As a junior in college stuck in a lower division biology course, I’ve realized the mistake that I made by not taking my gen-eds at the beginning of my collegiate career. I’m sure that there are others, like me, who took major specific classes before knocking out the gen-eds.
I’ve come up with a list of five reasons that hopefully the freshman readers can apply to their schedules. Unfortunately, this isn’t much help for us juniors because we’re old already, and seniors are graduating, so hopefully you’ve completed all your coursework by now--unless you’ve been stuck with reason 4.
1. Gen-eds cover a variety of topics.
If you’re
anything like me, you came into college with a mapped out plan of what you
wanted to do with your life, then took one difficult class and realized that
you don’t want to be an astrophysicist. Then you jumped around between five
different majors, wasting brainpower and dollars by taking classes you didn’t
need for the liberal arts degree that you finally settled on at the end of your
sophomore or beginning of your junior year. Gen-eds may have helped solve some
of your problems because they cover a vast array of topics from sciences to
religious studies to social sciences to art to whatever class fits the bill. If
I had taken my economics class as a freshman instead of a sophomore, maybe I
would have settled on my economics major way earlier.
2. Most gen-eds are blow-off classes.*
As a freshman
and sophomore, you’re still trying to balance the three S’s: sleep, school, and
social life. With a lighter course load, by taking gen-eds, you are able to
party hard on the weekends (and during the week) while still getting more sleep
than your friends and maybe doing a bit of homework every now and again. If
you’re like me, you probably have no idea what college is like your first
semester, so you need cushion classes for your GPA because Netflix is a distraction
and there’s no better time to rewatch the OC than the present. Gen-eds are a
nice way to do this. *I say most
because some gen-eds (especially upper division) are extremely difficult. Stay
away from these.
3. No one wants to be the oldest student
in a class full of freshmen.
If you’re a
junior or senior taking gen-eds, you’ve experienced the moment when the
professor surveys the age range of the class where fifty students are freshmen,
thirty are sophomores, five are juniors, and the one lone senior. I often find
it easier to lie about my age on the first day so that no one will send
judgmental glares to me, the old fart. If you take gen-eds as a freshman or
sophomore, you fit in with everyone else who takes these classes at the
beginning. Also, no junior wants to be invited to a frat party by a freshman
pledge. It’s too weird.
4. You can graduate early or on-time.
When attending
graduation check, no one wants to hear that you didn’t get two of the gen-eds
you were supposed to have and now you have to stay an extra semester. If you
knock those gen-eds out at the beginning, you have more room in your schedule
in case you do make this dreaded mistake or you can graduate early because
you’re finished with those random classes that have nothing to do with your
major.
5. Other young students take gen-eds.
This is similar
to reason three, but also not. You can make friends with other freshmen or
sophomores. You get invited to freshmen and sophomore things (like date parties
and frat parties) by other people your age. Maybe someone on your hall or one
of the girls in your sorority is taking the same gen-ed, and now you get to
become the best of friends because you have to suffer through African Dance at
10:30am every other day. Not that you can’t be friends with people that are
older or younger than you, but it’s always convenient if you’re on the same
track where you turn 21 in the same school year and graduate in the same
semester. Being so young means the world is your oyster, so take some gen-eds
and meet other people your age.
If this isn’t
enough to convince you to get gen-eds out of the way, talk to your big or any
upperclassman, and I know they’ll agree with me. Not to mention that most gen-eds
have test files, and who doesn’t love those?
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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
StableDiffusion
The Illusion of Creativity
AI-generated music is often marketed as “artistic” or “educational.” But what does it really teach?
- That style can be replicated without understanding.
- That emotion can be simulated without feeling.
- That effort can be bypassed with a prompt.
For young creators, this sets a dangerous precedent. Why learn to play guitar when an algorithm can do it faster? Why study harmony when AI can generate chord progressions in seconds? The risk isn’t just laziness — it’s the loss of depth, discipline, and the tactile joy of creation.
I have listened to several AI-generated music covers. My initial reaction was one of considerable impressiveness, particularly regarding the reimagining of classic pop hits in diverse genres with novel arrangements. Here is one good example a-ha — Take On Me
However, after engaging with several such Ai generated song covers, a sense of emotional detachment emerged, attributable to the perceived absence of human artistry and genuine sentiment, resulting in a technically flawless yet ultimately soulless auditory experience.
Copyright in Crisis
What does the copyright law say about AI generated music, especially in field of music covers. Who is liable for copyright in this case, AI developers, people who used AI to generate music or people who published it on music platforms?
Recent lawsuits show that the music industry is pushing back hard:
- Universal, Sony, and Warner sued AI music platforms Suno and Udio in 2024 for allegedly training their models on copyrighted songs without permission Ars Technica The Lyon Firm.
- They’re seeking up to $150,000 per infringed song, arguing that the AI outputs resemble famous tracks and voices (e.g., Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson).
- These lawsuits target the developers of the AI tools — but they raise broader questions:The legal gray area is training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use Sites at USC.
But who’s liable?
Role | Legal Risk | Why |
AI Developers | ✅ High | For training on copyrighted material without licenses. |
Users | ⚠️ Moderate | If they intentionally recreate protected works. |
Publishers/Platforms | ✅ High | For distributing infringing content. |
The grey area lies in training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use. Meanwhile, AI-generated works themselves aren’t eligible for copyright unless a human provides substantial creative input — leaving them in legal limbo.
The Educational Mirage
Some argue that AI music helps people learn genres, production styles, or vocal techniques. But this “education” often lacks context. It’s like learning to paint by watching a printer — technically impressive, but creatively hollow.
True musical education involves:
- Struggle and iteration: Learning through mistakes.
- Emotional connection: Expressing what words can’t.
- Cultural lineage: Understanding the roots of sound.
AI shortcuts bypass all of this. And in doing so, they risk flattening the rich terrain of human creativity into a sterile landscape of algorithmic mimicry.
Why This Fight Matters
This isn’t just about music. It’s about the future of art, storytelling, and human expression. If we allow machines to dominate creative spaces, we risk turning culture into content — optimized, monetized, and devoid of soul.
We must ask: Do we want a world where art is made by machines, or one where machines help humans make better art?
5 Key Takeaways
- AI-generated music blurs the line between innovation and erosion in the creative arts
- AI-generated music raises questions about copyright, culture, education, and artistic expression
- AI-generated music can replicate style without understanding, simulate emotion without feeling, and bypass effort with a prompt
- AI-generated music sets a dangerous precedent for young creators by potentially leading to a loss of depth, discipline, and joy of creation
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