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Techno Guy settles with SUB over music dispute

“Techno Guy” gets volume limit in response to complaint

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By Kallie Red-Horse | Daily Lobo
Last updated: 11/18/09 1:45am

Techno Guy and the SUB have worked out a deal, but it won’t necessarily bring peace and quiet to campus.

English Professor James Burbank led a complaint against the loud music played by Josh “Techno Guy” Arellano outside the north end of the SUB last month.

Since then, Arellano met with Ryan Lindquist, associate director of the Student Activities Center, to determine an appropriate volume level to play his boom box.

“We had three meetings with Josh to work on his volume out there,” Lindquist said. “We wanted to make sure that it was at a level that was more in accordance with what other people do on campus.” Per the meetings, Lindquist and
Arellano agreed upon a maximum volume level for the music, which Arellano said is signi cantly lower than past levels.

“I’m trying to stay optimistic because I can still bring my boom box here, but the volume level has been pushed down 60 percent, and I feel like it’s a slap in the face,” he said. “Honestly, my laptop is louder than what the boom box is allowed to be at. It’s kind of a joke. It’s not even worth my time or e ort at this level.”

Burbank, who led the complaint to the Dean of Students about Arellano’s music being disruptive, said he was satis ed with the new restrictions.

“I feel like Joshua is trying to work with the Student Activities Center,” Burbank said. “I was up there today and it seems like his music is at a reasonable volume, so he is complying with the restrictions.”

Burbank said he received threats and other fallout after ling the complaint.“People want to silence me. They have threatened me personally and I nd that despicable, frankly,” Burbank said. “Everybody has a right to free speech,
and you can’t suppress other people just because you don’t like what they are saying anymore than I would want to suppress Joshua.” e purpose of playing the music outside the SUB is to expose students to a different type of music,
Arellano said, and the new volume level makes that di cult. “If I wanted to be listening to my music by myself in my own surroundings, then I would have just brought head phones and there would be no reason to bring a boom box,” he said.

“If I wasn’t trying to a ect other people’s realities then I wouldn’t have brought a boom box in the first place.”

The volume control policy should make other music makers and music players wary, Arellano said. “The boom box represents something political,” he said. “It represents something that is antiestablishment.

What happens now that they have pushed me down, if something else comes up I might be used as a precedent as to how to act when someone wants to express themselves.”

Should Arellano turn up the volume again, Burbank said he won’t hesitate to le another complaint. “the more people say I should shut up, the more I feel I should speak out. I guess that’s just how we are as human beings,” he said. “People can say what they want, but free speech is free speech and that’s what I advocate for.”

Published November 18, 2009 in News

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40 comments

Joshua Arellano

November 18, 2009 at 2:21 AM
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“People can say what they want, but free speech is free speech and that’s what I advocate for.” The Music is my free speech, and Mr. Burbank you are preventing this. Who placed Mr. Burbank as the speaker of the school? As much as people believe that I am egotistical, I believe Mr. Burbank is just as much if not more egotistical then me. I am a student I pay to be here us as the student body pay for the teachers to be here. How can one person in a career here at UNM that is being paid have more “power” then the student body that pays for this Professor’s salary? Moving to the City News may be the next step to push Mr. Burbank off his “Save the university!” soap box. Bottom line 1st amendment rights are in jeopardy. Not only for me, but this is a loss for students in general.

KatieCat

November 18, 2009 at 4:10 AM
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When will the people at UNM start caring about something that actually matters instead of just power tripping when ever they can?
Burbank – you’re not advocating for anything. You are complaining. that’s why it’s called filing a complaint. It’s what power trippers do. If the music annoys you, close your door, put on head phones, or just be aware that it might be playing around the SUB. I hate the sound of screaming children, but I don’t file a complaint every time I hear one.
Arellano – I’ve heard your music and I’ve spoken with you on many occasions. You are a nice guy, but what you are doing isn’t exactly fist amendment. You didn’t write the music nor do you have a message to give. You are just sharing music. Please understand, you are at a school. It would just be nice if you made sure not to play the music loud outside of class rooms. If you aren’t sure if you are disturbing a class, turn it off for a moment. There are plenty of places on campus and around ABQ where you can play your music, inspire others to listen, and not disturb anybody.
Now, can everybody please get over themselves?

