Response to Mr. Griffin
September 12, 2002
To Whom it May Concern;
I am writing this letter to express my thoughts on a matter that appeared in the September 11th edition of The Utah Statesman. One of the letters to the editor gave the suggestion that the director of the Aggie Marching Band resign due to the quality of the band’s appearance at the school football games. The author alluded that the band director may not be spending enough time or effort in the direction of the marching band. Our director of bands here at Utah State University holds himself to many obligations besides the marching band, such as teaching classes and lessons, advising music education majors, and as directing the university’s top band ensemble, the USU Wind Orchestra. I will also mention that he is the one who writes the drills and arranges all the music for each of the five home games in which the Aggie Marching Band is scheduled to perform, a task not easily done. It is not as if he does not have the skill or the enthusiasm to direct the band – he does. In addition, the quality of the band depends in large part on the effort that the students put into the band, and not entirely on the director. If the band’s overall quality suffers it is because there are other things more important than marching band.
There are many factors that go into making a successful program and the university does not have the ideal situation to create such an environment for the band. May I also point out that the band program is not the only one lacking in such support? If there is truly a problem with the director, then the answer, I think, needs to be solved in a congenial manner among those directly involved and not in the eye of the public.
As for myself, I will be supporting my university in all aspects, not just the winning teams or the best programs. I can be seen at the next Aggie home game cheering for the team and supporting the band, the cheerleaders, and the Aggiettes and all the other organizations showing their true blue spirit. Hail the Utah Aggies!
Ruth Ann Young
Third-year marcher and Vice-President of Special Projects, Tau Beta Sigma
(435) 512-2390