Four hundred performances. One hundred workshops.
Jazz Fest is upon us again.
The annual celebration, which takes its name from legendary musician Lionel Hampton, has become both a treasured University of Idaho tradition as well as a running joke for the many UI students whose educational experience becomes somewhat disrupted during the weekend-long event.
With nearly 100 workshops available to students, faculty and staff, The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival provides a unique opportunity for the Moscow community to immerse itself in culture. From crump classes to swing dancing, there is little room to complain about a lack of diversity for those wishing for something to do this weekend.
Jazz Fest also serves as a time for bonding between students and community members. Watching dozens of students dance to the beat of traditional African music elicits a certain joy and excitement, something that only comes to Moscow once a year.
But the unique celebration comes at a cost.
Every year, high school students from across the state flood campus, resulting in moved or cancelled classes, facility congestion and an overall headache for normal UI operations.
While accommodating young musicians is far from any kind of Vandal Alert inducing emergency, the process can best be described as a headache.
For example, the UI Center for Disability Access and Resources (CDAR) announced “Jazz Fest rehearsals will be occurring near CDAR Testing Services on Friday, Feb. 22. All students are highly encouraged to reschedule exams for an alternate date, as we will not be able to provide a quiet testing environment on this date,” according to CDAR’s website.
This is just one of the small instances campus is disrupted during the festival, something students may not initially realize.
The headache doesn’t stop there. Across campus, many notices were posted to classroom doors, alerting students of possible changes to their normal academic schedules. Many classes would be moved to a different location to accommodate the many workshops planned for the end of this week. As UI students, it becomes increasingly frustrating to see the educational process disrupted.
Take this weekend’s celebration with a grain of salt. Yes, there is much to do. And yes, students should take every chance to experience different cultures and learn valuable lessons outside the traditional classroom setting.
But for students of all ages, brace yourselves. Jazz Fest is coming.
— Editorial Board