Hoity Toity

November 18, 2009 at 6:26 AM
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You can always tell when the issue at hand lacks substance: Everyone gets very very huffy about their ‘rights’.

Ho Hum.

Read more …

Back to the next episode of Lucha Libre: the Musical

smiley

November 18, 2009 at 7:44 AM
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Burbank is not a Professor, he is a lecturer in the English dept. Maybe that’s why he is on such a power trip, trying to have some authority or sway, since he really doesn’t have much in his job. Please stop calling him a “Professor” it is not fair to the real ones, most of whom enjoy the music.

Alumna & Staff member

November 18, 2009 at 8:09 AM
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As both a recent alumnus and UNM staff member, I have always enjoyed techno guy. His music never bothered me as a student; I always viewed it as part of the eclectic atmosphere of the university. I have always viewed the SUB as a social outlet, not a study hall. His music never interferred with my classes, learning, or studying. I don’t understand what Burbank’s problem is…

AJR

November 18, 2009 at 8:28 AM
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Some people don’t like the music and not everyone wants to be subjected to it at high volume. The imbeciles that drive around causing noise pollution by powering their array of 15” woofers with 1000 watts come to mind. What if everyone wanted to play their personal favorite music publicly? No one is that special.

Summerspeaker

November 18, 2009 at 8:33 AM
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Burbank, you’re not simply exercising free speech. You took steps to silence Joshua through the UNM power structures, which is ultimately backed up by armed thugs. That’s where the problem lies.

Keith

November 18, 2009 at 12:16 PM
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I, too, am a graduate of UNM, and spent many days walking past this musical exposition, and because of the extreme levels, I would keep walking. While I respect the desire to share different types of music, there is no need to have the music at such high levels.
Arellano’s freedom of speech only goes so far not to be disruptive. Because the music can still be played, there have not been any rights violations.

Lawrence

November 18, 2009 at 2:55 PM
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Summerspeaker,

How has Arellano been “silenced” by the UNM “power structures” when he has been allowed back, albeit at a lower volume? (Just how low I will find out for myself tomorrow, as have an appointment at the SUB during the lunch hour).

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In other threads you have advocated for negotiation, and for people to simply ask him to turn it down. Well, he was asked – repeatedly. The SUB management is asking him to turn it down (but not off) permanently.

Read his post above; he still feels his “rights” are being violated. So, apparently he – and you – don’t believe in compromise. Does the philosophy of Anarchism not allow compromise?

As AJR stated, what if everyone showed up with their own blasting boom boxes? Arellano does not “own” the SUB space. He is just one of thousands of students.

I love music too (most kinds anyway). I was joking about bagpipes last week, but apparently a piper did show up on campus. Do you like Scottish aires on the Highland Pipes? No? Well I do, would you mind hearing it full blast, shoved down your eardrums? No? Too bad; it’s my “right” to blast my music where ever I want.

Summerspeaker, you are hopelessly idealistic. In a society with armed policeman, I guess you could say that “power structures … ultimately backed up by armed thugs” enforce all laws. I wish we could all negotiate nonviolently and just sing Kumbaya, but the real world is just not that simple.

I was pretty idealistic when I was a young student (I don’t want to assume that you are either young or a student) but now, at the age of 50, I can tell you that in my experience there are just too many mean, selfish people in this world.

In my bourgeois suburb I had a next-door neighbor who would let his dog bark loudly all night. My wife and I work for a living and have to get up early to go to work everyday. I asked him nicely. It kept happening. They became increasingly nasty when I asked again, saying that I had the problem. It is a character flaw of mine that I like to sleep at night, I admit it. The last time I went over to complain he threatened me with physical violence.

The moral is, you just can’t reason with some people. That is why we have to have laws and police. I wish it weren’t so, but too many people are selfish, inconsiderate, amoral and even sociopathic (btw, my neighbor was a ‘good Christian’ family man).

I favor freedom of speech too. But the Founders were talking about the rights of citizens to expres political views; I think it’s a real stretch to say the 1st Amendment extends to blasting (someone else’s) music full blast.

There are plenty of serious social issues where you could release your spirit and energy. How about volunteering at a homeless shelter, or some other social agency? They always need volunteers. I hope I don;t sound patronizing, but saying a student is asked to turn down a boom box is an injustics or oppression is just ridiculous – to me it sounds more like a “controversy” at a high school campus, not a university.

