An Update on the Marching Band
The Football Season
First, a huge thank you to everyone who has expressed support for the Marching Band in its continuing conflict with Columbia, which started with significant changes to the traditional Orgo Night performance and now has led to the Band being locked out the football season.
We hope you’ll continue to express your support, in a calm and courteous way. For the moment, there’s nothing new to report, but we’re inching forward. And when there’s news, we’ll let you know promptly.
Meantime, the Marching Band began the season last Saturday by doing its halftime show a few hours early and half a dozen miles to the south: They performed on Low Plaza in the morning, then went to Baker Field to sit in the stands, in uniform but without instruments. The Staten Island Technical High School Band took on the Band’s musical role.
Giving Day
As you may know, Columbia Giving Day is coming up later in October. As we continue our work to support the Band, we hope you’ll consider directing your contributions our way, particularly because about 85% of the Band’s yearly operating budget has been cut.
The Columbia University Band Alumni Association is a 501(c)(3). We currently have a $5,000 matching challenge from a Band alum, which means your gift (up to that limit) will be worth double. If you work for a company that matches donations, that’s another opportunity. If you choose to contribute to CUBAA, please let Columbia know why.
Homecoming
We promised Band alumni free seats to the Homecoming game on October 19; more than 100 of you signed up. We and the Band will be at the stadium as usual, but at this point it looks as though we won’t be able to come through with those comps. More to come on our plans for the day.
Facebook
Facebookers who want to be a part of the conversation on Band-related topics, can join our private Facebook group here.
We are doing what we can. We hope you’ll do the same. Stay tuned.
