Hey, Georgia Tech Band: Leave the SAC fields to the real athletes

Hey, Georgia Tech Band: Leave the SAC fields to the real athletes

ATLANTA
November 13, 1998

The other day, some friends and I walked briskly out of my apartment, football in hand, getting pumped up for our little three-on-three game. We joked and threw the ball to each other on our way to the SAC field, which, to our dismay, was quite crowded. The usual people were there participating in constructive, athletic events like throwing frisbees, baseballs, softballs, footballs, and jogging. No problem there. Then, on one entire half of the field, we noticed the entire band, not doing anything athletic, but just taking up space and creating a general nuisance. This angered me as I was under the impression that the SAC fields were for student athletic use. I have heard other people complaining about this as well. Why can't the band play somewhere else? They don't need all that much space and there are plenty of suitable places on west campus. Think I'm wrong? Well, they never used to use SAC fields before this year. What's wrong with their Couch building or the Burger Bowl?

In any case, I found out that the band is authorized to use the SAC field. When did this happen and why weren't the regular students who pay for the field informed? Doesn't the band have their own budget? If the field is too crowded one day, can we invade the Couch and play football in the halls? I sure hope so. As far as I know, I am paying for this school and all its facilities. I have paid for a lot of senseless things. But an athletic field, complete with padded turf and yard lines, being used for the band's unathletic exercises in annoyance rather than student athletic activities, is a tad bit insane.

Chris Culbreth
gt8200b@prism.gatech.edu

The SAC athletic field is the second- largest astroturf field in America. For more information on astroturf athletic fields, see www.astroturf.com.

Copyright © 1998 by Gregory S. Scherrer, Editor and by the Student Publications Board

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