By Amy Tannenbaum
News Editor

With her Handi-Cam in tow, MTV Segment Producer Erica Terry ’95, arrived on campus last Saturday to interview students for an hour-long special on the pop-cultural perpetuation of
anti-gay and anti-women propaganda. 

Terry asked students to give their reactions and suggest possible solutions to the media portrayal of controversial artists such as Eminem. 

"A lot of us thought that the problem was not in Eminem particularly, because there are so many artists who have been making homophobic or sexist comments. He’s just been blown up
more because he’s MTV’s media darling," said Nora Houseman ’02.

Much of the discussion centered around the idea that while censorship must be avoided, there should be an increased awareness about the influence MTV is having on younger
generations. 

"We were arguing a lot about the effect MTV has on celebrating certain artists as opposed to others," Houseman said.

Radhika Singh ’02 suggested that perhaps MTV should cut back on its glamorization and high promotion of such singers. 

When asked how her interview with Wesleyan students compared to the others she’s conducted on this topic, Terry commented that there were in fact certain differences. 

"A lot of what I got from students was much larger, much broader, much more theoretical, than some of what other kids who haven’t been trained to be critical and analyze things to the
Nth degree might say," Terry said. 

"But it’s not as though I’ve been going to Times Square and asking people things to see how dumb they are, that’s not the nature of the show. It’s more the nature of the type of stuff
that I’ve been doing here [at Wesleyan], so I think that it compared [to other people I’ve interviewed] just fine."

According to students, the roundtable discussion that took place in the campus center from 10am to 12pm was very informal.

"At first we were kind of taken aback by how informal it was, with her and her Handi-Cam, but is was obvious that she liked us. And although she’s working for MTV, an organization
that perpetuates these stereotypes, she’s trying to make a difference," Singh said.

Houseman agreed, "I thought she was really great. She was very critical of MTV and of pop culture but definitely took the approach that you need to be involved in order to change its
effect or reshape it."

Terry said she enjoyed being able to bring MTV back to her alma mater. 

"It was a very Wesleyan moment for me–it was great because it was very analytical and I felt like I was in my kicks class, not doing an interview," Terry said. 

Terry decided to conduct the interview here after being invited to be part of a career panel for alumni of color.

"I could kill two birds with one stone. I knew that I’d find articulate people who would be passionate and I had to come to Wesleyan anyway," Terry said. "It really wasn’t about you
guys being Wesleyan students as much as it was that I knew I’d get an articulate crop of kids who’d probably be really passionate about it."

Although Terry wouldn’t admit to being particularly surprised by student responses, she said she was however impressed by the influence technology has had on campus.

"[Technology] was really limited when I was there, we didn’t have full-on email until my last two years of Wesleyan. So it’s just funny to me because I lived in this bubble, I didn’t have
much outside exposure…and here I was talking to students who had seen everything that I was referring to and knew exactly what was being talked about–just because the technology
was so much better"

It is still unknown as to when the show will be aired and Terry said she is unsure about the amount of airtime students will receive.

"I’m definitely thinking that there will be a couple of bites here and there throughout the show," Terry said.

Terry landed her job at MTV after attending journalism school at UC Berkely where Tabitha Soren, a former MTV Video Jockey, suggested that she apply for a job to cover the presidential election. After completing that job, she was then offered her position of Segment Producer for this one hour special. 

While at Wesleyan, Terry majored in International Politics, Government and African American Studies but wasn’t involved in many extracurricular activities.

"I was in UJAMAA and that’s really about it. I lived with the two people who were the treasurer and secretary for the senior class, so that was kick ass because all the alcohol got stored
at our house," Terry said. "I did nothing during my Wesleyan career that might even give you a hint that this is what I want to do with my life."