https://www.independentcollegian.com/sin...=hootsuite

That is a disappointment. I think the marching band had become much better than it was even just 5 years ago. How many other programs at UT can say that?

This is a chance for MOB and the Athletic folks to be a part of the solution. Just dollars but leadership to find a way. The band is an important part of the GB experience.

(11-12-2017 09:14 AM)rocket 51 Wrote:  This is a chance for MOB and the Athletic folks to be a part of the solution. Just dollars but leadership to find a way. The band is an important part of the GB experience.

+1!

Not sure where the zero sum is on this. 250 members, a grand each. That's significant. But so is, if they still do it, cost for faculty member children. I'd like to know how much that accounts for in the overall budget. These tend to be high performing students I imagine, so many will have other sources of money.

I think I'd be more pizzed with the one credit hour. It's easily as valuable as an elective, no?

- Grandfathering to even a token degree is a good idea.
- Extra effort assisting these students to apply for replacement scholarships.
- Work the Adams Street area on a booze night, performing with band cases out. Would it be offensive to put on dark glasses and wave their heads like Stevie Wonder? Yeah, leave that one off.

The $1000 was a nice way to comp band members who could have been working during band camp, Saturdays (including Homecoming at 5:30am), and evenings. They also have to give up Thanksgiving break for the WMU game and likely a portion of their Christmas break for a bowl game. I think $1000 is not that much for the time they have given and the improvement they have shown.

(11-12-2017 09:02 AM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  That is a disappointment. I think the marching band had become much better than it was even just 5 years ago. How many other programs at UT can say that?

Agree---the band was beginning to have an aura of a "big time program" about it, to the point that it evidently got the unwelcome attention of some sharp penciled administrator looking to save money that will probably be squandered elsewhere.

There is a band scholarship fund managed by the UT Foundation. Don't think it is very big (UT stopped publishing the size of the individual endowment accounts several years ago, but from when they did, it was only big enough to support a couple thousand dollars of scholarship money per year. But, that's one way to try to keep at least some money flowing. Do band alums know about that scholarship fund?

If just 25% of the band members attend UT only because of band, wouldn't their fees for tuition and housing more than pay for the scholarship money? Many DIII schools have as many sports as possible because they want to attract athletes (and their tuition money) who may only have an opportunity at that level. Seems shortsighted.

Back in college, I was in the Rocket Marching Band and we had 160+ members. I did it because I wanted to and enjoyed it, not because of the $500 stipend at the time (which I believe was close to the cost of the 1 credit hour class). Frankly the memories were well worth it. With that, those students put in a ton of time and I'm ok with them being compensated in some form. That stipend or scholarship may have to come from the contributions to the band's fund at the UT Foundation going forward if they decide to keep one. Either way band was worth it, but I understand how some money can attract students who would otherwise go to other schools to UT.

Corporate sponsorship?

How about we just cut our baseball program that hasn't won a lick of anything in its entire existence and put those funds towards the marching band? I've really enjoyed the growth/development of our marching band over the years. A big band is a great thing for a Division I program to have (pep band has also grown). Bad decision, numbers will certainly decrease, just hopefully not the quality...

How about we just cut our baseball program that hasn't won a lick of anything in its entire existence and put those funds towards the marching band? I've really enjoyed the growth/development of our marching band over the years. A big band is a great thing for a Division I program to have (pep band has also grown). Bad decision, numbers will certainly decrease, just hopefully not the quality.

1++

They are definitely adding to the atmosphere and tradition. Let's hope Dr. G will lead us through this challenge and get something permanently set to keep this group going.

Band probably good at running the bases but I doubt they can hit a curve.

I won't get down on any sports team in this way, or any student organization as long as it's run HONESTLY, represents the university well home and away.

This scholarship is hardly tradition. I might wonder why the previous Pres implemented it before condeming the current for ending it. Sometimes things are not what they seem. I'm trying to imagine the process that arrived at this scholarship in the first place. You have to know there was some smoogging going on.

Shouldn't all that ESPN money we get from midweek football pay for this?

(11-12-2017 05:06 PM)pono Wrote:  Shouldn't all that ESPN money we get from midweek football pay for this?

Nope, it went to the "cost of living stipends"

The larger number of members has made a noticeable difference on the field and their sound. I do like the band and the game day atmosphere they provide. The band has been around for a bunch of years, you'd think they'd have their fundraising ramped up to where their members can help out? Sort of surprised the UT foundation band fund only has minimal dollars.

Time for band alumni to step up and make something happen.

The band is ALOT better than it was. While the notion of instrument cases on Adams street is a little extreme, events should be created that generate funds for the band.