I truly hope that I am one of many people replying to Joe Anderson's Letter to the Editor ("Band overlooked," Nov. 29). This letter was a blatant insult to the band and I am truly disappointed that it came from one of the ushers, for whom I hold nothing but respect.
Your letter was disrespectful of the planning and effort that goes into every single Notre Dame game that holds a band performance. Do you think that the band does not want to support our team at every game? If those are indeed your thoughts, you disregard the fact that we are part of the Band of the Fighting Irish.
I must remind you that we have limited funds and a 380-member band. This includes, as all those who traveled to USC can attest, airfare, hotel fees, transportation for large instruments and many, many more behind the scenes fees that few in the band, much less the general public, will ever know about. In order to travel to bowl games, some of the money from the bowl is set aside for the band. This is not the case for USC.
My point is simply this: Robertson should not point fingers at a band who "should understand their responsibility." We understand our responsibilities, and we are only human and need funds as well as the resources to undertake a trip as large as USC. This year we had, thanks to coach Charlie Weis, enough resources for 75 band members. Maybe in future years there will be more. Perhaps, in order to assist the band in traveling, Robertson would like to make a donation?
Liz Wrape
sophomore
Lyons Hall
Nov. 30
