An LSU band injustice

More than 10 years ago, hopes were raised among Tiger band supporters that a new, state-of-the-art band rehearsal hall finally would be built to accommodate the needs of our golden band from Tigerland. And more recently at the band’s alumni reunion weekend, hopes were raised again that a new “state-of- the-art” band rehearsal hall would finally be built. Sound familiar?

What’s the problem? What’s the holdup? The best marching band in the country (named national champions) has been operating out of an inadequate and inferior facility for decades. The band is so good that the problem must be “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

But its current building was built in a hurry in 1958 to replace a wooden structure that had burned down. It was designed to accommodate a small band of 100 members. Forty-eight years later, the Tiger marching band, with auxiliary units, has more than tripled. The building is ridiculously small and is falling apart.

We can no longer afford to treat badly something we all treasure. Where does the Tiger band fall on LSU’s priority list? Obviously behind Mike the Tiger, who enjoys a brand new facility larger than the one the 300-member marching band is forced to rehearse in.

It is time now for the administration, the music school, the alumni association, the Tiger Athletic Foundation, the athletic department and people like you and me to find or raise the money to build a new facility.