Following the lead of prominent print publications, we reproduce below the most important document in the history of the United States of America: The Declaration of Independence. The Groove invites all our readers from the US or otherwise to celebrate this country’s separation from the British Empire back when declaring independence from Britain was still cool.

This text is available at http://archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html

“IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

Photo : http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/charters_downloads.html

by Naomi Gingold and Andrew Slotnick
Groove Staff

It’s that time of the semester, when you feel like everything is coming at you at once, and everything you were supposed to be learning hits you like a brick wall. That’s right, midterms are upon us.

With four fewer weeks in the summer semester, midterms tend to creep up on students without warning. But don’t despair! Berklee has many resources available to help students in their time of need. Are you taking full advantage of them? Here’s a list we at The Groove compiled to help you out. Do you have any better suggestions? Feel free to leave them in the comments section below for your fellow students.

Berklee Writing Center

Need help writing those pesky essays for class? Look no further than the Berklee Writing Center, where trained staff are there Monday through Thursday from 4–7 p.m. to help students with any type of English writing for class. Appointments are recommended, so schedule a session at the Writing Center’s website: http://www.berklee.net/wc/. There you will also find an excellent set of links to help improve your writing.

Project Bands

Do you want to hear your latest composition brought to life and have it recorded for class? The Professional Writing division provides all students with “project bands” in which scholarship recipients are drafted to play your arrangements. Several configurations are available: one to five horns with rhythm section, big band, or chamber quartet. The process is very strict so be sure to follow the instructions carefully. Remember, the students will be sight reading and you may only get one or two runs-through of your piece, so spend some extra time to make sure your parts are perfect. Conducting your piece in front of a project band can be a scary experience and the recordings aren’t always exact, but this is a great way to see how well your writing stands up in front of a real live group of musicians without the hassle of booking practice space and getting everyone to show up. Details and sign-up sheets are located at the Professional Writing Center in the 150 Building, and the bands begin meeting Monday June 29.

Learning Center

This is Berklee’s big one. If you haven’t been here, you’re missing out on a lot. Want to learn about Garageband, Logic, Reason rewired with DP? Just check out and sign up for the Learning Center’s myriad classes offered each week. Feel like you need a little more individual attention?  No worries, tutors are available for every kind of software in a slew of languages. Just have a look at the Learning Center’s webpage, http://learningcenter.berklee.edu/

Counseling and Advising

Is the stress of balancing so many commitments getting to you? Don’t keep it to yourself, schedule a free visit with a Berklee counselor to get advice on how to cope with work, relationships, and school issues. Berklee also has a counselor on call everyday from 9-5 if you need to talk to someone right away.

The counseling and advising office also offers academic advising, First Year Advising, and International Student Advising.  Check out the details at http://www.berklee.edu/counseling/.

Student Activities Center

Midterm exams and projects can be taxing. The Student Activities Center, located in The Loft above 939, provides fun and interesting opportunities throughout the semester. One part of the activities center is Livewell, your one-stop shop guaranteed to make you feel better. From jewelery-making to dance classes and free massages, Berklee’s Livewell  is there to help and make you feel better. Check out Campus Cruiser for announcements about what’s going on at Livewell or stop by the office in  to speak with their friendly staff. The SAC also has board games, the latest video game systems, and a huge projection television, making it the perfect place to relax. And what better way to unwind from all those assignments than to write about something you actually like? (Warning: shameless self-promotion) Yes that’s right, The Groove—also part of the Student Activities Center—is always accepting student submissions.

Professors

Berklee professors are always available to help their students. OK, maybe it’s only sometimes, but the key is getting in touch with them as soon as possible. Be sure to address any questions you may have while there is still time. Five minutes before the test starts is not a good time to ask whether you were supposed to have learned about contiguous dominants. Professors’ email addresses may be found on your class’ “CourseCompanion” site, at the faculty directory at Berklee.net, or by visiting your professor’s department office.

Fellow Students

The greatest resource we have at Berklee is the community of musicians who make up this school. Make sure to ask for help from your friends, you may find you can help each other.

