[StanUSwagU]

Yeah, I'm not sure how having a few students pick the next tree instead of the traditional propagation (aka suckering - hey, I know some arborists) is killing the tree. Doesn't sound like the University is involved at all. If anything, a committee is harder to bribe with [fill in your own blank here] favors than just the current tree.

Anyway, careful with that axe, Eugene.

Agree.

[StanUSwagU]

Yeah, I'm not sure how having a few students pick the next tree instead of the traditional propagation (aka suckering - hey, I know some arborists) is killing the tree. Doesn't sound like the University is involved at all. If anything, a committee is harder to bribe with [fill in your own blank here] favors than just the current tree.

Anyway, careful with that axe, Eugene.

Agree.

[Mick]

I'm sad that the university is trying to insert itself into internal Band operations.  To some extent, the admissions policies of the university may have changed such that we are admitting fewer and fewer students whose personalities fit with the ethos of the Band.  But the Band itself does represent the university in a very public way, and the university is probably within its right to have some say in that representation.  I'd like to see some sort of mutually acceptable compromise, but the university does hold all the cards here, and along with the marginalization of the Dollies (by university-backed Stanford Cheer), it seems that the free spirit that used to infuse the Band and student population is no longer valued by the university.

I don't generally think of those terms as belonging together. Why use a flyswatter when a sledgehammer will do?

[Mick]

I'm sad that the university is trying to insert itself into internal Band operations.  To some extent, the admissions policies of the university may have changed such that we are admitting fewer and fewer students whose personalities fit with the ethos of the Band.  But the Band itself does represent the university in a very public way, and the university is probably within its right to have some say in that representation.  I'd like to see some sort of mutually acceptable compromise, but the university does hold all the cards here, and along with the marginalization of the Dollies (by university-backed Stanford Cheer), it seems that the free spirit that used to infuse the Band and student population is no longer valued by the university.

I don't generally think of those terms as belonging together. Why use a flyswatter when a sledgehammer will do?

[StanUSwagU]

I'm sad that the university is trying to insert itself into internal Band operations.  To some extent, the admissions policies of the university may have changed such that we are admitting fewer and fewer students whose personalities fit with the ethos of the Band.  But the Band itself does represent the university in a very public way, and the university is probably within its right to have some say in that representation.  I'd like to see some sort of mutually acceptable compromise, but the university does hold all the cards here, and along with the marginalization of the Dollies (by university-backed Stanford Cheer), it seems that the free spirit that used to infuse the Band and student population is no longer valued by the university.

I don't generally think of those terms as belonging together. Why use a flyswatter when a sledgehammer will do?

(1) I think the Stanford University Leadership may want to look at new models (than our current one) & what other Universities do for a band that performs at University Events (Sporting or otherwise).

(2) For example: What do NotreDame University & Duke University & GaTech University & Vanderbilt University do for their band ?

(3) If this question leads to a 'rethink' on our current stanford band model, and the formation of a more traditional Performing Marching Band, that might be a good thing.

(4) If there are individuals that may not want that, and cannot part with the way the previous tradition operated, I think they could just become a social club on campus and then within reason they could do as they wish, as a social-club, [e.g. scurry around like rats on a sinking ship when the lights came on, do snarky, sophomoric skits disrespecting other Universities, etc, ....outside the stadium & outside of Stanford Sporting Events].

[StanUSwagU]

I'm sad that the university is trying to insert itself into internal Band operations.  To some extent, the admissions policies of the university may have changed such that we are admitting fewer and fewer students whose personalities fit with the ethos of the Band.  But the Band itself does represent the university in a very public way, and the university is probably within its right to have some say in that representation.  I'd like to see some sort of mutually acceptable compromise, but the university does hold all the cards here, and along with the marginalization of the Dollies (by university-backed Stanford Cheer), it seems that the free spirit that used to infuse the Band and student population is no longer valued by the university.

I don't generally think of those terms as belonging together. Why use a flyswatter when a sledgehammer will do?

(1) I think the Stanford University Leadership may want to look at new models (than our current one) & what other Universities do for a band that performs at University Events (Sporting or otherwise).

(2) For example: What do NotreDame University & Duke University & GaTech University & Vanderbilt University do for their band ?

(3) If this question leads to a 'rethink' on our current stanford band model, and the formation of a more traditional Performing Marching Band, that might be a good thing.

(4) If there are individuals that may not want that, and cannot part with the way the previous tradition operated, I think they could just become a social club on campus and then within reason they could do as they wish, as a social-club, [e.g. scurry around like rats on a sinking ship when the lights came on, do snarky, sophomoric skits disrespecting other Universities, etc, ....outside the stadium & outside of Stanford Sporting Events].