LETTERS: Band is all in good fun

To the Editor: Like most Ivy League bands, we don't have the time to rehearse and perform what many consider to be a standard band half-time -- marching, drills and the like. We are considered a "scramble band," in that we run from formation to formation. We perform a different show every week, written by the students and tailored (usually) to the opponent. Yes, we pick on the opposing school, but we find that in most cases, the other schools recognize that we do it not to be mean-spirited but just to have fun at that other school's expense. If you were to attend an Ivy League match-up, you would hear each school "rip" on the other. It is more or less expected and the students enjoy it. I invite you to go back to our Web site and follow the link for past shows, and you'll see what I mean. You might also want to check out the shows of other Ivy League bands and see what they've said about us. Venutolo-Mantovani wrote "College athletics epitomize healthy competition, hard work and school spirit." A good part of that is the rivalries that develop between schools. Imagine how boring sporting events would be if no one cared. Well, part of what you saw on Saturday was just that. As a Villanova fan, I'm sure Venutolo-Mantovani has seen the spirit and, yes, "venom" that is apparent at any Big 5 basketball game. Well, our show on Saturday was just an extension of that. Had the 'Nova band, who are interested in becoming a scramble band themselves, decided to perform at halftime (which they were invited to do but instead chose to observe how a scramble show is put on), they very well may have taken shots at us. In fact, we would have expected it. And we would have laughed along with them. Even The Philadelphia Inquirer understood, as evidenced by the following (the lead paragraph in their report of the event): "There was something of a Big Five atmosphere to the evening. Penn's band made its ritual wisecracks at Villanova's expense at halftime. Wildcats coach Andy Talley said there was even some pregame taunting between Penn and Villanova players who already knew each other." In short, our halftime shows are meant to poke fun, whether it be at our own school, the opposing school, politics, etc. Yes, we do it to get a reaction but it is not meant to offend. Greer Cheeseman Director, Penn Band Missing the point To the Editor: Friday's issue of the DP demonstrated the complete cluelessness of all but two of the Swamis. So for the benefit of the rest of them, here is a little explanation of what the Swamis are supposed to do: They are supposed to exemplify hope and more importantly, faith in Penn football. We, the readers, don't look to that section of the paper to find accurate predictions about the outcomes of the weekend's games. No one cares that the majority of you were right in picking Villanova to win this Saturday's game. That's not what the section is all about. It's all about spirit. And to see such lack of spirit in everyone, including President Rodin, is disheartening. Vladimir Yakopson College '00