Quotes from letters to UVa’s Alumni Magazine:
"If I had wanted the plain, standard-variety 'State U' experience, I would have gone to a typical state university. But for a 'State U with a twist' -- honor code, Pep Band, Mr. Jefferson's legacy -- that's U.Va."- Jennifer Widmann Gittins (Col '84)
"The day the Wahoos field a spit-and-polish marching band may very well be the last time I go to a football game."- Robert W. Carmines (Com '80)
"I have always felt that the Pep Band perfectly embodies the combined spirit of exuberance and irreverence that is core to the university experience, with or without the capital 'U.'" - Peter Colby (Col '78)
"Please don't foist upon us the scene of a bunch of banal, goose-stepping clods. The refreshing, hard-hitting style and excellent musicianship of the Pep Band complements a wonderful football program."- Lawrence Leake (Col '79, Med '84)
"What makes U.Va. so great has always been its willingness to express itself in a way that's different from other institutions, both public and private. To silence something as unique as the Pep Band is unacceptable. I submit a vote for the irreverent, intelligent and witty Pep Band."- R.D. Ezzell (Col '74)
"A halftime show filled with good-natured satire captures my attention and entertains me far, far more than watching just another marching band in funny uniforms drilling around the field. I get no laughs, and pay zero attention to, marching bands. They are boring, unimaginative, and add nothing to my school spirit like a good spoof by the Pep Band."- John L. Pedrick Jr. (Engr '67)
"Even muffled by censorship that makes a mockery of Jeffersonian principles, the Pep Band is emblematic of the University's distinctive persona. One more thing: The University of Virginia is not and never should aspire to be a marching band kind of school. Hoos march to a different drummer. And the Athletic Department, the faculty, the administration, the Board of Visitors and the legislature need to understand that's just the way it is."- J. Taylor Buckley (Col '61)
"A marching band? Perish the thought. Why should U.Va. try to become even more mainstream? If we are to have a band, let it be (again) one that is unique, thought provoking, humorous and a credit to the First Amendment."- Matt Corbett (Col '82)
"I recommend that the University of Virginia continue to find ways to show its uniqueness to the country. We take pride in promoting a different image. The satire of the Pep Band's performances fit beautifully into that unique image. I urge the University to allow the Pep Band to perform as it did in the early '80s. If, on the other hand, U.Va. wants to blend into the unimpressionable crowd of big universities, then by all means, a marching band is the way to go."- Ronald P. Culberson (Col '83)
"When the freedoms and existence of an organization with positive goals such as the Pep Band are threatened, shouldn't everyone rally in support of them in order to protect all? Before U.Va. had a good football team and an expensive stadium, the image we wanted to put forth to other schools was one of uniqueness and high academic achievement. Now that we have a team that can win a few games, some of you want to throw away any vestiges of individuality, squelch self-expression and cater to the status quo. Before you clamor to spend money that should be used for academic purposes on a big, expensive marching band, think about this-do you really want to be just another "State U"? Think of it: 60,000 fans waiting in line for food while yet another boring, expensive, unimaginative, marching band takes the field."-Laurel Quaile DeMaula (Col '92)