evan

EVAN OKUN
HOMETOWN:
 Washington Heights, NY                      
HIGH SCHOOL:

Ethical Culture Fieldston School       
MAJOR:
 Sociology; Psychology; Certificate in Education 
THESIS: 
 My thesis will look at the repercussions of framing University education as “success,”given that higher education’s primary function is to stratify society.
ACTIVITIES:

Music, poetry, and rap are some of my biggest passions. I’m a leader of WeSlam, a spoken word poetry group and Writers’ Bloc, a weekly poetry workshop open to all students. This year I will host a WesU radio show called “Hear ‘n Now” as part of the CFA’s Music and Public Life initiative, a year-long effort to promote music in Middletown. I also am a founding member of The Freestyle Collective, an improvisational rap group accompanied by a six-piece band.
OUTSIDE
WESLEYAN:
 I designed and now teach a class on culturally critical hip-hop to middle school students at Green Street Arts Center in Middletown. I teach a similar class at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School in Middletown through the music therapy department. Last spring/summer, I also designed an orientation program for all residents of the detention center interested in partaking in music therapy. I host a weekly open-mic at Klekolo: World Café in Middletown.
FAVORITE
CLASS:

Paternalism and Social Power, taught by Professor Jonathan Cutler
FAVORITE WESLEYAN EXPERIENCE:
 Jamming with the most talented musicians I’ve ever met—there are lots at Wes!
AFTER
WESLEYAN:

I plan to go to medical school to become a psychiatrist who serves America’s growing prison population.  However, before going back to school, I plan to spend some time at a San Francisco Zen Center. 
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