Virginia Pep Band
The Virginia Pep Band |
The Virginia Pep Band is a student-run "marching band" at the University of Virginia, officially known as "The Award-Winning Virginia Fighting Cavalier Indoor/Outdoor Precision(?) Marching Pep Band, & Chowder Society Review, Unlimited!!!". Founded in its current form in 1974, it was modeled after the bands at Stanford, Rice and the Ivy League: scatter or scramble bands. Like other college bands, the Pep Band plays field shows at athletic events, but it adds irreverent humor to entertain its audiences. The Virginia Pep Band follows UVa's tradition of student governance, choosing a director from among the student body. They play at UVa football, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, and occasionally field hockey and ice hockey games. Also, they make annual appearances at the Charlottesville 10-miler and the United Way Day of Caring.
Today, the band's existence is in peril, as the University athletic department, in an effort to have direct control of the UVa band, is attempting to create a new marching band. The Virginia Pep Band has been banned from entry to all University athletic events in an attempt to force the members of the student band to join the new band. This new marching band will be run by a faculty-member, in contrast to the Virginia Pep Band's student self-governance.