The Presidential Inaugural Committee has selected about a dozen college and university bands to march in the parade following Barack Obama’s swearing-in — but some are still scrambling for the money to get to the nation’s capital.
The marching band at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff doesn’t see no as an option. Known locally as the Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South, or M4, the band was initially left out of the parade. But John Graham Jr., the band’s director, lobbied the inaugural committee, presenting the institution’s unique qualifications, such as the slave graveyard on its campus, and the unusually high proportion of the student body — almost 10 percent — involved in the band.
Late last month, another group’s withdrawal from the parade, which had drawn more than 800 applicants, made room for Pine Bluff, a spokeswoman for the committee said. Since Mr. Graham got the call, on New Year’s Eve, band members have been stuffing envelopes with pleas and otherwise soliciting donations to cover their $150,000 travel budget.
“People are just driving in, walking in, calling from across the country, sending money,” Mr. Graham said. “Some are sending $5, some are sending $10. Some have written $2,500 checks, $1,000 checks. That’s how it’s going to happen.”
With sufficient funds, the band would rent six buses for the 1,000-mile trip, stopping over in Knoxville, Tenn., and sleeping in Hershey, Pa. — the closest spot to Washington with room available.
Another marching band still seeking donations has farther to travel: the University of Utah.
“We’re certainly proud of the fact that they’ve been invited, but due to recent budget cuts, there are no existing funds to cover the expense,” said Coralie Alder, a spokeswoman for the university. So yesterday Utah added a link on its home page: “Send the Marching Band to the Inauguration!”
“We’re optimistic,” Ms. Alder said.
Among the other institutions sending marching bands or other groups to the inaugural parade are Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Grambling State University, Hampton University, Howard University, Ohio State University, United Tribes Technical College, the University of Delaware, the University of Tennessee, and the Virginia Military Institute. —Sara Lipka
