape, justify or encourage deviant behavior?" at 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 19 in Alumni Hall in the Brumbaugh Academic Center on the Juniata campus.

The forum is free and the public is encouraged to attend to join the discussion.

The forum will be hosted by students from the music class and panel members for the forum will include Donald Braxton, associate professor of religion, and two Juniata students: Stephen Yeager, a sophomore from East Petersburg, Pa., and Denique Conner, a senior from Rochester, N.Y. Student organizers also have asked additional faculty from Juniata and local high school faculty as well as media professionals to participate in the panel.

The forum is an element in Latten's course on the history of American pop music. Students in the course have organized the event.

"I've noticed more and more that the lyrics and dissonance in musical melodies are affecting the behavior of the young people listening to them," says James Latten, assistant professor of music at the college. "I'd like the students to think about these issues and bring in some experts who can comment on how music might affect behavior."


Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.