The recent letter concerning one undergraduate's claim that the Athletic Department "wastes" seats on the pep band certainly struck a nerve with many of us. I did not read the letter until several students in the pep band brought it to my attention. As pep band director, I can understand the lack of understanding many undergraduate students have waiting in line for hours, days or weeks, only to find the band walk in several hours before the game. Perhaps shedding a little light on the situation may help.

The pep band performs a service for the team as well as the crowd; this is true at almost every NCAA school. In order to serve this purpose, we must be able to get our equipment, warm up and be ready to play as soon as the doors open. Whether or not one likes the band selections is not of importance to this argument; the pep band not only adds to the general atmosphere of the game, but it has earned those seats. Please allow me to explain.

No student may be part of the pep band unless he or she has served in the marching band. Not one person in our band receives any scholarship money for being in the band and many do not even receive credit.

In the fall, when football season arrives, bi-weekly band rehearsals are followed by Saturday morning rehearsals several hours before pregame begins. The band then performs a pregame show that probably few undergraduate students have even seen. This is mainly because many undergraduates do not come to the football games; however, those who do usually do not come until after kickoff. If the football team is losing, many of these same students leave early. The band, however, is there until the final seconds tick away, then remain to play "Dear Old Duke" for the valiant efforts our team has made on the field, regardless of outcome. There have been many, many games where the band has finished the alma mater only to turn around and see the stands totally deserted.

When basketball season comes, the band not only shows up two and a half hours prior to game time, but it plays for the majority of that time, as well as during time-outs, some of half time and even after the game. If the team wins a big game and the fans storm the court, the band is not allowed to join the celebration. This is not to mention the fact that the band is at every game, even those games that many undergraduates avoid. As with marching band, pep band members do not receive any money for their participation nor do they receive credit for participation in the pep band; many schools pay their pep band members and/or give them credit. This is not a complaint, simply another fact to shed light on the dedication of our membership.

Finally, and probably the most overlooked point of the argument, pep band members are undergraduate students, too.

Neil M. Boumpani

Director, Duke University Marching and Pep Bands