Goodbye Shocker Sound?

[ShockdaWorld]

I like Shocker Sound. I've never been a part of it. Haven't picked up a sax since I graduated from high school, so I may be way off base here, but whenever we had "honor band" and things of that sort that were supposed to bring together the best of the best musicians, the results were never as good as even one of the mediocre high school bands in the region. IMO, bands MUST practice together to perform well together just like any other team. For example, if the Shockers were to play a game against a team comprised of all the other All Conference players in the MVC, I'd pick the Shockers to win every time. Because of that, I do think it should stay a student band, but I'm not familiar with what/where they play outside the basketball games. If the basketball games are the majority, then the AD should foot most of the bill.

[_kai_]

I voiced my opinion to Dr. Bardo on twitter. He reads his twitter and responds frequently. It is a direct line to THE decision maker at WSU. If you disagree with SGA's decision and/or would just like to voice that Shocker Sound is important to you and needs funding from some source for the future, I suggest doing the same and tweet at him and let him know. He also reads his emails if you don't Twitter.

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

I agree with SHOCKvalue. I can almost guarantee that the SGA is a nest of liberals.

Its all part of the muslim terrorist indoctrinization of higher education. You guys better hurry and do something about it.

[BlkSaxShock]

You are definitely right but I think you and I both know we could sight read that book in our sleep and still play at a high level :)

Well sure the talent would show up in droves. But the media department sitting sideline running the show already does us no favors for us. The only reason we get any say in what we play and when we play is because we are funded and SGA had mandated that we attend the meetings with the media group to make sure we are in the script. Once the band loses that small bit of power, the media has free reign and will have no problem filling every deadball during the game with advertisements. They could honestly care less if we played Low Brass Cheer during the game, much less any other song. A community band wouldn't have a clue how to negotiate with the media especially if the "director" couldn't be there on the headset every game.

[kcshocker11]

I must admit its nice that the only thing we are worried about in the offseason is sound and putting weight on players. Stress free!

[RoyalShock]

I'm surprised to hear any funding for the pep band comes from SGA. I always assumed that was an athletic department expenditure. And it probably should be, just so the SGA doesn't have any influence on a group that only exists to support athletics.

If Bardo wants to continue to transform WSU into a more traditional campus experience, he better make sure the money comes from somewhere. Losing a student pep band would be a step backward.

Who here thinks SGA will support any effort to raise student fees to subsidize a football program?

[DUShock]

My only fear of Athletic Dept support would mean that they could/would silence the band to peddle crap during timeouts.

[Singeril]

Because it is a student activity, not an athletic activity?

Of course it is a student activity...that's not the point. The point is that the College of Fine Arts is helping to foot the bill for the Athletic Department. Shouldn't the Athletic Department be helping to pay the bill....as well as the SGA which helps fund student activities? Why should the athletic department, which is DIRECTLY benefiting from Shocker Sound's participation NOT help out with the expenses?

[ShockerSoundTrumpet]

My only fear of Athletic Dept support would mean that they could/would silence the band to peddle crap during timeouts.

They already do this. This year we had to fight them for the ability to play the team onto the court during pre-game if there was an ad rolling. For the record, this has NEVER been an issue in prior years.

[SHOCKvalue]

Are the cheerleaders (the competition crew or the more traditional crew) funded by the AD, or by SGA? The answer there is a useful analog.

Regardless, short of lower revenue projections for next year, or some other significant change in the scope of SGA responsibilities, cutting Shocker Sound is nothing short of another attention whore move by this current crop of needy activists.

[Singeril]

Glad to see the Athletic Department and the SGA being called out on this. Certainly, none of this is any fault of the young men and women who make up Shocker Sound.

[ShoxRoxMySox]

Step 1: athletic department agrees to pay half the bill.
Step 2: put effort towards more pressing issues, such as fixing baseball.

[ShockBand]

Sounds like the game management staff in the athletic department just don't see the value of the traditional pep band in the college basketball atmosphere. Which kind of baffles me with all the recent experiences the Shocker Sound have provided at NCAA tournament games. Is the Spirit Squad next on getting the ax?

[ShockerSoundTrumpet]

Are the cheerleaders (the competition crew or the more traditional crew) funded by the AD, or by SGA? The answer there is a useful analog.

Regardless, short of lower revenue projections for next year, or some other significant change in the scope of SGA responsibilities, cutting Shocker Sound is nothing short of another attention whore move by this current crop of needy activists.

The cheerleaders and dance team are both under the AD. There was talk earlier this season that the AD might pick up the original deficit that SGA was talking about giving us ( I believe 25%?), but they changed their tune when we were cut all together.

[Cdizzle]

SGA contemplates cutting budget.

Everyone blames Athletic Department.

Solid logic going around today.