The Florida A&M College (FAMU) marching band — The Marching 100 — at the moment sits atop the HBCU marching band world. However there are issues that its funds could also be impacted by a controversial incoming president set to obtain a major elevate.
The FAMU Basis’s Board of Trustees have but to approve the funding of the reigning HBCU ESPN Band of the Yr forward of the 2025-2026 fiscal yr.
The funds permitted by trustees Thursday contains $218 million in Training and Normal funds. The Basis beforehand admitted that it may need to maneuver funds round to help the pay price for incoming president Marva Johnson — and hypothesis has been excessive that it might embrace funds which may in any other case go to the award-winning HBCU marching band.
“The Marching 100 has all the time about excellence, satisfaction, and setting the usual. However proper now, morale is low,” Marching 100 member Chloe Waites informed the FAMU Board of Trustees. “College students really feel unseen and unsupported,”
“To sacrifice sources that would present for lots of of scholars to learn one college member is in direct contradiction to our slogan of faculty and love, and charity,” Marching 100 member Hasim Smith informed the BOT.
Jamal Brown, a member of the FAMU BOT and college senate president, tried to reassure the scholars.
“Your sentiments about scholarships, mould, and the issues that you just want are legitimate,” he stated. “It is advisable be heard, your issues are taken. We care about you, so I’m sorry for the confusion, however this isn’t what’s correct.”
HBCU marching bands are pillars of satisfaction on the whole and The Marching 100 is definitely an establishment at FAMU. It’s a vital a part of branding for the college, so it’s no shock that apprehension over its funding is making waves.
