Throughout many schools, there is a growing concern about the lack of attention to the arts. Music especially is struggling to survive as fewer and fewer individuals see the value that art holds.
Unfortunately, this instance seems to be occurring here at John Carroll. JCU’s Pep Band was recently informed that they would no longer be able to perform at any of the school’s basketball games.
The reason for the cut is not very clear on either side. Whatever the reason, the absence of the Pep Band is beginning to be felt by students and other clubs that perform at games. For instance, the dance and cheer team revolve their routines around the songs that the band performs, which means the performers are now having to adapt to new methods.
With this new development, members of Student Government decided to introduce a bill that illustrated the organization’s support for the band. The legislation was passed on Tues., Feb. 6, the same day that it was introduced.
The resolution was authored by President Morgan Anderson ‘25 and sponsored by Vice President Michael White ‘25, Senator Riley Voelker ‘25 and Senator Ryan Moore ‘26. The stated purpose of Resolution 01-S24 is: “to stand in solidarity with the Pep Band…noting the Pep Band’s long standing tradition of enhancing the atmosphere at athletic events with spirited musical performances, contributing significantly to the game-day experience for students, athletes and fans…”
With the passing of this bill, the senators in support vowed to provide extra support to the Pep Band. The representatives plan to engage in active, constructive dialogue with the Athletic Department and any other organizations involved. The hope is that these organizations will once again show appreciation for the work and dedication that these musicians put into their performances and that their hard work will not go to waste.
Additional news from this meeting that you might have missed:
- Senators Lauren Hoffman ‘25 and Abigail Walker ‘27 of the Academic Affairs committee met with Assistant Provost Laura Atkins to discuss the professor retention rate and what the JCU hiring process looks like.
- The Student Organization Budget Board (SOBB) met to approve three new organizations, as well as funding two events and one travel request.
- President Anderson ‘25 and Advisor Katie Jansen extended their gratitude to Senator Logan Sindone ‘24 for bringing up students’ concerns surrounding enrollment and funding after noticing declining enrollment from schools of similar size such as Baldwin Wallace and Notre Dame.
With any questions, concerns or comments, contact Student Government at [email protected].
