Maxell
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Post by Maxell on Aug 27, 2022 13:58:27 GMT -5
During the Alumni Town Hall Chancellor bristled at the thought of answering another question about university support for the band. This is the 3rd straight year I've seen that kind of reaction from him. His answers implied "something is better than nothing" so don't talk to me about that anymore. He tried to fix it at the end with the "I want to win at everything" shtick. He's giving the band just enough to keep them quiet. He talks a lot about the front porch, but the band is obviously not on it. When asked about the allocation of scholarship money, he actually said about the band, "All of them have scholarships".
In his quest towards R1 designation, the arts are an afterthought and a nuisance to his declared destiny and is not in line with the land grant mission of the universitywhich is to provide some Black folk that are capable doing mid-level jobs to the state of North Carolina. It's clear to Martin that the band, eventhough probably the largest organization on campus, does not contribute significantly enough to the R! journey.
He explicitly stated that for example that the $45 million gift was used to create scholarship opportunities to ALL students and that was a priority. He implied in the tone that band members weren't worthy. I would suggest that if really understood the importance of the band to the university, he could have very well used a portion of the $180 million Capital Campaign to endow band scholarships, recognizing that band members have STEM and Social Science majors also. He just didn't want to.
This has nothing to do with individual contributions (as he implied two years ago), but everything to do with documenting the value proposition that the band brings to the university. I would ask even has Dr. Ruff done an analysis of the enrollment and economic impact of the band. If 100 students (out of the 3000 freshmen) with an average GPA of 3.7 choose to come to A&T because the influence of the band, that generates over $2.0 million in tuition, room and board revenue the first year for the university. If the class stays in school, that's $2.0 million for each class or $8 million PER YEAR in revenue impact.
Choose to make the band and the kids in it a priority!
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A&T-roy
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Post by A&T-roy on Aug 27, 2022 15:46:29 GMT -5
During the Alumni Town Hall Chancellor bristled at the thought of answering another question about university support for the band. This is the 3rd straight year I've seen that kind of reaction from him. His answers implied "something is better than nothing" so don't talk to me about that anymore. He tried to fix it at the end with the "I want to win at everything" shtick. He's giving the band just enough to keep them quiet. He talks a lot about the front porch, but the band is obviously not on it. When asked about the allocation of scholarship money, he actually said about the band, "All of them have scholarships". In his quest towards R1 designation, the arts are an afterthought and a nuisance to his declared destiny and is not in line with the land grant mission of the universitywhich is to provide some Black folk that are capable doing mid-level jobs to the state of North Carolina. It's clear to Martin that the band, eventhough probably the largest organization on campus, does not contribute significantly enough to the R! journey. He explicitly stated that for example that the $45 million gift was used to create scholarship opportunities to ALL students and that was a priority. He implied in the tone that band members weren't worthy. I would suggest that if really understood the importance of the band to the university, he could have very well used a portion of the $180 million Capital Campaign to endow band scholarships, recognizing that band members have STEM and Social Science majors also. He just didn't want to. This has nothing to do with individual contributions (as he implied two years ago), but everything to do with documenting the value proposition that the band brings to the university. I would ask even has Dr. Ruff done an analysis of the enrollment and economic impact of the band. If 100 students (out of the 3000 freshmen) with an average GPA of 3.7 choose to come to A&T because the influence of the band, that generates over $2.0 million in tuition, room and board revenue the first year for the university. If the class stays in school, that's $2.0 million for each class or $8 million PER YEAR in revenue impact. Choose to make the band and the kids in it a priority! I wonder if Dr. Martin might say the front porch of the university is Athletics and that doesn't include the band. I expect some would say it is on the front porch and some would say it's not. That makes it a "subjective" issue that has good arguments either way. I also wonder if Dr. Martin might question how the revenue is determined, since there are lots of kids that apply to A&T that aren't in the band and don't come, aren't accepted, etc. To a certain degree, those kids are replaceable. I think the band a a bit of a place on the porch, but athletics has the overwhelming portion of it.
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KidHeartless
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Post by KidHeartless on Aug 27, 2022 17:18:07 GMT -5
It did kinda feel like anything thats not directly in line to assist the university getting to R1 status is definitely getting brushed to the side.
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Post by aggie2039 on Aug 27, 2022 17:28:09 GMT -5
The Chancellor as do I feel like those that care so much about the band should donate to the band. People can start endowments just for band students but choose not to. Companies are donating towards academics not the band, alums are donating towards the department’s they graduated from. Plain and simple it’s not a priority to a lot of people.
The band is not the face of A&T, it’s our academic reputation! Hence the reason why Howard has such a large enrollment and a terrible band, they understand what is important.
Why does A&T need a 225+ member band? What bands in the MEAC are larger than that? We are not in the SWAC!
