Southern Vermont College (SVC)’s new acapella/glee club, called The First Amendment, was established in late Fall, 2014. Through this club, members are brought together through the art of singing, dancing and performing. They participate in weekly assignments and are encouraged to express their first amendment rights of free expression. Recently, the club hosted SVC’s first-ever Singing Valentine’s program, where students could “order” a song to be sang for certain people on campus. The fundraiser was a financial success, but like any other up and coming club, The First Amendment struggles with figuring out sustainability. As student director, I continue to be optimistic about the club’s future.
Following Valentine’s Day, I had began working with Emily Bagley, sophomore, to create a musical setlist for her solo performances at the Residence Hall Association semi-formal dance. Bagley had already had a few songs in mind for her performance, but she wasn’t sure on how things would work out. Together, the two of us worked on her setlist, managing to come up with great ideas.
After a short time of hard work, friends of mine caught my attention in the Hunter Hall kitchen, drawing me away from Bagley and her guitar. As I spoke to my friends, I could hear her singing and playing her guitar in the Atrium. After a few moments, I heard a new voice singing along with Bagley. They were singing ‘Some Nights’, a song by American indie rock band, Fun.
Captivated, I made my way back to the Atrium, watching as Jacqueline Scanlon, sophomore, and Bagley sang along to the song. As my friends joined us in the Atrium, I found myself strangely relaxed and was reminded of how much I had enjoyed watching the ‘Some Nights’ performance on the FOX television series, Glee. I could faintly hear the voices of Becca Tobin, Chord Overstreet, Darren Criss, and Melissa Benoist as I listened to my peers perform. This is why I had originally decided to start this club.
On the show, the glee club had brought people of all kinds together. From the “blacks” and the “whites”, the “heteros” and the “homos”, to the “normal” and the “strange”, these people all loved to express who they were through the beautiful art of music. The glee club changed these people for the better and it created bonds that they would never forget. Glee, as a television series, may not have the best acting, or the best dialect, and sometimes it may seem extremely silly. But, it helped me become the person that I am today.
Glee has covered a large scale variety of major topics in the American community using their vast amount of characters. From Lea Michele’s “Rachel” showing the world that she has what it takes to succeed; Chris Colfer’s “Kurt” walking out of the closet to stand up to the bullying; Melissa Benoist’s “Marley” fighting inner-battles that most couldn’t imagine; and Cory Monteith’s “Finn” standing up for what he loved. Glee and its characters show the world that it is okay to be proud of who you are and what you believe in.
I want everyone to be able to be their very best, and I know that while Glee may not be the show for everyone, the best way to do this is by celebrating something that everyone could relate to. Music. Which is why The First Amendment will continue meeting every week.
Cory Monteith once said, “I don’t have to hide or be somebody I’m not. I don’t have to compromise. I can just be myself.” And thanks to him and the cast of Glee, thanks to the power and soul that they put into every word that they sang and uttered on that show, I could finally say the same thing. And, I hope that one day, you can too.