By Catherine Laroche
With the month of November coming to an end, University of Louisville students have had the opportunity to check out the new and improved men’s basketball team. However, the men’s basketball team isn’t the only hot topic lately. U of L students have mixed feelings about the new pep band.
On Jan. 31, the U of L athletic department announced their new plan of organizing the pep band. The new plan included an audition process and a new pep band director.
In September, pep band director Al Greener told The Cardinal that there hasn’t been much change to the pep band. However, students have pointed out many differences of the current pep band from the previous pep band.
One of the major changes that students have noticed is the actual people in the band. The current pep band is a mix of students and alumni.
“When I think of a pep band, I think of college students who enjoy playing music and big time sporting events,” senior industrial engineering Nathan Vaughn said. “So, I think the pep band should be for the college students.”
Most of the U of L students that are in the pep band joined because they love music or played in pep band elsewhere.
“I was protesting the new pep band along with most of the marching band but I had always played in pep band in high school,” freshman pep band member Brittany Denton said. “It was weird not being in it and missing out on games and opportunities for me to play. I just really wanted to play and that’s why I joined.”
Another change that students have noticed is the music being played during time outs, half-time breaks and before the game.
“I find it odd that they play a lot of non-traditional sports songs like ‘Sweet Carolina’,” sophomore economics major David Henry said.
“There’s nothing really wrong with that, I just think it’s weird they don’t play more traditional pep band songs. I guess that it’s going to take time to get used to.”
Although students may need time to get used to the pep band changes, pep band members have already adjusted to the changes.
“I like how it’s working out so far,” alumni Bryan Newsome said. “We’ve got a lot more new music and there are a lot more popular tunes that people will know. If we get more people, it’ll work out a lot smoother.”
Denton and Newsome said their least favorite change is the band is not as professional.
“It’s more laid back,” Newsome said. “Which is fun, but it doesn’t look quite as good sometimes.”
Although U of L students that are in the pep band have adjusted to the changes, many former pep band members are still not happy with the adjustments.
“I’m disappointed that pep band is not being run by the School of Music since I came to U of L to study music from music professors and Spanish from Spanish professors,” sophomore marching band member Patrick Hughes said.
“Does U of L allow engineering classes to be run by Athletics instead of Speed School professors? I’m also disappointed that Athletic rules prevent me from joining in even if I wanted to participate under someone who lacks the credentials to teach for college credit. Associate Athletic Marketing Director Kyle Moats made that very clear.”
