Search

ARCHIVES
CONTACT US
WORLD NEWS

Pride of Arizona?

To the editor,

While attending Saturday's UA football game against MTSU, I made it a point to partake in the UA's "Pride of Arizona" Marching Band half time show. As the show began, the announcer read a statement prepared by the band apologizing for the "mismatched" uniforms. It seems that there were not enough funds to purchase uniforms for the band and some had to be borrowed from Tucson High School.

It should be the University of Arizona apologizing to the fans and ultimately the band, for this fiasco. As an undergraduate alumni, former "pride" member, current graduate student and an employee of the University, I find this situation disheartening, sickening and downright embarrassing. We were visiting with friends from MTSU during half time, and I overheard the MTSU coach's wife ask someone "they don't have money in their school budget to buy uniforms?"

Given the fact that the University has currently underway in excess of $100 million in building projects underway (Student Union, ILC, UAPD station, etc.) how are we going to justify there is no money for band uniforms? Let's also take into account the recent success of our sports teams including bowl games, final fours, increased revenue-producing television appearances, multi-million dollar contracts with international firms, etc. Can these funds not be made available from these revenue producing ventures to supply the band which supports these said teams emotionally and physically to outfit them accordingly?

Let's really support the "Pride of Arizona" as they deserve and treat them as we have so named them!

Tonya Haymore

Information Resources and Library Sciences