When I was in high school, music programs, such as marching band, pep bands and jazz ensembles, were very important aspects of my life. When I made the transition to college, I was very excited to learn that despite picking a different major than music, I could still continue to be involved in an area that meant so much to me. This was mainly due to the zero-credit option most ensembles offer. Due to my heavy class load, I would often be over the 19-credit limit per semester were it not for the zero-credit option. If the zero-credit option were eliminated, I simply wouldn’t be able to participate in many of the ensembles that I am currently in, and I know that my situation is not unique.

Membership in many of the university’s most visible and recognizable ensembles, such as the marching band and pep band, are made up of just as many non-music majors as music majors. The proposed changes would severely and negatively affect both the quality and size of these ensembles and bring the College of Visual and Performing Arts dangerously close to being exclusive to only those with some sort of music major. The changes strike me as selfish, and they go against one of the best aspects of music – the ability to both share it and perform it with others.

Ben Deike sophomore Junior engineering and computer science major