As you may have noticed this season, there has been no pep band at BYU Men’s Basketball games. While this is normal during the beginnings of the basketball season (the band organization is busy during the fall semester with football season), the band would normally begin to attend games when BYU’s winter semester starts. However, this year, when we showed up to play, we were informed that we would no longer be playing this season. 

By making this decision, Athletic Marketing breaks from 30+ years of tradition, as well as the status quo of collegiate basketball nation-wide. We, the band members, worry that this decision will not only affect this basketball season, but potentially future basketball seasons and even football season. This sets a precedent where live music, student talent, and rich tradition is no longer valued in the university gameday environment. We see this as unacceptable, and hope to show BYU administration that these values are exactly what is wanted here at BYU. 

While the reasoning behind this decision is murky, and we take no stance on whether this decision was warranted, we would instead like to call attention to the fact that the band is an integral part to the tradition of the BYU gameday experience for more than just the band members. By signing this petition, you make it known that you feel our absence at games.

 If you find yourself neutral on this, or asking “Why does this matter?”, then we urge you to sign! While this may not seem like a large problem, it represents a large change for many, many past, present, and future music students at BYU, and potentially around the nation. 

Thank you for your signature and support!

(Please note that change.org automatically asks for money in return for “promotion”. We’re not sure what how that money is used by change.org, and we want to make it clear that this is not a fundraiser. That money does not go to the band.)