Good luck cramming for exams and finishing those endless assignments!

by Christine Occhino
Groove Staff – Promotional Director

It was only a matter of time until the “Jersey Shore” craze made its way up to New England. An upcoming reality show is currently casting online under the name “Wicked Summah”. From Executive Producer and Casting Agent Doron Ofir, the casting website says they are looking for “blue collar, hard working, harder partying, tough talking, damn good looking Mass natives”(sic) to represent the state on TV and show off Massachusetts’ “hottest girls and proudly buff guys who believe in God, family, politics, sports, beer and partying!” Sounds like an original concept…

Doron Ofir Casting brought us the famous “Jersey Shore” television program as well as variety of other unscripted shows on networks like MTV, VH1, E, Bravo, NBC, ABC, Style and more. They have obviously found a winning formula; their website is loaded with over twenty different casting calls and show applications focused on regions all over the country, most of which are oozing with the popular theme of “how hard can you party?” The next big casting search is for “Party Down South”, which will consist of twelve guys and girls living it up during an all-American summer and boasts the comical catch phrase, “Holler if You’re Blue Collar!” The casting company is also planning another reality show about a particular subculture of Persian descent in Beverly Hills focused on expensive living and of course, the L.A. nightlife.

Aside from Ofir, the “Wicked Summah” team consists of producers from “The Office” and “The Buried Life” as well as the creator of “Pop-Up Video”. The official casting website explains their search for “quintessential and iconic Massachusetts types” including dock workers, chowder lovers, Red Sox fans, cab drivers, and Brookline babes. A lengthy casting application asks all types of personal questions about relationship status, upbringing, family life, political views, economic status, and of course what pisses applicants off the most. Candidates must provide an elaborate description of their dating and sex lives in addition to a list of favorite nightlife spots and several of sentences describing a “typical wicked night out with your closest friends.” And don’t forget the disclaimer in which all applicants must give up any rights to all casting materials submitted.

Yes, it seems the another reality television success—or guilty-pleasure trash—is in the brewing stages. But how will a cast of “Massholes” compare to the “guido-obsessed” Jersey cast? And given that the Italian-Americans group UNICO has protested the character depictions and racial language used in the New Jersey–based show, who will step up to defend the worst that Massachusetts has to offer? Only time will tell.

If you think you’re ready to share your summer life on camera and “wish you remembered where you pahked your frickin cah” as Doron Ofir Casting affectionately states, then check out the official casting website at wickedsummahcasting.com. Until more information is released and the show’s airing has been confirmed, we can only hope this show gets off the ground for our collective amusement.

Maya Chosé, Esq.

You may have reached it, without even realizing. Your hard work and accomplishments may not be harnessed to their full potential if you fail to consider the sometimes elusive O-1 visa. Although at first the standard seems unattainable, a closer look reveals flexibility that rightfully allows highly accomplished individuals who may not boast a Grammy or Nobel Prize (yet) to attain O-1 status.

The O-1 visa is a non-immigrant employment based visa that is often overlooked by attorneys in favor of, for example, the H-1B category, which is less prestigious and much more restrictive. Without going into detail about the H-1B visa, some of the main  differences are that the H-1B is, in most instances, limited to six years, while the O-1 may be extended indefinitely (in one year increments), and there is no yearly quota on how many O-1 visas may be granted, as there is for most categories of H-1B.

You have worked hard, invested much and started to influence and inspire your contemporaries. Now you need more time in the United States, a breeding ground for innovation and opportunity. Prove yourself, and upgrade your status to the O-1.

 According to 8 CFR Sec. 214.2(o)(1)(i), the O-1 category is reserved for aliens who have “…extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who have a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry.”  In reality, the range of occupations covered by this statement is virtually limitless. In the sciences, typical candidates are doctors and researchers; in business, qualified individuals may be entrepreneurs, fundraisers, or restaurateurs; the arts designation covers the entire creative continuum, from musicians, to dancers, fashion designers, painters, photographers, sculptors, and the list goes on.

 Although the umbrella term ‘extraordinary ability / achievement’ is used to set the standard with reference to all potential O-1 categories, this term has specially defined, nuanced meaning in the law, depending on the specific field in question. Broadly, this results in three distinct standards of varying rigor.  

 The highest standard applies to those in the fields of science, education, business, or athletics, requiring that “the person is one of the small percentage who have arisen to the very top of the field of endeavor.”[1] Acceptable evidence for successful candidacy, in lieu of an internationally recognized award such as the Nobel Prize, includes, but is not limited to, publications in reputable journals, other nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards, membership in highly esteemed associations, participation on a judging panel, recommendations from field forerunners, and other significant original contributions to the field.  

Extraordinary achievement in the motion picture and television production industry holds the middle standard, requiring “a very high level of accomplishment …evidenced by a degree of skill and recognition significantly above that ordinarily encountered to the extent that the person is recognized as outstanding, notable, or leading in the motion picture or television field.”[2] This standard allows O-1 candidacy for many performers and crew of nationally viewed television programs. In other words, one need not be the leading performer in a major motion picture to qualify for O-1 status, as performers and crew of smaller or independent productions could just as well qualify.