Lawrence

November 18, 2009 at 3:06 PM
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Summer, Smiley, and Alumna:

Prof. Burbank does not stand alone. I, for one, was sick of this noise and am glad that it has been turned down.

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Intresting that Smiley and so many other students have made it personal about James Burbank, with the name-calling and “he’s just an instructor.” Note that Arellano’s critics did not stoop that low. For example, I could call him a “spoiled child” but I didn’t :).

Lawrence

November 18, 2009 at 3:20 PM
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Mr. Arellano:

“As much as people believe that I am egotistical…”

Read more …

Well, we do, based on your own statements and actions. In another thread you said “I don’t care what people think of me.” Indeed – and you don’t care about others, except for those that agree with you.

“Who placed Mr. Burbank as the speaker of the school?” Who hired you as entertainment director of the SUB north patio?

“I am a student I pay to be here us as the student body pay for the teachers to be here.” First of all, as high as tuition is – and I personally think it is too high – your tuition just covers a fraction of the cost to educate you, that is a fact.

Arellano, I am a taxpayer and we pay most of the costs for you.

“How can one person in a career here at UNM…” He is not the only one. You can’t seriosly think that the other 29,999 students, staff and faculty enjouyed your so-called music?

I see from the UNM Directory that you are enrolled in the Anderson School, good for you. I admire you for working your way through school; I worked my way through as well – working 2 jobs sometimes.

But someday you will graduate, and unless you are independently wealthy – or want to adopt the Don Schrader lifestyle – you will have to get a full-time, real job. And unless it’s in a nightclub, you will not get to play your music full blast. You will have to put up with rules and get along with others.

Unless you plan on moving back in with your parents, or buying a cabin way out in the woods, you are going to have neighbors. They might want to sleep. You will have to be considerate of others. You will learn the hard way that others have as much right to live in peace and quiet as you have to do whatever you want.

Sorry for the lecture, but it sounded like you need one. Apparently you did not learn these things growing up; I fear you will be learning things the hard way.

Wisdom at its finest

November 18, 2009 at 4:33 PM
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Well said Mr. Lawrence, however, there is one small discrepancy you should have accounted for. True, not all 29,999 students and faculty enjoy his music, however, music is an art that has changed significantly over the years and what you find appealing is likely not appealing to us younger people and what we listen to is likely going to annoy you, as your taste in music likely annoyed your parents and their parents before them. Your words still brim with the wisdom of experience, I just wanted to correct you on that one point.

Regular Student

November 18, 2009 at 4:35 PM
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If this was any other type of music, would there still be a complaint? I think not.

Jack the Pumpkin King

November 18, 2009 at 4:36 PM
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lawrence being that you are one of many UNM students what gives you the right over the other thousands of UNM students to turn the guy’s volume down ? you are no one just another face in the crowd.

Chadwick Johnstone

November 18, 2009 at 4:49 PM
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Lawrence eh? Lawrence what, of Arabia? That name sounds like royalty, are you royalty?

Get Real

November 18, 2009 at 4:56 PM
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Lawrence, when you say …“If I wasn’t trying to a direct other people’s realities then I wouldn’t have brought a boom box in the first place.”

Please know, I want to be able to choose the direction of my reality. That may and indeed does include times of silence.

James

November 18, 2009 at 5:12 PM
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The squeaky wheel gets the oil. I have never understood this. If everyone were to complain about one little thing that annoyed them on campus then a university could not exist. A university is a ‘melting pot’ of people and everyone holds different ideals close to them. If everyone complains about others ideals then eventually someone will complain about you. An old saying goes, “one mans toilet is another mans throne.” but what will happen when we are all out of thrones, and only have toilets. Will ay of us really be happy?

Li Po

November 18, 2009 at 5:35 PM
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I wanted to follow up on something that Mr. Arellano mentioned in his post yesterday. Apparently the extremely loud Techno has another purpose besides love. Mr. Arellano is a music promoter and he was or perhaps is using the campus and his loud music to sell CDs and promo the parties, raves, and other gigs he produces or has an interest in through his production company. So presumably, Mr. Arellano’s speech is commercial speech.

