CONTACT: Jason Foster
SDSU Marketing & Communications
(619) 594-4285, (619) 242-1365 pager
foster@mail.sdsu.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Strike Up the Aztec Bands for 2003-04
New Funding Will Help Ensure Musical Aztec Tradition Continues

SAN DIEGO, Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - San Diego State University's Marching Aztecs, Pep Band and Varsity Band will play on at athletic and other events during the next academic year.

University officials announced today they have secured enough funding to cover the bands' activities for the 2003-04 academic year, and that the Athletics department has assumed responsibility for band operations.

"Our bands are going to become stronger and continue to be a source of pride for our students, faculty and staff, alumni and fans," said Steve Schnall, director of marketing for SDSU Athletics. "The Marching Aztecs will not have skipped a beat when they perform at our first football game of the year on August 30, and the Pep Band and Varsity Band will continue to inspire our athletes and fans at Aztecs men's and women's basketball games at Cox Arena."

Earlier this year, the status of the bands briefly came into question when SDSU's School of Music and Dance, coping with its share of the statewide budget crisis, decided it could no longer afford to offer the course sections that supported the bands.

For 2003-04, $154,000 of reserve funds from the campus' Instructional Related Activities (IRA) fee will be used for the bands. SDSU students pay an IRA fee of $15 every semester, and student overenrollment the past two years generated the unallocated reserve.

"The IRA fee is intended to support hands-on, individual or group performance activities that are outside the classroom but enhance the students' educational experience," said Ken Perry, associate vice president of financial management for SDSU. "This will not impinge our ability to provide course sections or other services to our students."

Perry said the university is continuing to explore options for supporting the bands on a long-term basis.

Schnall, who will oversee the bands' activities for Athletics, said it makes sense for his department to work directly with the bands because the vast majority of their activities involve entertaining at Aztec sports events. He added that SDSU's 2003-04 band budget is comparable to others in the Mountain West Conference.

"Bryan Ransom will be the director for all three of our bands, and he is ready to begin recruiting new members for the wind, percussion and auxiliary elements of the Marching Aztecs," Schnall said.

Beginning this fall, all matriculated SDSU students who march with the band will receive financial support in the form of grant-in-aid. New or continuing students interested in performing with the Marching Aztecs can visit http://bands.sdsu.edu or call (619) 594-1600 for more information.

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Founded in 1897, SDSU has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 79 areas, master's degrees in 64 areas and doctorates in 13. SDSU's more than 34,000 students participate in academic curricula distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information log on to www.sdsu.edu.

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