Everyone loves road tripping to another area code for a night out on a town a little more exciting than West Lafayette. I did a little research and found some unique venues for next year's away game.Spring time is home to many fraternities' formals, which are held in places like Chicago, Louisville and other big cities within a couple hours' drive of Purdue. Check out these three options and do something out of the ordinary.Asheville, N.C. - What's in Asheville, N.C., you ask? The largest privately owned house in the country. That's what. I'm talking about the Biltmore mansion and estate. This place makes the houses that the Greek community often refers to as "frat castles" look like doll houses.
This mansion of monolithic proportions is 178,926 square feet of polished luxury. That's just over three football fields of space. Plenty of room for a party, if you ask me.
The staff treats you like royalty and they have all kinds of things for large groups to do. The Asheville night life is also pretty top notch should you decide to venture off the 8,000 acre estate.
Gatlinburg, Tenn. - This option might not be the place for a true formal in regard to the dress code, but it could still make for a fun weekend long party. I suppose if you want to dress up no one can stop you, though.
With an economy based on tourism, there are endless options for entertainment in Gatlinburg. There are bars and restaurants all over and the best options for lodging are nothing like your typical hotel room. There are cabins in the mountains, some of which sleep over 50 people that you can rent for cheaper than you think. And by cabins, I mean colossal log castles.
If you decide against going into the city, you can always throw a house party Jay Gatsby would be proud of. It would be like spring break for two days, but in the mountains rather than on a beach.
Boyne Falls, Mich. - Those of you who have been there recognize the name. To those who haven't, there is a ski resort here called Boyne Mountain. It's definitely the nicest ski resort in the Midwest that I've been to, and they have packages for group events like weddings and what not.
You could plan to ski the day before or day of the formal itself and shake up the typical formal scene. Instead of bright city lights and skyscrapers you can go shred the slopes by day, then suit up and get fancy by night.
This option incorporates more active participation in the event instead of just mingling with everyone and taking pictures, which is what normally happens. People stand and make small talk, sip on drinks from the open bar and pose for pictures. If more action is what you want, give the ski trip formal a shot.
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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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?
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