School Reverses Decision to Reject $10,000 Grant and Macklemore Concert

It’s been a whirlwind 24 hours for Aliso Niguel High School students, who learned Monday that a $10,000 grant and performance by artists Macklemore and Ryan Lewis were rejected by the school administration after parents objected to the artists’ message.

However, uproar by the students prompted Principal Deni Christensen to announce today a compromise that would allow the school to keep the grant and hold the concert, which the school won in a contest by Chegg, an online learning site. Students will have to provide permission slips signed by their parents in order to attend the concert, Christensen said.

“After careful consideration of the varying viewpoints on all sides of the issue surrounding a possible visit by music artists Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, it is my belief that we have developed a plan that will meet the needs of our overall campus community,” Christensen wrote in a letter to parents. “In recognition of our students‘ efforts in winning this contest, and in a desire to provide students with the option of hearing a presentation regarding the music industry, the importance of music education and the arts, along with a Q & A session with these two artists, we will be holding this event after school hours one day in December for students who obtain parent permission, subject to the capacity limits of our gym.”

According to the school, some parents complained that the rapper promoted misogyny and drug use.

Students rejoiced at the news after organizing petition, social media and Youtube campaigns to convince administrators to reverse course.

A Change.org petition garnered more than 8,000 signatures in less than 20 hours.

“Unfortunately, a few parents ruined a chance of a lifetime for a few thousand,” the petition read. “Help represent the students and allow Macklemore and Ryan Lewis! Students’ voices should be heard!”

Student Brooklyn Barwick took to Youtube to vent her frustration.

“My school we won a contest, and we got a $10,000 grant for our music program and a performance by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. I don’t know about you, but that’s pretty cool. That’s pretty cool that my school got that, and our principal, because some parents complained, she took that away,” she said. “I am sorry but it was kind of a really bad decision to make.”

Aliso Niguel Associated Student Body Vice President Quinn Darling rallied protesters with a post on Instagram.

“With all due respect, I believe admin has made a huge mistake. I am personally offended by their decision as it is based off outdated evidence and our leaders have failed to see all the amazing movements and messages these artists have focused on spreading over the past few years which would be beneficial to every student at our school,” he wrote. “Most significant being a Gay-Rights movement and also many Anti-Drug messages. I am here to say our voice matters and we have been robbed of this amazing opportunity.”

After the school’s administration reversed course, Chegg released a statement congratulating the students.

“The students of Aliso Niguel won the opportunity to have Macklemore and Ryan Lewis on their campus through the CheggMusic101 series,” said Dan Rosensweig, CEO of Chegg. “We have a lot of admiration for these students: they beat every other high school and college in the country for the right to host this event and along with the artists, their administration, faculty, parents and community rallied around a positive message to create a great outcome.”

Photo: Wikimedia Commons