The least stringent standard is reserved for the arts category, which covers a broad spectrum of creative disciplines. Extraordinary ability in the arts is defined as having reached distinction in the field, “evidenced by a degree of skill and recognition substantially above that ordinarily encountered to the extent that a person described as prominent is renowned, leading, or well-known in the field of arts.”[3] Simply put, this means a person needs only to persuade the examiner that she is above par in her particular field. Although this is the easiest of the three standards to meet, the qualifying evidence is comparable to that described in the science section above. Namely, the applicant must either boast an internationally recognized accolade such as a Grammy, or must gather a compilation of evidence including, but not limited to, high caliber recommendations, press, exhibitions / performances, proof of participation on a judging panel in a particular field, and internationally or nationally recognized prizes and awards.

Overall, a carefully crafted, convincing portfolio will build your case by highlighting your most impressive achievements through strong, well written testimonials and carefully selected documentary evidence in the context of a narrowly defined occupational specialization (e.g. music producer) within your field of expertise (e.g. music).

In addition to meeting the relevant standard described above, an additional requirement for attaining an O-1 visa is the peer consultation. This will typically come from a guild or association in the candidate’s field of expertise, after review of the candidate’s portfolio. It is important to determine the appropriate organization to reach out to early on, since each organization may have different procedures and varying processing times. 

In closing, choosing an experienced attorney who keenly understands the standards and carefully assesses the strength of each piece of evidence is paramount. Our firm works very closely with clients to ensure proper evidentiary and organizational benchmarks are satisfied so that you may be confident that your case is presented as persuasively and coherently as possible.

[2] 8 CFR Sec. 214.2(o)(3)(ii)

[3] 8 CFR Sec. 214.2(o)(3)(ii)

The Law Office of Maya Chosé
315 Bleecker Street, Suite 382
New York, New York 10014
Telephone: (917) 374-0057
Facsimile: (212) 675-6330 
Office Hours by appointment only

By Zac Taylor
Editor-in-Chief

There’s a pesky epidemic sweeping the mobile community. It’s called mass-texting. Musicians and other shameless self-promoters will often drop the mass-text the day before, of, or after a show in an effort to “get people out.” Sometimes it’s your friend. Maybe it’s the girl from Harmony class. Often, it will be a random number and you have to ask someone, ‘What the heck is the area code 513?’ After years of being a notorious mass-texter myself, I have realized certain rules—nay—guidelines, that validate a sense of courtesy, and in a sense, strategy, in the implementation of the mass-text:

1. You’re allowed (1) mass text message for a gig.
   Forget about the two days before, one day before, morning of, or the classic “Hey! We’re starting in a bit! Head on over.” People know the game, and are short on patience as it is. Send the solitary mass-text on the day of the show as a reminder, and end the madness.
2. Be Succinct.
   In the past semester, I got a handful of mass-texts that were three messages in length. My cell phone went nuts—ding, ding, ding— and I made the mistake of thinking I was popular and/or loved by three separate friends. Nope. I was not only being invited to Poetry Slam, but also given specific details, and an elaborate emotional reflection of how much it would mean to the texting party if I showed up, and of course, the “C U there” tagline. OMG, texters. Here’s the format: Event/venue/time/sign off. Keep it to one message’s length, or even one screen’s length if applicable.
3. No ‘Thanks for Coming!’ mass-texts.
   Under no circumstance should you ever send the “Hey everyone. Thanks for coming out. It was a blast.” There are ways to disguise it (e.g. using ‘man’ or ‘dude’ instead of ‘everyone’) that will fool a handful of naïve Nokia users, but it’s still not recommended (It’s also a notorious Facebook inbox clogger. Put it as your status, and move on with your life).
4. Erase the ‘FWD:’ prefix.
   The one that is automatically added to most mobile devices upon forwarding a mass-text after you’ve reached your 10-contact quota. It doesn’t take long, and seasoned mass-texters appreciate the courtesy.
5. Lose the emoticons.
   If your LCD reads “Come see my band at TT’s tonight. We’re on at 10 =P,” does the little tonguey smiley guy make you want to come show your support that much more? No sir. It’s irksome even without the emoticon, and has the potential to lose friends if superfluously implemented.

Most of these guidelines are applicable for Facebook messages, MySpace invites, and other ways we like to “keep in touch.” You want people to come see your band. Most of them won’t, but you simply can’t afford to alienate the few that might actually come.

Got some more guidelines? Let us know at thegroove@berklee.edu, or leave a comment below.