Band May Give Up Football Trips Next Year as Finances Hit Bottom

Red-inked ledgers may keep the University Band in Cambridge next year. This prediction emerged over the weekend from a gloomy financial picture of increased expenses, insufficiency of H.A.A. Band travelling appropriations, and a falling off in alumni donations.

Unless the H.A.A. raises the amount it allows the Band for the one traditional trip per year, "we won't go to Princeton next fall," Joseph J. Borgatti, Jr. '45, Band treasurer, said last night. The Cornell and Army trips next season are definitely out, he added, unless the College or the alumni pay for them.

In spite of the financial situation, the Band management will not ask the University completely to subsidize their activities, figuring that a maintenance fund such as many college musical outfits receive would entail a certain amount of faculty control and limitation.

H.A.A. Defines Policy

William J. Bingham '16, H.A.A. director, explained that the Athletic Association provides the wherewithal for 100 bandsmen to make one trip away from Cambridge each year. He questioned yesterday the necessity of the Band accompanying the team to other than the Yale or Princeton tilts.

"Other teams do not always bring bands with them when they come here," Bingham said, "and since more road games are coming up in the future, we can't expect the Band to make every trip."

According to Borgatti, however, the $1900 allotted by Bingham's office last year to cover the fares and other expenses of the Princeton trek paid only for about two thirds of the total expenditure. Next year, he said, the Band treasury would not be able to make up the deficit and the musicians would have to hear the game by radio.

Good Bands Scarce

"As to other colleges bringing bands here," the treasurer countered, "many of them don't have outfits that can compete. But could you imagine Dartmouth coming down without a band?"

The Virginia expedition cost the Band $4000, a large part of which actually came from the pockets of individual members as each musician has already chipped in more than $35 to the treasury. Current expense are paid for by "Ivy League Album" sales, Borgatti said.

Eli musicians will get competition this year, the Band promised, as the management has carefully preserved the $1000 H.A.A. contribution that will send the "best in the business" to New Haven.