Don't mess with the IU band

Picture it: Game day at IU. You've decided to make the trip out to Memorial Stadium even though the Hoosiers' record over the past few weeks has been less than stellar. You're looking forward to a day of tailgating, drinking beer, talking about tonight's big party and just taking in that unmistakable game-day atmosphere.\nAfter you've caught up with your friends and downed a few cold ones, you file into your seats to join the other 500 or 600 fans.\nAs you sit in the crisp September air, you hear a faint cry turn into a roar as the famed Marching Hundred takes the field. Then, even for the most jaded Hoosier fan, you feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up as the band hits the first notes of the IU Fanfare. It's during this moment, if the only one, that you're proud to be a Hoosier.\nAs a member of the Marching Hundred, I can say from experience that there's nothing quite like running onto the field before kick-off and seeing the fans on their feet clapping and singing along with "Indiana, Our Indiana" (even if there are only a few hundred of them.) \nSo what would game day be like without the Marching Hundred? Well, judging by the recent "performances" of our football team, my guess would be pretty dull. \nFor years the band has been there, rain or shine, giving their unconditional support to the team. We put in hours of daily rehearsal to make sure we provide the best entertainment for the fans. Whether you've thought about it or not, marching bands are a huge part of what makes college football so special. Unfortunately, our athletic department seems to be overlooking the importance of these traditions.\nOver the past few weeks, Athletic Director Michael McNeely has made changes to our traditions that have made it clear that he no longer cares about what the band does.\nThe first change was moving the band and student section to the end zone. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't consider these the cream-of-the-crop seats, not to mention that our lack of field goal nets has us in the kicker's direct line of fire. One would think the endless support the band and students have given this team would warrant the best seats in the house, but in McNeely's mind, we're not quite worth it. He'd rather take the seats formerly held by students and give them to indifferent fans who merely want points toward basketball tickets. Give students the respect we deserve. It's not like space is tight in Memorial Stadium. \nAlso, the band will no longer be able to run onto the field from the tunnels as we have done previously. The "run-on," as we fondly refer to it, is a tradition that dates back almost 20 years. \n Unfortunately, this year we'll see its demise due to "security concerns." Some must think if the band goes down into the tunnels beneath Memorial Stadium, other people will follow. This concern leads me to believe we hire colorblind security guards, because I don't think it's difficult to differentiate between someone in a crimson-wool band uniform and an overzealous fan. \nI know this year's one of change for athletics. I'm a big fan of the new cream and crimson uniforms and I'm glad we did away with the other logo. I just don't think certain things should be tampered with, especially if there's no logical reasoning behind it. \nIn the Marching Hundred, we are proud to carry the title, "A Tradition of Excellence," and will stop at nothing to preserve it. The athletic department can make any changes it wants and we're still going to put our all into our performance. That's just the way we work. McNeely can take our traditions, but he'll never touch our excellence.