Criminal Entertainment

Ottawa's two universities, Carleton University and University of Ottawa, collaborate on the presentation of a popular annual concert to which university students flock to see and hear popular entertainers. Carleton University Students' Association funded the appearance of a rapper, Rick Ross for the April 9 show. And that prospective performance has quite a few people upset.

Rappers have been known to test the boundaries of social acceptance since the first rapper introduced this form of musical entertainment into the annals of youth entertainment that invariably puzzles the older generation. This particular rapper has recently released a song that celebrates and glorifies date rape. Hi-hop bloggers and commentators in the U.S. have identified that song as offensive.

It seems to have skipped the notice of the Carleton University Students' Association executive. That's the charitable view of it; it could be, on the other hand, that the CUSA executive appreciates the unqualified approval of the song's dedication to the pleasures of drugging a woman and raping her, because she will never know what happened, while the rapist has satisfied his violent carnal urge.

A former Carleton student who studied Women's Studies and Human Rights at the university formerly, was not amused. She opened a Facebook page critical of the CUSA's decision to fund Rick Ross's appearance. "In the past couple of years, Carleton students have been trying to get the school to take sexual assault on campus seriously", she wrote.

"The song itself is such a blatant celebration of rape", she commented -- the lyrics would be painful for many young university students who "have not just experienced some kind of sexual assault but the kind, specifically, that he's talking about", so approvingly and lovingly. The writer, Kira-Lynn Ferderber, calls on CUSA to cancel the event.

In a stark contrast of reactions, Ethan Plato, president of the Student Federation at the University of Ottawa, explained why his group had withdrawn support for the annual Pandamonium concert, jointly sponsored by both student unions: "Rick Ross has gained notoriety through misogynistic lyrics including those that explicitly depict sexual assault through drugging women."

His University of Ottawa Student Federal could not in good conscience promote the event in "recognizing our role as agents of social progress". Concert organizers, Urban Jamz Entertainment defended themselves by saying Urban Jamz "does not support rape culture". They seem to feel the problem will be solved as long as Ross does not perform the offending song.

Two related stories revolving around sadistic criminal minds intent on raping women. One of an Ottawa man identified by Ontario Superior Court Justice Colin McKinnon as a "dangerous serial rapist" to be locked up indeterminately to protect women from his vicious predations. The rapist, Kasagama Olimi, 25, held a "natural predisposition to violent sexual assault".

Olimi held a University of Ottawa student hostage in her dormitory room, assaulting her repeatedly throughout the night until she was finally able to escape. He has twice been convicted for brutal and prolonged rapes during the commission of which he humiliated and taunted his victims.

The second occasion took place two months after his release from jail when he grabbed another women from a street, took her to his apartment and, threatening her with a knife, raped her repeatedly, while wearing an electronic ankle bracelet designed to track him to ensure he was following conditions of his release.

Yet another news report out of Toronto, where a high school youth planned to abduct, torture, rape and kill a girl in the school's "sound-proof music room". The 17-year-old was found by the presiding judge to be "a sadist", and convicted of threatening bodily harm. He had on an earlier occasion raped a woman but charges were dropped, and he had spent months in a psychiatric facility.

On the occasion of this case that recently played out in a courtroom, the youth had informed the young woman through a Facebook chat that he planned to violently rape her; cut her skin, break her bones while committing rape. She informed a teacher, the teacher spoke to the vice-principal, who called police, who conducted their investigation, apprehending a crime, planned and close to execution.

Impressionable young men with shaky morals and values do not need encouragement through the auspices of famous and industry-acclaimed rappers to lead them to believe that rape is normal and desirable and can be readily accomplished with the use of drugs.