Post by DOOMS on Sept 20, 2007 15:27:57 GMT -5
Financial battle of the bands
Money for the Blue & Gold Marching Machine out of step
Michael Jones
Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: Campus News
In the blazing summer heat, Lee "B.J." Hargrove, captain of the Blue and Gold Marching Machine's drum line, known as "Cold Steel," is in full uniform.
With his drum strapped on and sticks to his side, sweat pours off of Hargrove's forehead as he prepares to signal off the next cadence and the drummers start down "the tunnel" to march the band into Bowman Gray stadium in Winston Salem.
This is Hargrove's third year marching in the band. While he enjoys it, Hargrove and other members are unhappy because the majority of them don't get any financial aid for their hard work.
"I don't think it's fair," said Hargrove. "We have heart in what we do here; we should be just as well off as any of the other athletes."
The band serves as an ambassador for A&T. The band practices five days a week, four to five hours a day, and sometimes more.
But even after their hard work, they watch as money and publicity they helped generate wind up in the athletics department. We contribute so much but we don't get much in return," said Hargrove. "I'd like to see the band program get recognized just as much as the other athletic departments."
Freshman trumpet player, Buck Wright, echoed those sentiments. "With me being a music major, I feel that they could definitely contribute a lot more to the band as well as the music program," said Wright.
"I don't get any type of financial aid period. I love music and I love doing what I do, but some money could definitely be of help."
When asked if he feels that the band is overlooked by the football team and others, he replied, "Of course!" "I definitely feel we are overlooked because we're the band. The football team hasn't been doing all that well but still receives all the financial rewards. You say you're in the band and it's just like 'Oh, okay.''
The Marching Machine has roughly 150 members. The band would be a lot bigger and its sound larger if the band program had more money, says band students, but due to the lack of scholarships, students who would've marched for and attended A&T are attending other schools.
The Marching Machine's dedication has not gone unnoticed, however. "These students are terrific," says Dina Eagle, associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
She is working alongside Dr. Kenneth Ruff, director of bands, and Dr. Michael Plater, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, to come up with ways to provide more financial aid for band students.
"Last spring we were able to give out 25 book scholarships amounting to $240 for students who had a 2.8 or better," said Eagle.
"We were able to repeat it again this fall, giving out 21 for those with a 3.0 or better. We want adequate scholarships for students who excel musically as well as academically, we're also trying to have them self sufficient."
The band is also trying to raise funds on it own. It's looking to raise $16,500 in scholarships. In addition, an endowment has been set up that is strictly for band students, said Eagle.
"Once there are enough donations, we can start dispersing the money. We have initial targets for better opportunity. There is a strategic plan."
For Hargrove and the rest of the band members who get no financial assistance, it's all about the music and the performance.
"We love what we do," says Hargrove.
"That's what keeps us going."