FAMU has a large budget for band scholarships but has 1 compliance director for athletics, that money for band scholarships needs to be redirected to athletics administrators.
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Maxell
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Post by Maxell on Aug 27, 2022 17:42:49 GMT -5
A&T-roy, If you read my post again, you will see that I did say ON the front porch. Athletics is the front porch for sure.
As far as the revenue is concerned I doubt Chancellor has taken the time to even think about it much less put pencil to paper. The revenue conversation is meant to be a thought starter to really assess whether or not the band is just another activity for students, or is it an integral part of our branding and who we are as Aggies. I'm just not sure anymore.
From the university website:
The North Carolina A&T State University band program was started in 1918 with about a 50-piece band. During then, the band was the backbone of the music department. By the 1930s, the band was offered as an extracurricular activity. During this time, A&T was the only black college in North Carolina with a band.
How important is that legacy to the university? It may not be. If not, then just say so and explicitly treat it as just another extra-curricular as it was in the 1930's. I'm OK with that, but don't parade the drumline on Gameday, like Howard this morning, where they looked and sounded dreadful.
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Maxell
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Director of BDF Marketing
Posts: 12,431
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Post by Maxell on Aug 27, 2022 17:56:26 GMT -5
FAMU has a large budget for band scholarships but has 1 compliance director for athletics, that money for band scholarships needs to be redirected to athletics administrators. Now that I agree with! BUT then again band was all Mack Brown wanted to see tonight. The band is what got them the $450,000. LOL
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Post by marchingband1969 on Aug 27, 2022 18:17:56 GMT -5
The Chancellor as do I feel like those that care so much about the band should donate to the band. People can start endowments just for band students but choose not to. Companies are donating towards academics not the band, alums are donating towards the department’s they graduated from. Plain and simple it’s not a priority to a lot of people. The band is not the face of A&T, it’s our academic reputation! Hence the reason why Howard has such a large enrollment and a terrible band, they understand what is important. Why does A&T need a 225+ member band? What bands in the MEAC are larger than that? We are not in the SWAC! FAMU has a large budget for band scholarships but has 1 compliance director for athletics, that money for band scholarships needs to be redirected to athletics administrators. I agree with you about those that care about the band should donate to the band. And I believe there are enough willing donors that want to support the band to create a large endowment. But to raise this level of funds, requires infrastructure. An organization simular to the AAF with the leadership and processes to manage this fundraising project. Currently there are lots of little individual band scholarships that no one knows exists. With no leadership or infrastructure, band scholarships funding is just a dream!
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Post by aggie2039 on Aug 27, 2022 18:24:33 GMT -5
The Chancellor as do I feel like those that care so much about the band should donate to the band. People can start endowments just for band students but choose not to. Companies are donating towards academics not the band, alums are donating towards the department’s they graduated from. Plain and simple it’s not a priority to a lot of people. The band is not the face of A&T, it’s our academic reputation! Hence the reason why Howard has such a large enrollment and a terrible band, they understand what is important. Why does A&T need a 225+ member band? What bands in the MEAC are larger than that? We are not in the SWAC! FAMU has a large budget for band scholarships but has 1 compliance director for athletics, that money for band scholarships needs to be redirected to athletics administrators. I agree with you about those that care about the band should donate to the band. And I believe there are enough willing donors that want to support the band to create a large endowment. But to raise this level of funds, requires infrastructure. An organization simular to the AAF with the leadership and processes to manage this fundraising project. Currently there are lots of little individual band scholarships that no one knows exists. With no leadership or infrastructure, band scholarships funding is just a dream! Why don’t the alums start a non-profit like the AAF just for the band? I’m sure the school would support it.
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Post by aggie2039 on Aug 27, 2022 18:24:47 GMT -5
FAMU has a large budget for band scholarships but has 1 compliance director for athletics, that money for band scholarships needs to be redirected to athletics administrators. Now that I agree with! BUT then again band was all Mack Brown wanted to see tonight. The band is what got them the $450,000. LOL Haha
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Post by marchingband1969 on Aug 27, 2022 18:25:36 GMT -5
The Chancellor as do I feel like those that care so much about the band should donate to the band. People can start endowments just for band students but choose not to. Companies are donating towards academics not the band, alums are donating towards the department’s they graduated from. Plain and simple it’s not a priority to a lot of people. The band is not the face of A&T, it’s our academic reputation! Hence the reason why Howard has such a large enrollment and a terrible band, they understand what is important. Why does A&T need a 225+ member band? What bands in the MEAC are larger than that? We are not in the SWAC! FAMU has a large budget for band scholarships but has 1 compliance director for athletics, that money for band scholarships needs to be redirected to athletics administrators. Oh by the way, the scholarship money isn't to increase the band's size, it's to make it easier to retain quality band students. A lot of the bands turnout is caused because students need to get jobs to stay in school. With a band scholarships they can stay in school and still play in the band.
