orgo

I am a proud alumna and name-dropper of Columbia University and its marching band, and I won't be sending my kids to this school. Not only because they have yet to exist, or because there's no way I'll be able to afford to, but because, in my opinion, this University so flagrantly doesn't care about its students.

Cue the lights. Actors dressed in all-black dart back and forth onstage as the audience members sit and watch sketch after sketch from the comedy group Chowdah. Loie Plautz, a Barnard senior and president of Chowdah, is commanding the stage, until they’re not.

On Thursday night, the Columbia University Marching Band held Orgo Night outside of Butler Library. As per usual, they offered Columbia students a much-needed break from their late-night cram sessions by putting on a show filled with music, comedy, and a dash of controversy.

The administration’s decision to cut the marching band’s budget by $15,000 adversely impacts the people they are supposedly here to serve: the students. As treasurer of the marching band, my goal and that of past treasurers has always been to keep band affordable—a goal which will only get harder to achieve with a smaller budget.

Following unanticipated warnings of individual disciplinary action from administrators, the Columbia University Marching Band held its semiannual Orgo Night performance in front of, rather than inside, Butler Library on Thursday evening.

The Columbia University Marching Band plans to hold Orgo Night again in room 209 of Butler Library Thursday night, despite warnings of disciplinary action from administrators that came during ongoing negotiations about the future of the event.

Hiding instruments and ducking Public Safety officers, the Columbia University Marching Band held its Orgo Night performance in room 209 of Butler Library Thursday night, defying a decision by administrators that has denied them access to the library since last December.

Close to 700 alumni and students signed a petition asking administrators to allow the Columbia University Marching Band to hold its Orgo Night performance inside Butler Library again, but the University has indicated that it will stand by its decision to prevent the band from entering Butler.