Wednesday, September 2, 2009
For 62 years, thousands of high school musicians have marched up Massachusetts Street for Band Day, drawing a multitude of spectators from across Kansas and the community.
This year, however, the University has chosen to serve corporate interests before the Lawrence community and longstanding traditions.
The KU Band Day Parade was canceled this year because Fox Sports Net is broadcasting the game.
According to a University of Kansas press release, Fox decided the game will start at 11 a.m., meaning there isn’t enough time for bands to parade down Massachusetts Street before kickoff.
“It’s disappointing,” said Amber Coffman, Ottawa sophomore. “The KU Band Day parade was always something I looked forward to in high school.”
Coffman marched in the parade in high school and in the KU Marching Band. She said she always thought the half time show was the bigger part of the experience but she thinks that losing the parade is disappointing.
The University is a victim of its own success it would seem.
With the football team now receiving nationwide recognition, the University’s games are getting wider television broadcasts. Unfortunately, this also means the University has less, if any, control over the time home games will be played.
Losing the parade and its thousands of spectators also means losing a hefty amount of visitors to Lawrence, visitors who might have shopped downtown.
The loss of all these customers is hardly inconsequential to downtown businesses in the current economy.
Bringing hundreds of prospective high school students to the University also served as a great recruiting opportunity for the University, a chance fewer students will get without a parade to march in.
“It’s kind of a bummer,” said Mike Jones, director of bands at Lawrence High School. “Our kids love marching behind the KU Band. We can’t go this year.”
The Lawrence High School band traditionally performed only in the parade and will not be able to attend KU Band Day this year.
“As long as there’s been a Band Day, we’ve marched in it,” Jones said.
The University is trying to spin the national broadcast as a plus for band students, noting in a recent press release that they’ll be exposed to a “nationwide audience.”
This may in fact be a worthwhile trade off for some of the bands, and especially the Athletic department’s wallet, but from here it could only start a slippery slope.
How many more decade-old traditions could go the way of the KU Band Day parade if they aren’t conducive to the whims of corporate partners? Jayhawk tradition and the fans should be remembered as University sports progress forward.
— — Clayton Ashley for The Kansan Editorial Board
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Comments
Editorial: Band Day parade will be a missed tradition this year
You should have stopped with the title of the article. Band Day will be missed, but to claim that the university "chose corporate interests before the Lawrence community" makes you sound like you have a ill-founded vendetta against KUAD and KU administration.
Editorial: Band Day parade will be a missed tradition this year
Maybe my brain not work good, but why can't they just go march EARLIER? Is that not an option here?
Editorial: Band Day parade will be a missed tradition this year
As a member of the Marching Jayhawks for four years, I can tell you first hand that they cannot just "march earlier." Small-town high schools from all over Kansas as well as other states across the Midwest travel for many hours just to be at band day. Even the 1 PM start time for the parade was a stretch for some of these bands. Also, the Marching Jayhawks start the day of an 11:00 AM kickoff at 6 AM for a three hour rehearsal; afterward, there are other obligations to entertain the University's finest with performances at the Alumni center and the Chancellor's private tailgate party until just before the march down the hill at one hour before kickoff. In my opinion, the university already does justice to its pocketbook; cutting out band day is a disappointment to the hundreds of students who look to the college band as a role model for pride and love of music.
Editorial: Band Day parade will be a missed tradition this year
I may only be a Freshman in the Marching Jayhawks, but I still realize that Band Day is a long standing KU tradition. My parents are driving eight hours to see the parade and half time show. Plus, I despise the idea of a 6 AM practice and a very long day after that. And how much say do you think Mr. Clemmer (Director of Athletic Bands) has? Minimal if any at all. What's so important about the KU vs. Southern Miss game that Fox Sports thinks they need to show it?
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