I must commend Mr. Arellano on his dancing. I believe he said in the first article that he could understand if people were upset if he did his act in front of the library. If any of you visit the UNM Techno Guy You Tube, you can see him there with his patented boom box doing just that, dancing in front of Zimmerman.

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It’s too bad someone with such talent and ambition feels he doesn’t have the freedom to start a student Techno group or present his act during the outdoor events. He could be as loud as the rock groups then, but he couldn’t sell his CDs and promote his events, so maybe that doesn’t interest him.

Joshua Arellano

November 18, 2009 at 7:30 PM
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Not selling CD’s, its an idea & vibe “not everyone understands house music. Work one day? 10 years @ Walgreens & a Manager. Life is too short to worry about what people think. “You can make people happy sometime but you cant make all the people happy all the time”

Summerspeaker

November 18, 2009 at 7:58 PM
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Lawrence, by supporting Bobby’s expulsion from campus, you yourself form a connection between undeniable oppression and this case. It’s part of the continuum of bourgeois violence. While your story about the barking dog is lamentable, I’d rather live with such inconveniences than invoke the aid of armed thugs. In an atmosphere of community support and connection, you wouldn’t have faced the problem alone. Comrades can perform certain police functions on an ad hoc basis; you could have brought a few friends along as protection against violence from your neighbor. Many of us navigate the world in this fashion already.

Chris

November 18, 2009 at 8:41 PM
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Anyone who has taken a class with Burbank can tell you that he loves to push his opinions on others. His comment that “People can say what they want, but free speech is free speech and that’s what I advocate for,” is laughable in these contexts; Music is a form of expression and his very act of filing a complaint negates any integrity of these claims. As many of you may know, Burbank has written articles in the past about how disrespectful UNM students are (referencing an article written about himself falling off a bicycle) but I digress, the point is that “Techno Guy” has been a part of the campus for some time, as has “the naked guy”, and “lobo louie”, and the crazies who come to preach on campus. Don’t take away our culture, and don’t try and speak on behalf of the rest of the campus.

James Burbank

November 18, 2009 at 10:17 PM
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Chris, you will be happy to know that I received a call from “the naked guy” this morning. He said how great it was the music volume was turned down, and that he likes his peace and quiet. You forgot the one-man band, the cellist, occasional flute players, the jugglers etc. They share one thing in common— they don’t make excessive noise, they’re not blaring at you. How does filing a complaint negate advocacy for free speech?

Disturbingly loud music does not argue for anything. It’s a nuisance and intrusion on campus life and not some form of speech.

Read more …

During my tenure as campus gadfly, I have written that there is no constitutional right to breathe, that Locksley be president of UNM, that male professors should be run through sheep dip and shot, etc. Did you think these were my opinions, Chris?

Gail

November 18, 2009 at 10:41 PM
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It’s been nice without his noise. . Maybe he should get a job then he won’t be hanging out on the SUB corner at UNM disturbing the peace every Tues & Thurs. Does this guy get to hang out at UNM for rest of his life? Isn’t five years enough. He should go make noise in front of the Round House in Santa Fe. It’s a public place too. Thanks to the faculty member who spoke up.

fiore

November 18, 2009 at 10:44 PM
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Thousands of workers needed in medical transcription so find your local school to get a degree at http://bit.ly/5V4v8

Joshua Arellano

November 19, 2009 at 12:20 AM
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“It’s been nice without his noise. . Maybe he should get a job then he won’t be hanging out on the SUB corner at UNM disturbing the peace every Tues & Thurs. Does this guy get to hang out at UNM for rest of his life? Isn’t five years enough. He should go make noise in front of the Round House in Santa Fe. It’s a public place too. Thanks to the faculty member who spoke up.” Gail listen, think stop for a moment…I work for Walgreens as a Manager, I have worked for Walgreens for 10 years, while also being the UNM Techno guy. Gail I know its hard to believe, I know, but lady its true…I have been chipping away at a degree 2 classes a semester. Gail please listen…..I work for Walgreens, again I work 40 hours a week for Walgreens, Tuesdays and Thursdays are the days of the, two days a week, just two the I am off, Gail….are you still with me? Seven days a week minus two days means five days im not on campus, Five whole days, that I work, as a Manager…are we clear? Did I go to fast for you lady? really, its true, 10 years at Walgreens!

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