A local hip-hop artist is bringing a new perspective to Ball State's "Police Yourself" campaign in a rap song that explains the campaign's effect on the relationship between students and local residents.
Muncie resident Rob Sweet$ said he hopes "Police Yourself," produced by PlayaMade Productions, will be both entertaining and informative for the Ball State and Muncie communities.
"It's basically a party song, but it's also sending a message," Sweet$ said. "It touches base on what's happened recently in the city of Muncie. The Ball State and Muncie communities have always been segregated, and the 'Police Yourself' campaign hasn't fully helped that."
Sweet$ said his song combines the perspectives of both Ball State students who feel violated because of the campaign and Muncie residents who feel they are being portrayed as the antagonists who brought the campaign into existence.
He said when a local resident was accused of killing Ball State sophomore Karl Harford, many Ball State students began to view the local residents as the "ones doing the killing." After Harford's death sparked Ball State's "Police Yourself" campaign, the students developed an even more negative view of the Muncie community, he said.
"Students want to blame the Muncie residents," Sweet$ said. "They feel like the 'Police Yourself' campaign is not right and is not doing anything for them. They feel like it's keeping them from a lot of fun."
He said many Muncie residents have sensed such animosity from Ball State students and have had little opportunity to express their own perspectives on the campaign.
"But there is a side that a lot of people don't recognize," Sweet$ said. "I'm from the city of Muncie -- it's decent, and it's not as bad as it is being portrayed. "
Sweet$ said when he attended Ball State from 1996 to 1999, he developed a good relationship with both students and local residents.
He said he hopes his song will help people to realize that the Ball State and Muncie communities are able to get along, despite popular belief.
"It doesn't have to be Muncie versus Ball State," Sweet$ said. "I want people to get a feel for the city and to realize it's not a bad deal here."
Junior Adam Polen said Sweet$' idea to incorporate the "Police Yourself" campaign into his song was commendable.
Combining important news with entertainment is a good way to reach students, he said.
"I'm sure he'll sell quite a few songs," Polen said. "Right now the 'Police Yourself' issue is big, and a lot of college students really like rap. His song is an effective way for getting his point across."
Sweet$ said the "Police Yourself" campaign is only one of several issues he has incorporated into his music throughout his hip-hop career. In his most recent album titled "Indianamosity," for example, his song "Give Us MLK" focused on a debate that arose last year over renaming Muncie's Broadway Avenue to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Sweet$ said he is looking forward to releasing "Police Yourself" into local stores next week and hopes the song, like much of his music, will encourage the Ball State and Muncie communities to respect each other and to remain open-minded about significant issues.
"Anything that can help bridge the gap that's been between the communities for years is good," Sweet$ said. "Every little step helps."
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