Marching "101" let's Director of Bands GO! "REALLY"

[B&GMM 80]

BREAKING: South Carolina State University (SCSU) has dismssed Director of Bands Eddie Ellis as part of a new financial exigency plan to help save the university money. This allowed the president to terminate programs and staff without following normal procedures. Ellis has been the Director since 2004 and was the director of the African-American college band portrayed in the original movie “Drumline”.

Ellis led the band to the Honda Battle of the Bands 3 times and won the competition in 2011 while finishing 2nd in 2014. He is responsible for massive exposure given to the band over the last 10 years and has won many awards for his work.


It appears that the school let go of Ellis in order to use his salary to help off set the financial hardships on the school. Universities who turn to the band to deal with financial issues and cut their funding or fire their staff should be ashamed. Plain and simple


GET UP TO "DA BULLDOGS"

AGGIE PRIDE!

[aggierattler]

From the Orangeburg Times & Democrat: thetandd.com/news/scsu-band-director-dismissed-hires-lawyers/article_71a4672a-b370-5b72-aeca-77cc96909c81.html

SCSU band director dismissed, hires lawyers

• By DALE LINDER-ALTMAN T&D Staff Writer


Eddie B. Ellis has hired two attorneys to represent him following his dismissal as South Carolina State University band director.

“I’m disagreeing with their decision," said Ellis, who’s hired attorneys Carl Grant and Julius Babb with the J. Lewis Cromer law firm to jointly represent him.

Ellis feels his termination is an injustice, according to Babb. It was a decision that has caused him a lot of grief.

“His focus has been on the school and the students. Coming so sudden like this, it was a huge disappointment,” Babb said. “We’re exploring all legal remedies and assisting him with the grievance process.”

Ellis was hired as director of bands under President Dr. Andrew Hugine in 2004. Under his leadership, the university’s Marching 101 has performed at football games and events throughout the Southeast, including three times in the Honda Battle of the Bands.

“Eddie was one of a number of faculty members released under the new financial exigency declaration,” said Sonja Bennett, SCSU’s vice president for External Affairs and Communications.

The fiscal exigency declaration allows the president to terminate programs and staff without following normal procedures. University trustees made the declaration in the face of mounting debts.

According to Bennett, Ellis is one of about 20 employees let go after the board of trustees approved fiscal exigency on June 16.

Bennett said the decision was left to interim Provost Dr. Learie Luke.

Under Ellis’ leadership, the Marching 101 Band was selected to participate in the Honda Battle of the Bands in 2011, 2012 and 2014. The band won the competition in 2011 and came in second in 2014.

Participation in the competition is by invitation only and the six to eight bands selected are awarded $20,000 each.

The band also participated in the first-ever Historically Black College and Universities Hall of Fame Marching Band Classic in Atlanta in 2008, the inaugural Sprite Queen City Battle of the Bands in Charlotte in 2010 and the inaugural Medal of Honor Bowl in Charleston, also in 2010.

In 2014, some 25 members of the band were selected to take part in “Drumline: A New Beat,” created for cable television.

Ellis was the director of the African-American college band portrayed in the original movie “Drumline.”

In 2010, Ellis received the Dr. G. Johnson Hubert and Cleophus Johnson Award for Distinguished Achievement in Music, which recognizes creativity, artistic excellence in music and inspirational teaching that makes a positive impact on students.

He was also selected to serve as guest conductor for the 54th annual Intercollegiate Music Association’s Conference at Norfolk State University in 2014.

Bennett said that a replacement has not been found for Ellis, but Dr. John Robinson is serving as interim band director.

Ellis was making $94,968 a year when he was dismissed. Robinson’s annual salary is $65,076.


Contact the writer: [e-mail] or 803-533-5529.

[Babynupe]

Jul 23, 2015 16:43:48 GMT -5 aggierattler said:

From the Orangeburg Times & Democrat: thetandd.com/news/scsu-band-director-dismissed-hires-lawyers/article_71a4672a-b370-5b72-aeca-77cc96909c81.html

SCSU band director dismissed, hires lawyers

• By DALE LINDER-ALTMAN T&D Staff Writer


Eddie B. Ellis has hired two attorneys to represent him following his dismissal as South Carolina State University band director.

“I’m disagreeing with their decision," said Ellis, who’s hired attorneys Carl Grant and Julius Babb with the J. Lewis Cromer law firm to jointly represent him.

Ellis feels his termination is an injustice, according to Babb. It was a decision that has caused him a lot of grief.

“His focus has been on the school and the students. Coming so sudden like this, it was a huge disappointment,” Babb said. “We’re exploring all legal remedies and assisting him with the grievance process.”

Ellis was hired as director of bands under President Dr. Andrew Hugine in 2004. Under his leadership, the university’s Marching 101 has performed at football games and events throughout the Southeast, including three times in the Honda Battle of the Bands.

“Eddie was one of a number of faculty members released under the new financial exigency declaration,” said Sonja Bennett, SCSU’s vice president for External Affairs and Communications.

The fiscal exigency declaration allows the president to terminate programs and staff without following normal procedures. University trustees made the declaration in the face of mounting debts.

According to Bennett, Ellis is one of about 20 employees let go after the board of trustees approved fiscal exigency on June 16.

Bennett said the decision was left to interim Provost Dr. Learie Luke.

Under Ellis’ leadership, the Marching 101 Band was selected to participate in the Honda Battle of the Bands in 2011, 2012 and 2014. The band won the competition in 2011 and came in second in 2014.

Is that a true statement? I thought the BGMM was the first and only "announced" winner of the HBOTB (2014).

[Aggie One]

That was my understanding from folks from all over including all the band heads who follow the Fifth Quarter.

[ohsixrain]

To my knowledge the only judged Honda was 2014 in which the B&GMM took first place. But no need to pee on them because they are already in a storm. Unfortunate for SCSU.

[marchingband1969]

Just to set the record straight...The Honda Battle of the Bands was founded in 2003 and has only selected a "winner" once. In 2014 they allowed the fans in the stand to vote via twitter and A&T's Blue and Gold Marching Band was selected by the fans as the winner! Don't know where this guy got his bogus information.

As for SC State firing their current band director, I'm not sure what that's about. The 101 has been rather "average" the past two or three years but that's not a reason to fire him. Something tells me there's more to this story. Maybe this is an attempt to send a message to the SC legislature and alumni that under this new board, nothing is sacred. Regardless, it's going to hurt their band this year

[aggierattler]

Jul 28, 2015 13:59:22 GMT -5 marchingband1969 said:

...As for SC State firing their current band director, I'm not sure what that's about. The 101 has been rather "average" the past two or three years but that's not a reason to fire him. Something tells me there's more to this story. Maybe this is an attempt to send a message to the SC legislature and alumni that under this new board, nothing is sacred. Regardless, it's going to hurt their band this year

Their band director has been in a year-long battle with their Provost. That battle has ended.