Behind the Glitz & the Glam: Drag Queens in the 1960's to Modern Day
Gender in the Classroom: Teaching high school students gender topics
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Masculinity in Poetry
Representation in the American Education System
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Horizontal Hostility in the Household
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LGBTQ+ Education
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Packed full of traditions and passion, Purdue's All-American Marching Band is a dignified and well-respected group of students and staff at Purdue University. The band was founded in 1907, and has had a slew of achievements since then, being notorious for coming up with many “firsts” of college marching bands. This year, the band was first to perform a halftime show while wearing lights. The band has many more surprises in store for the future, as putting on spectacular shows is a part of its mission.
The band is comprised of many students who choose to do the band, even though it is not a requirement for any major and there is no major. Students, such as myself, join the band for the purpose to make friends while doing something they enjoy. I didn't have any friends coming to Purdue, and the band was a way for me to make friends. I was in high school marching band, the bond between us all then was strong, but the one here in college is even stronger, even though no one knows every single member of the 350 person band. As a whole, the band's goal is to put on great shows, to support Purdue, and to represent Purdue in a great way. To individuals, it varies but we all have similar goals. I joined the band to make friends while doing what I did, as did many others, and some joined the band for their own personal reasons. I joined the band the way everyone joins, through an audition. Band camp was the audition, the week before classes started. First I played audition music and then for the rest of the week it consisted of practicing music and our marching skills, while also looking for a positive attitude and room for improvement. At the end of the week I made it into the band and continued to be a part of the group through the actual band class, which is two hours a day, Monday through Friday and then game days on Sunday where we perform halftime shows. Rehearsals and game days are two different things. For rehearsals, it's very informal, but we still stay focused on practicing everything. On game days, it's still fun, but much more formal. When we put on the uniform, a new sense of dignity takes over us. Naturally, our backs are arched and our heads are held high. Many rules take place once in uniform. No cursing, no vulgarity, and basically don't do anything that makes the band look bad. Being in the band has brought on a strong bond, mostly between each musical sections. I am an alto saxophone player, and the saxophone group is very close together, as the trumpets are close with trumpets, trombones with trombones, and so on. Within just the saxophones, we communicate through text messages and on Facebook pages, and mostly face-to-face. As a whole band, we communicate through text messages and emails along with in person. Communication never lacks within the band. When first witnessing the band, it reminded me of a cult. They were all wearing similar clothes, doing the same thing, and saying the same things. There needs to be a dictionary of just band words, and probably one for the saxophone section as well. Marking time, low-chair, chop-ho, run-on, are just a few examples of band terms. Within the saxophone section, we have straight poverty, peasant status, checked, “halp,” and many more. So within the entire group are sub groups, as in the sections, and within the saxophone section we have the “rookie” section as well which consists of mostly the freshmen, since we were the first people we met. We are the novices, while there are many experts in the band. We have what we call ranks, and if you are a one or a ten, then you are ultimately an expert. If you are a five or a six, you are as well an expert, but not as keen on things the way ones and ten are. Then typically the novices are placed between the upperclassmen for more guidance. |