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Post by bseballaggie on Aug 27, 2022 18:38:20 GMT -5
I agree with you about those that care about the band should donate to the band. And I believe there are enough willing donors that want to support the band to create a large endowment. But to raise this level of funds, requires infrastructure. An organization simular to the AAF with the leadership and processes to manage this fundraising project. Currently there are lots of little individual band scholarships that no one knows exists. With no leadership or infrastructure, band scholarships funding is just a dream! Why don’t the alums start a non-profit like the AAF just for the band? I’m sure the school would support it. I think the school would absorb it into AAF. The Baseball Alum had our own foundation(THE AGGIE BASEBALL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION), we were coerced to focus our efforts on the AAF.
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Post by Aggie One on Aug 27, 2022 19:22:46 GMT -5
Chancellor Martin and the BOT started investing nearly 900K in new top line instruments into the band just three years ago. Guess where most of the money came from. The AAF pays for damn near everything "extra" related to A&T sports. I'm getting tired of all the back and forth and loud talking. Sign up and donate, DESIGNATE, and let's get on with it.
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Post by DOOMS on Aug 28, 2022 8:09:15 GMT -5
I felt like Martin handled some of what I'll call the "repeat" questions very well. He was annoyed by them but he didn't really respond like he was annoyed and stayed above-board imo. As far as the band he kind of let the uninformed know a few things about the support. That being typed, I'm uninformed so I don't know if he was lying or not lol.
Seriously though considering during football season the stadium seats are probably most occupied within 10 minutes of the start of halftime and empty immediately thereafter... You know where I'm going with this. We're still an hbcu and the band is still a bigger draw than most anything. If I'm being honest the band IS the front porch of most every hbcu, at least when it comes to how large swaths of Black folks view the hbcu. What can I say? My people are a musical people. There should be a MAJOR acknowledgement of that simple fact and continual upgrade of the support of the band.
Let's be real, what band in the CAA is going to get with us? What sport in the CAA are we guaranteed to be regular top level finishers? I hate to go back to the days of "at least we know we'll win halftime" but with a projected $25 milly athletic budget that's exactly where we finna be. So hook the band up until we can get that budget to $35 to $40 milly and sustain it long enough to bust a grape.
I currently give to the $18.91 club and I also give $19.96 to the English Department (year I graduated and the department that tolerated me). The band alums might want to get together and start a monthly donation with some number related to the band and indoctrinate current and future members into knowing they will also give that amount upon graduation in order to continue to support the band. Just a suggestion from a cat who never played any instrument in his life beyond beating on the lunchroom table.
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Post by aggie2039 on Aug 28, 2022 10:32:25 GMT -5
Another issue with comparing us to other HBCUs is that they don’t have as much competition for musicians as we do.
NC has the most HBCUs and each school has a football team and marching band. The state of Florida has 4 HBCUs with football and marching band. Louisiana only has two HBCUs period! MS has three HBCUs with football and marching band.
There is more demand and opportunities than the other states we consistently compare A&T to.
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tony
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Post by tony on Aug 28, 2022 15:19:19 GMT -5
The Chancellor as do I feel like those that care so much about the band should donate to the band. People can start endowments just for band students but choose not to. Companies are donating towards academics not the band, alums are donating towards the department’s they graduated from. Plain and simple it’s not a priority to a lot of people. The band is not the face of A&T, it’s our academic reputation! Hence the reason why Howard has such a large enrollment and a terrible band, they understand what is important. Why does A&T need a 225+ member band? What bands in the MEAC are larger than that? We are not in the SWAC! FAMU has a large budget for band scholarships but has 1 compliance director for athletics, that money for band scholarships needs to be redirected to athletics administrators. We have several endowments for the band already. Anybody willing to give can go to www.ncat.edu/give/home.php, click give now: online giving, type band where it says designation, and select any of the band endowments or scholarships that appear. That’s a great long term solution. By the time my grandkids are in college those endowments should be funded enough to support enough scholarships that we don’t need to ask administration or anyone else for money. In the near term, Dr. Ruff and staff are doing an excellent job recruiting. The balance - number of each type of instrument - is great this year, almost perfect. That’s the same way those 96 piece Southern bands were able to overpower bands twice their size. But that’s status quo - what can we do to get better? We can ask alumni to give more. Good answer, but still status quo. That’ll get us where we want to be in 40 years, maybe pull that in to 30 if we get better at training our active students to give after they graduate. Maybe requiring a small band fee to be paid through the giving site (so they know it’s there) and no real enforcement if they don’t. But I keep getting back to acknowledging how bad our recruiting pipeline is, and looking for ways to fix it. If done right that could start paying off in a single year, and show huge benefits after 7 years when all four years of current students would have seen college level assistance since 6th grade.
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