Lack of Money Grounds Band

The Harvard University Band will not appear at the Harvard-Cornell football game in Ithaca, N.Y., tomorrow.

Due to the partial withdrawal of financial aid from the Athletic Department, the band has been forced to limit to two the number of trips it makes to away games this season. Four trips were scheduled originally.

The announcement that it would not go to Cornell may have surprised the fans at last week's game, but the Athletic Department made the decision last December.

Economics

"There were a number of economies the department had to make at the behest of the Dean's Office," according to Baaron Pittenger, Jr., associate director of Athletics. In restricting expenditures, he said, the Athletic Department tried to protect both varsity and intramural sports.

The halftime shows at the Brown and Yale games will include the band. But the Athletic Department subsidy for these trips has been halved. The band has managed to augment this subsidy with the proceeds from several concerts in New York City.

The expenses of the band trip include transportation and meals. On an "overnight" trip the group leaves by bus very early in the morning the day of the game and returns the same evening. Traditionally, the band stops en route to serenade the women of various schools.

The effect of the band's absence on the team will probably be small, according to both Pittenger and band manager Ken Martin. "But," said Martin, "the band does make a difference. It's the only organized cheering bloc at away games."

Martin also said that the alumni enjoy the band. Pittenger conceded this but pointed to the competing alternatives. "Would you rather have a few alumni hear the band or allow a freshman to participate in a sport?" he said.