Anarchy is plagued by misleading stereotypes, but Ron Sakolsky, author, former professor and anarchist explained the basic principles of anarchy along with discussing a variety of anti-authoritarian music in a two-day lecture series at Creighton.

“To understand anarchy you have to think like an anarchist,” Sakolsky said. He invited the audience to put on the anarchist’s glasses and notice that even the way the room was arranged, with rows of chairs facing a podium, implied hierarchy. “The politics, the way the room is arranged implies that you will learn from me,” Sakolsky said.

Sakolsky, with white hair and an impressive beard, explained that individual freedom and cooperation are the two foundations of anarchy. The goal of anarchy is to find a solution to a problem without government or corporate involvement.

“Most people only think of anarchists as violent protestors in the streets. Mainstream media reports only discredit anarchists you might be watching on Fox News or whatever,” Sakolsky said.

While his lecture covered music, Sakolsky didn’t discuss punk rock, a genre that is stereotypically associated with anarchy. The lecture covered multiple genres of music from free jazz to the African-American influence as the basis for rock-n-roll to the surrealist principles behind modern DJs mixing and layering songs on turntables.

Sakolsky also commented on university life. He said he was brought up in a generation where he was supposed to assimilate and go to a university. While at a university in the ’60s he met people with radical ideas which ultimately led him to anarchy. “That was in the air, what you believed in,” Sakolsky said.

The former university professor doesn’t condone dropping out, but said “There is a difference between education and schooling, you can educate yourself in lots of ways because you have the freedom to pursue the things you want.”

Sakolsky said that universities have become largely corporations. “Sometimes you’re made to think something is wrong with you when the problem lies within the structure.” If you’re feeling individually suppressed, Sakolsky suggests getting together with other “likeminded students who can offer mutual aid.”

“A university is a very good place to examine ideas and pursue them seriously,” Sakolsky said.