Hello Everyone!

I'd like to start by thanking you all for the help you have provided by signing this petition. This petition helped put pressure on the UC Davis administration and caused them to start to take action! Here is a summary of the meeting I had with the administration today!  

I attended a meeting today with university representatives and here is what I have learned:

1. There is a search going on for an interim director. The school is switching their HR platforms, so all hiring positions (student and career) have been put on hold. That being said, with the push of the petition and the amazing amount of support it got, this is the one position that has been cleared to hire during this down time. So, in theory, they are currently looking for someone to be out interim director.
2. In terms of uniforms, they are in the process of deciding something, but the final decision has not been made. The UCDMB (UC Davis Marching Band) members will have a say in how the new uniforms, only the casual ones (meaning not our full dress), will look. It looks as though they will go for a more "put together" appearance in hopes that we look more professional than we did when in the previous Mav'rik uniforms (the uniforms that previous band had).
3. Last week, at the first home football game of the season, a group of band members went to the game together to cheer on and support our team. The administration noticed this and has decided that we may make a "coordinated appearance" at the next game as the UCDMB. BUT we cannot take instruments, and cannot play any music. The administration is simply using this as a PR stunt to make it look like they have done something to help the situation.
4. What do I want to do going forward? I would like to give them until the next home game, on the 28th, to update me on the search for an interim director and see if they have made progress. If not, then I will begin fighting harder and putting pressure on the administration. In the meantime I am going to be reaching out to all of the news source that have contacted me and let them know that I would like to go forward with a story.
5. What do I want from you? Thank you for the support you have already given, I would not have been able to do any of this without you, but we need more! I want to keep fighting and gaining support in the likely chance that they do not actively search for, or find, a director. I want to be able to go back in a week and say "the fight is still going strong, and we will not stop until we see some real action being taken."
6. THANK YOU everyone who has helped me get here, and who is going to continue helping me push forward. I got some awnsers, and had a really productive talk with the administration. I learned a lot and now know exactly where I want to take this fight. PLEASE feel free to reach out to me, through email, and ask questions. OR if you have something particular you would like me to consider when reaching out to media / writing another story for the public, please email me!
7.For those of you wondering, the petition definitely provided pressure on the administration. What we have all done is amazing, and like I said, I could not have done it without the support everyone has given me.     

Far and wide, many have tried, but none have done it better. 

-Rachel Crane

rncrane@ucdavis.edu