What happened to the Pep Band? Will it ever be back? Many students and fans have been asking this question at the University's home football games this season. Now Student Council members are working to find out.
The athletics department decided last spring to change the traditional halftime entertainment and replace the Virginia Pep Band with high school marching bands from across the state. According to athletics department officials, it made the change in order to attempt to decrease the number of fans who leave the stadium after the first half.
Since Sept. 11, new security measures have been put in place to not allow fans to leave the stadium during half time. Athletics department officials said these new security measures will not affect performances this year as agreements are already in place for the rest of this year with other performance groups.
Many Pep Band members, however, have been opposed to the decision to keep them from playing.
One of the Pep Band's major concerns is that student input was not sought in the selection of halftime entertainment, said Virginia Pep Band Director Heather Pozun.
However, now Pozun is working with Andrew Rader, associate athletics director for marketing, promotions, and licensing, to remedy this situation.
Rader serves as the athletics department's liaison to the Pep Band and plans to develop a committee that will meet this spring to decide on halftime entertainment for next season. The group will consist of representatives from the student body, the Alumni Association, the athletics department, and the Virginia Student Aid Foundation. VSAF provides scholarships for student athletes.
"We will take a close look at what is best for the University of Virginia and the fans that attend our games," Rader said.
The Pep Band's primary goal at this point is to return to a full schedule of halftime performances for next season. Members hope Student Council will be able to help them on this issue.
Council representatives initially approached the Pep Band to gain a better understanding of its concerns. "We realized that there was very little we could do this year," Student Council Executive Vice President Adam Swann said.
Council now is working with Rader on behalf of the Pep Band through two Council liaisons, Ed Hallen and Meg Ridley. Swann said their primary concern is making sure the student body will be represented in the spring when the committee decides on next year's halftime entertainment.
"There is a good chance that a resolution supporting the Pep Band will be brought before the Student Council representative body in the spring," Swann said.
The Pep Band is scheduled to perform at halftime during the University's home game against Virginia Tech on Nov. 17. Members believe they were afforded this opportunity because no high school band could be found for the date, although athletic department officials say that the choice was made in an effort to preserve tradition.
This was intended to be the final home game of the season, but now the Penn State game, rescheduled for Dec. 1, will be the Cavaliers' final appearance in Charlottesville this year.
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