TSU Band Underfunded

Underfunded, Underperforming
Cuts are Causing TSU Music Department to Suffer

Texas Southern University’s music department and band battles to compete with the rest of the new renovations and funds spread throughout the campus.

“We work and study just as hard as any other department on campus," said Darryl M. Singleton assistant band director. "But we are always over looked.”

The Rollins Stewart music center was built in 1971 and at one point the building was a focal point of the campus, but now lacks in appearance and space.

With 220 band members, more room is needed to practice and properly store instruments and updated office space for faculty.

The building is located on the far west end of the campus and doesn’t have adequate outdoor lighting, causing security issues within the building.

“It’s easy for people off the streets to sneak in while we practice after dark," said Young, jazz band professor and TSU alumni. "People can walk right in and hide out and we would never know, this has happened before."

The music center has been broken into several times, each time instruments have been taken.

“We were able to get our doors replaced," said Singleton. "But they still do not work right, we have doors with no handles."

With a statewide budget cut from Texas Governor Rick Perry, the band is slowly losing its beat.

“The last time we had a full set of new instruments was way back in 1993," said Singleton. "We are long overdue for new equipment.”

The lack of financial support in the department leaves students with aged and battered instruments, the incapacity to restore or tune up instruments. TSU only has one set of instruments rigged together with tape and wire.
“We are a vessel and have to make do with what we have to get the job done,” said an anonymous band student.
In the fall of 2007 to the fall of 2008 the athletic department received a substantial increase of funds. A mandatory athletics fee was placed on class registration. For each student taking 15 hours or more, a mandatory athletic fee of $150 is placed on registration.
These funds are intended to support all athletic programs, including the band, but most of the funds support other athletic programs.
“The football program should help the band out. The band supports the football team and provides entertainment during halftime," said Chris Walters TSU freshman. "What is college football with no band?”
However, the university’s president, the provost, and board of regents are aware of the current issues with the music department and have begun addressing the issues.
“We recently received brand new uniforms, and we are grateful for that, ”Singleton said, ”it’s very important that we have new instruments to go along with that, it’s very important in competition”.
The student government association stepped in and formed the Battle of the Bands, an annual event to benefit the bands of TSU and Prairie View A & M.
“Every year I look forward to Battle of the Bands,” said Deshara Goss, TSU junior. ”This is what college life is about.”
Texas Southern University alumni and students are vital to the success and growth on campus. Tickets are purchased by students, family and alumni.
“As a proud graduate of TSU, Battle of the Bands allows the alumni to get together and reminisce," said Erica James TSU alumni. "It’s great to see young students showcase their talents.”
“Until we can get issues like this rectified, continue to bring issues such as this to the student government meetings,” said Kedarious Colbert, TSU’s SGA President. “In the meantime continue to support the band, and buy your tickets for the Battle of the Bands, from the bookstore.”
By supporting the bands activities you will be directly supporting Texas Southern University’s music department.

TSU Tiger Trams

Texas Southern University continues to increase visablilty of the Tiger Tram.

The flashy maroon and gray Tiger Tram, is an extended passenger electric cart that holds 12-15 students and makes four stops on the east and west end of the tiger walk.

“I don’t mind waiting for the tiger tram,” said TSU student Deshara Goss. “I have classes in the science building and have to walk across campus to my next class, the Tiger Tram is wonderful, I love it.”

Students were bringing issues to the SGA asking for replacement transportation. The parking and transportation committee took the student issues into consideration.

“The shuttles were an additional $40 -$50 in addition to what we (students) already pay for the cost of parking,” said SGA president Kedarious Colbert. “It would be a fiscal inability on the students behalf.”

From a financial standpoint the Dean of Students and the SGA agreed to purchase three trams and would be the most affordable solution for students.

“It helps, it gives a good image to the school,” said Ochi. “People like to know where their money is going to and that’s good, they feel like the school is listening to them.”

TSU interviewed Tiger Tram student drivers and completed a driver safety course instructed by the TSU transportation department

“This is employment and it’s helping me,” said Tram employee Donna Ochi. “I needed employment.”

During the week the trams run from 7a.m to 7p.m and future plans will extend the hours of operations until 9p.m.

“After taking a student rider count we counted over 1700 students,” said General Manager of Parking and Traffic Enforcement Ed Davis. “This semester a total of 7800 students have been counted for.”

Texas Southern University and students are pleased and excited with the Tiger Tram, it continues to meet their needs on the tiger walk.

CONTACTS:
General Manager of Parking and Traffic Enforcement Ed Davis. 713-313-4431

SGA President Kedarious Colbert 713-313-7182 or 903-806-6811

My Beat; TSU Graduation Rates

Governor Rick Perry plans to cut $2 billion from the higher education budget, which would affect most colleges, universities, and hammer HBCU’s.
On top of the budget cuts, Gov. Perry also proposes an "outcome-based" financial support for higher education, if enacted, could have a devastating impact on TSU.
“TSU will be affected by the cuts, but before that happens," said Provost President Dr. Sunny Ohea. "This is an opportunity for us to look into our programs and cut those that are low performing programs.”
The “outcome-based” proposal would base a substantial portion of its funding on the number of degrees colleges and universities issue.
With consistently low graduation rates, TSU would be in a financial crisis, according to Texas Public University, TSU has the states lowest six-year graduation rates, ranking at only 12 percent.
The U.S Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statics shows, out of 32 Texas universities TSU plummets to the bottom of the list. With a slight lead ahead of TSU, University of Houston-Downtown and University of Texas at Brownville rank at a 16 percent graduation rate.
“We will eventually raise the enrollment requirements from a 2.0 grade point average to a 2.6 gpa," said Ohea.
"This won’t immediately fix the low graduation rates, but in the next few years we will see a change to the graduation rates.”
Pell Grants and other higher education programs are also on the chopping block, keeping the maximum college financial aid award at $5,550 cutting financial aid by 41 percent.
Kedarious Colbert,SGA president said, “With 95 percent of our (TSU) student population being dependent upon financial aid we will be heavily impacted with the students not being able to afford to attend this institution.”
The Texas Grants scholarship program would drop by 70,000 students by the year 2012. This would eliminate 20,000 students from entering into the higher education system.
"The majority of TSU current students depend on financial aid for their education," said Colbert. "The proposed budget cuts will generally eliminate financial aid to incoming freshman and new students."

State officials said the Texas budget is facing a two-year budget shortfall between $15 billion and $27 billion, with a severe reduction to school funding.
Texas rainy-day reserve fund of $9.4 billion could pull Texas out of the two year deficit, but Gov. Perry refuses to dig into the account.
“There are only two discretionary monies that the state has,"said Ohea."Essentially education is the only money they can play with and most easily cut.”
Texas Southern University is currently preparing and reviewing its budget and cutting low performing classes, eliminating adjunct professors, and focuses on increasing enrollment requirements and graduation rates.
“We are striving to make TSU a solid and vibrate university," said Ohea. "We continue to thrive even under the budget crisis.”

Eva Picken 713 313 4205
Dr Sunny Ohea 713 313 1133 Apt Sched for 2-24-2011 @ 10:30am
Edwin Stevens 713 313 1354 Recruitment Office
General Council Office 713-313 1325
Cheryl Cash Attorney 713 313 7950
Keadariuos Colbert- 903-806-6811

Upcoming Event: Town Council meeting 2-16-2011 @ 12pm. Sawyer Building (Theater Building)