Being a member of our 370-piece ASU Marching Band, I was slightly offended by your comments in the Sept. 23 editorial. I happen to work very hard at what I do and find marching in a marching band to be one of the most difficult things I've ever done. I would like to invite you to one of our practices if you would like to see for yourself how physically strenuous a drill can be. If you are unable to make any of our practices, show up for one of our pre-game shows and watch our band ankle knee for a hundred or more yards down field in a heavy polyester uniform.
I am not suggesting that PE should be replaced by marching band, just merely suggesting that you take into consideration the physical effort that goes into performing a high caliber drill.
Amanda Green
Family Studies (and member ASU Marching Band)
Junior
I am writing in response to your recent editorial about marching band being accepted as PE credit in the Tempe Union High School District. As a graduate of Desert Vista High School in the (Tempe Union High School District) I did my time in freshman PE just like you all did, and I was in marching band as well. I also didn't mind it so much. PE never hurt anybody.
But apparently it is the position of the State Press editorial board that band kids are lazy. As a member of the Sun Devil Marching Band I am rather offended at this notion. Marching band is much more than "a lot of walking around." The keyword in marching band is marching. No one walks on the Sun Devil band field. Every little movement is either a march or (god forbid) a run. If it were within my power, I'd invite anyone to take a stab at walking around and blowing into a cumbersome musical instrument. I'll hand you my trombone for an hour then sit back and watch the show. No harm in that, right? You know, because it's so easy. Those small gliding steps come naturally to every human being on the planet, right? All I ask is that you not pass judgment on something you don't know anything about. Just show up 15 minutes early to the next football game instead of hanging out in the parking lot. Come on in and watch your band sprint onto the field, stand still for maybe five seconds, and then march 100 yards with high knees, belting out your fight song. Notice I say "your" band. As much fun as band is for the people in it, we do it for the fans. We spend one-and-a-half hours a day working on a show so it looks good when everyone in the stadium sees it. I guess I was under the mistaken impression that our efforts are appreciated. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go to band. I can't be late or else, I'll have to run laps.
Chris Kotterman
Information Technology Major (and member ASU Marching Band)
Freshman
First, I would like to say that having PE as a requirement in high school is (stupid) to begin with. It is not like when I applied to ASU they ignored my GPA and test scores and immediately looked at my PE credentials. Nevertheless, I took my required PE in high school at Mt. View in Mesa, Ariz., and did marching band at the same time.
With marching band I was up at 5:30 every morning Monday through Friday and I was committed to performing every Friday night at the football games. In PE, on the other hand, only 35 minutes was spent on cardiovascular activities and the rest of the time was spent snapping each other in the butt with towels. I feel that the person who wrote the Sept. 23 editorial "Marching to the Beat of a Lazy Drummer" is grossly ignorant of the activities and commitments assumed by people who choose to do marching band.
If sports officiating can be considered physical academics (not meaning any disrespect to the patrons of that program), then marching band is more than qualified. If there is any doubt that marching band does not raise your heart rate, then get out from in front of your computer and come join us on the band practice fields at 4:00 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Patrick R. McDonald
Construction Management (and member ASU Marching Band)
In your (editorial) column of Sept. 4, you accused me of insulting the staff of the State Press, sports columnist Justin Doom, ASU athletes and their supporters along with the thousands of readers of your sports pages. You also accuse me of being intolerant and categorizing Doom as ignorant because he stated his opinion. I believe that if you, Doom and those others you say I insulted were to look in a mirror, you would see just who is intolerant, insulting, ignorant, arrogant and hypocritical.
Opinions and interpretations are one thing but when a columnist or anyone else for that matter rewords what was said or written and then says that this is what was said, it is neither an opinion nor an interpretation. If one is going to give one's opinion or interpretation on some subject give it on the exact wording of that subject; don't change the wording to suit one's self. Keep all the words in the exact order in which they are written or said along with all the punctuation marks used i.e. periods, commas and etc. Most important of all don't add or remove words so that one can give what you called one's opinion on the matter being discussed.
What I wrote about Doom I would write about any other person who rewrites not only the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, but anything, to suit their views and agenda. If this is what you call intolerance and insulting then it is fact.
If you think that what I wrote was an insult how can you stand by Doom's words, which are very plainly slap-in-the-face insults, intolerant, ignorant and arrogant. The following are the exact words Doom used when he demeaned a 16-year-old girl named Liana Bombardier because she had taken part in a 106-year-old sport shooting contest and beat all but five contestants.
"Aww, how sweet. A 16-year-old sniper. Someone please hand me a Kleenex."
What did this girl do to Doom to justice that comment, she enjoys Sport Shooting; that's all. I believe that the State Press and most of all Justin Doom owes the Sport Shooters and Ms. Liana Bombardier an apology.
John W. Devins
Senior
Justice Studies
