Nevada Appeal: UNR Regents back off plan to bar gangster rap concerts on campus
After being told by every lawyer who went to the podium it would violate the First Amendment, the Board of Regents backed away from a proposal Friday to bar gangster rap concerts on their university and community college campuses.
Regent Stavros Anthony, a Metro police official, called for the ban, saying there have been numerous killings, beatings, stabbings and other violence connected with rap concerts. He said major performers in rap include relentless references to violent acts in their music, glorifying killings and lawlessness. He said he sees a connection between the violence and the performances and wants them banned from university venues.
“I don’t think this violates the First Amendment,” he said. “I’ve been getting tremendous community support for the idea. People are really tired of these violent felony events being held on our university campuses.”
The list of those disagreeing began with Chancellor Jim Rogers, owner of several television stations and an attorney, who referred to “the obvious unconstitutionality” of a policy banning one kind of concert because of its content.
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