Band Not Traveling This Year

The Boston College Screaming Eagles Marching Band has not traveled this year due to budget cuts in the Athletics Department. "The band program's budget has been reduced to the same extent as every other department at Boston College because of the economic downturn," said David Healey, marching band director, in an e-mail. Gene DeFilippo, director of athletics, said that the opportunity for a pep band to travel with the team was always a privilege to recognize the commitment the members of the band make. "It was something extra that was given to them," he said.

A pep band of about 30 people has traveled with the football team in the past, DeFilippo said. "We did it once two years ago and three times last year." The trips were paid for by the Athletics Department when they had the available funds. Each trip costs the department about $30,000, DeFilippo said. "This year I don't have that kind of money," he said.

DeFilippo said that he regrets that some feel that the Athletics Department is withholding from the band members. "I feel bad that because we did something good, and now it seems as though we're taking something away," he said.

"Because of our limited budget, we are only able to travel to destinations that are reasonably accessible and affordable by bus," Healey said. "Occasionally, Athletics has been able to fly smaller pep ensembles to away game venues, but University-wide budget restrictions have prevented that from happening this year. Our inability to travel this year is due solely to the travel distances of the away venues. We had hoped to travel to Maryland this year, but that game coincides with the Thanksgiving holiday and our students will be home."

DeFilippo said that he would rather the pep band was able to travel with them, and that he hopes to take them back on the road when the money is available. "When times get better, of course we'll do it."

"The advantage to having them on the road is that they provide some support for the team, and it's a reward for them," DeFilippo said. "Next year when we go to Syracuse, I'm going to take the pep band with us."

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