Mariah Joyce
Contributing Writer
In the days before Family Weekend, David Jackson ’14 resigned and then was re-instated as Scot Band’s primary drum major in a move that seems to promise changes to the Music Department’s current policies regarding students enrolled in the band.
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, Jackson was marching in his position as drum major, which he has held since his sophomore year. On Thursday, Oct. 24, he was still marching in the band, but no longer as drum major. One band member explained that Jackson was asked to step down because he chose not to audition for Symphonic Band. Later that evening, Jackson announced via Facebook that he was resigning from the band altogether.
His fellow band members sprang into action. A mass email was sent out on Friday with the subject “Please forward to Grant Cornwell if you support!!” detailing Jackson’s predicament. Concerned band members explained that Jackson had “been forced to step down due to his choice to not participate in Symphonic Band.”
The email went on to state that this was his “personal choice … and he should not be forced to give up a position that he loves because he does not want to play the clarinet in a separate ensemble.”
There was also discussion among the band about staging a sit-in protest on Friday to support Jackson, and a petition to re-instate him as drum major was circulated and signed by the majority of Scot Band. However, the petition proved unnecessary, as the matter was reported to be resolved during band practice on Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday, Band Director Thomas Roblee, Jackson and Band President Daniel Catalano ’14 read statements to the band indicating that the incident had been a miscommunication between Jackson and the administration as to the expectations of a drum major.
Dean for Curriculum and Academic Engagement Henry Kreuzman echoed this sentiment in his comments to the Voice, saying that “periodically misunderstandings about the interpretation and implementation of College Policies arise.” In his remarks to the band, Jackson added that he was grateful for the huge amount of support he had felt from the band as events unfolded.
It seems the college policy in question has been unclear for quite some time. Nowhere in the official course description is it written that membership in Scot Band is contingent upon auditions for Symphonic Band.
Rather, the description merely says that “Admission to the Symphonic Band is by audition,” whereas “Membership in the Marching Band is open to any student without audition.” One band member, who preferred not to be identified, agreed that the policy was extremely unclear, saying, “When I registered, I was told that they [Scot Band and Symphonic Band] were two separate classes…but that’s not the impression I’ve gotten.”
When asked about how this incident might change the band going forward, Kreuzman said, “I have discussed with Professor [Nancy] Ditmer the need to clarify expectations for students enrolled in Scot Band, and Professor Ditmer has indicated that there have been no policy changes, though the department has plans to examine them this year.”
Professor Nancy Ditmer, the chair of the Music Department, agreed: “Everything related to drum majors in the band will be studied and revised … at this point the staff has not had any discussion about specifics. The only thing any of us can tell you at this point is that there will be substantive changes as we think about drum majors in the future.”
However, it seems the confusion about expectations is not limited to drum majors. Another anonymous band member reported, “I don’t want to be in Symphonic Band, and I’ve been pressured by a director to audition. I’m now not on good terms with the band directors … I’m not doing band next year, and that contributed.”