Wayne Marshall. The man is a legend.
He taught at Brandeis for two years (2007-2008, 2008-2009), doing courses like “Digital Pop from Hip-Hop to Mashup,” “Reggae Representation, Race and Nation,” or “Global Hip-Hop.”
Then, with the hiring freeze, the University refused to rehire him. (He was on a 2-year contract) This was a big deal.
Several students and alumni instantly created the “Save Wayne Campaign,” led by Innermost Parts alum Nathan Robinson.
Take this look at what we were saying at the time:
On Innermost Parts:
So one of Brandeis’s coolest professors is about to become an early victim of the budget cuts.
I took a class with Professor Wayne Marshall last semester (Race, Representation, Reggae and Nation), and loved every minute of it. Professor Marshall is one of the absolute best instructors I’ve had, and it sadly looks like he’s going to get the axe.
I know that if I were still a student at Brandeis and he were not to return simply because something had to be cut from the budget, I would be confused as to why I was still at the school.
Professor Marshall’s contributions to the music faculty are important, to the students and to the faculty. His critical analysis on such subjects as globalization, his probing in topics such as ‘world’ music, his savvy in the most cutting edge music technologies and conversations – are all much needed as we connect temporally, spatially, politically, socially, culturally, to all of contemporary life. As his colleague in the music dept., I can say he has opened up necessary paths to my own thinking, and demonstrates just how essential music is to society, for better or for worse! He is the kind of educator that brings Brandeis into the 21t century at a gallop.
Judith Eissenberg, Prof of the Practice, Music
But that’s not all.
Prof. Wayne Marshall (AAAS and MUS) is a man of seemingly infinite identities: blogger, DJ, rapper, professor, author, researcher, and musician. Every Monday night, you can catch him spinning tunes at the Enormous Room club in Central Square, and every Tuesday afternoon he’ll be teaching about Music and Globalization.
Marshall seems to be consistently defying the image of the professor as a fusty academic. He is as plugged-in to the digital culture as any web-savvy teen. On his blog, he often speaks in slang culled from the streets of Kingston or the latest hip-hop anthem, mixing scholarly discourse with samples and snippets from the cultures he studies.
…
No matter where Wayne Marshall teaches, his students can expect an unforgettable academic experience. A Marshall class may not be typical, but as his Brandeis students (myself included) can attest, it’s absolutely worth the time.
Wayne went on to get a prestigious fellowship at the MIT media lab. For two years we privately mocked the incompetence at Brandeis that let him slip away. (Sorry Jehuda, but it’s true!)
Now, two years later, I’m pleased to report that motherfucking wayne is coming back to motherfucking Brandeis. He’ll be teaching a course called “Reggae, Race and Nation” on Tuesday evenings. It’s up on the registrar’s site and everything.
Sign up! Sign up now!
Oh I am so excited.