Goodbye Shocker Sound?

[Stickboy46]

This is correct. It was around 2010 when it became an enforced requirement that one be an active student. This whole thing is just about one group that doesn't have any money trying to get the other group that obviously has money to cover the cost. That's my guess at least. There will be a band either way depending on who loses the game of chicken.

Agreed. I can't see us starting a season with a coach making 3+ million a year and saying we can't afford a band ... In which case they just start filling breaks with more advertisements.

[Ricardo del Rio]

Inmates running the asylum.

I am old, short of patience, unsympathetic and inflexible to student causes like this one.

The complaining students can go elsewhere.

[Dave Stalwart]

Does anyone know what Grant is up to?

I think he's still spending the cash he was rumored to have pocketed as band director :) many will tell you he didn't actually pay out to the members of the band many moons ago and made a pretty penny as director.

Not sure if that's true or not so dont take my word for it. Rumors are rumors... Also that's why he's not around anymore.... I mean, if it's true... But I really don't know and should not be quoted.

[SHOCKvalue]

SGA must need more money for safe spaces, and for funding to muzzle and silence those with which they disagree.

Back when I was a student at WSU, SGA was filled with future leaders; today it is apparently filled with nincompoops and hoopleheads.

[Dave Stalwart]

Does anyone know what Grant is up to?

Also he was the best darn trumpet player I ever heard.

[ShockerSoundTrumpet]

Current member here, while there are plenty of people that are willing to come and be a part of the band from previous years, the key we are looking for anymore is consistency and professionalism. Part of our yearly budget is our uniforms that you see us wearing everywhere. Those same uniforms that wouldn't be available to a community band unless funded by themselves. Along with the uniforms, we also have a strict code of conduct applied to us because we are a payed part of the University. Breaking the rules is grounds for termination, so it keeps us in check while we are being spirited. These previous players are already welcome to come sit in for a game or two, but that's usually all they can make. A game or two. When we audition, we guarantee that we will be able to make most if not ALL of the games year round. This includes traveling with the team. Traveling, which usually lasts anywhere from 2-4 weeks consecutively is already hard on students, but would be worse for people with jobs. That is part of our consistency, the other is the music itself. We have rehearsals throughout the year to make sure we perform as a unit and not a group of individuals. This entails music memorization. If a community band can scrape all of this together, then I'm all for it since it doesn't limit members, but I feel that is doubtful.

There is hope though. President Bardo can veto this budget IF people write in and show concern over the issue.

[SHOCKvalue]

Great, more empty seats in the student section. Let's just cut that allotment in half (give students the upper half) and sell the lower as season tickets.

Sort of kidding. What's the thought behind this? Seems like retribution for something the AD has done to the SGA. Or has the tea party generation taken over and they feel like funding the band is another example of government overreach?

LOL at thinking the WSU SGA has an ideological connection with tea party types. Try the polar opposite of political inclination.

[BlkSaxShock]

I was part of the pepband during Final Four year. You dont win the Battle of the Band against the likes of Michigan, Syracuse, and Louiville who all have strong traditions with a "community band". The pep band was made up of half music majors and half other disciplines. We have to rehearse as a group outside of gamedays and show up 1.5 hours early to the games to warm-up and practice. The quality of the National Anthem that you heard every game this year doesnt happen if the group doesnt practice even if the talent is there. And the talent is there in great abundance. You might get the talent you want in a community band but the organization and coordination with the media would never be very good. Oh...and no travel. A community band would never be able to send a band to tournaments with little funds to do so. The pep band as it is right now are one of the most enthusiastic cheerleaders at both mens and womens games. But I guess SGA and fans wont know what they had until its gone.

[Stickboy46]

I was part of the pepband during Final Four year. You dont win the Battle of the Band against the likes of Michigan, Syracuse, and Louiville who all have strong traditions with a "community band". The pep band was made up of half music majors and half other disciplines. We have to rehearse as a group outside of gamedays and show up 1.5 hours early to the games to warm-up and practice. The quality of the National Anthem that you heard every game this year doesnt happen if the group doesnt practice even if the talent is there. And the talent is there in great abundance. You might get the talent you want in a community band but the organization and coordination with the media would never be very good. Oh...and no travel. A community band would never be able to send a band to tournaments with little funds to do so. The pep band as it is right now are one of the most enthusiastic cheerleaders at both mens and womens games. But I guess SGA and fans wont know what they had until its gone.

I think the fans know what we have. Its the SGA that apparently doesn't know.

[Dave Stalwart]

Wait a minute. If they cut the band altogether they sell more ad space in the places the band used to play... Uh oh

They probably would cut it back to a smaller group that can hit the high points like the fight song and then go with non stop ads at all the critical moments in the game. Yeah... They already have started down this road haven't they?

[Eric]

Grant, Donnie Duncan, others I forget, there were some amazing trumpeters come thru WSU

[Dave Stalwart]

I was part of the pepband during Final Four year. You dont win the Battle of the Band against the likes of Michigan, Syracuse, and Louiville who all have strong traditions with a "community band". The pep band was made up of half music majors and half other disciplines. We have to rehearse as a group outside of gamedays and show up 1.5 hours early to the games to warm-up and practice. The quality of the National Anthem that you heard every game this year doesnt happen if the group doesnt practice even if the talent is there. And the talent is there in great abundance. You might get the talent you want in a community band but the organization and coordination with the media would never be very good. Oh...and no travel. A community band would never be able to send a band to tournaments with little funds to do so. The pep band as it is right now are one of the most enthusiastic cheerleaders at both mens and womens games. But I guess SGA and fans wont know what they had until its gone.

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 :)

[Singeril]

It's ridiculous to think that this should become a community band....WSU is a UNIVERSITY...it needs to be a UNIVERSITY band---with the students. Indeed, the time commitment is huge for all of the men and women's games. Just because some alums would like to jump back into the band as they remember a good time in their life and want free tickets is no reason to let it be so. The students have the schedules that work out the best and the commitment to be a first class organization. Certainly, there is a push-pull going here--a lot of maneuvering of budgets and people trying to get somebody to pay for something that is a great value to the school. But, this should remain a school organization and should be respected as such. Building a band as a community organization would not fly due to the time commitment and schedule...consistency and quality would take a huge dive. I've seen this kind of thing happen far too many times--the results are not worthy of a first class basketball program.

[SHOCKvalue]

Shocker Sound needs to remain at home games and the postseason, and it needs to remain populated by students. I don't see how either are really that debatable. They are a significant part of our University.

[wsushockerdude]

Fun to watch those of you who start off your post by saying, "Well, back in MY day SGA was a phenomenal organization...".

Forgive me for asking, but why is Shocker Sound not a part of the Athletic budget? The board is so quick to jump on SGA as a scapegoat I don't think anyone's thought of why they're being funded by students in the first place. If anything, let's raise arms about our athletic apartment not funding something that many posters have concluded would be under $100k. I think they can find a way.