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= The Columbia University Marching Band =

The Columbia University Marching Band, hailing from the prestigious Columbia University, was created in 1904, and is one of the most hated organizations in the entire Ivy League. The Columbia University Marching Band (CUMB) is a group of students who participate in a marching band different from the traditional marching band; they state their opinions of what were current events through the show they perform at football games. Some people believe that CUMB's commentary is crude and disgusting, while others praise their actions and find full enjoyment from a performance by the band. CUMB has also brought forward a new style of performance to marching bands, the scramble band format, which is a very different style from the traditional marching band, where you need to stay in tempo with the music, for instance. CUMB has also added miscies (short for miscellaneous), to their performances, which add a completely different effect from that of the traditional marching band.

History
The Columbia University Marching Band was created in 1904, and has been around since as a professional, high caliber marching band. It began as a regular marching band, following the military format that many of us all know so well. However, in the 1960's, the band invented an entirely new format, which they enchristened the scramble band format. Ever since they have been performing entertaining and sometimes questionable performances. Columbia University has also created a tradition called Orgo Night, which is an entertainment segment that takes place in a library on the Columbia University campus the day before the organic chemistry final. Another tradition begun by the Columbia University Marching Band is there tax day tradition, which involves standing outside a post office in downtown New York, and performing music for those last minute tax filers.

The Scramble Band versus the Marching Bandmedia type="youtube" key="B0ATHoZSbzA" height="208" width="336" align="right"
The scramble band is not the same as a traditional marching band. Scramble bands use a completely different style of performance to entertain their viewers. Scatter bands, which were created by Columbia University in the early 1960's, do not follow the typical militaristic ways of a traditional marching band. Regular bands march to their formations on the field, using specified techniques, such as the roll step, which helps the marcher to keep the body as fluid to the eye as possible. Scatter band performers flat out run to their spots on the field. This creates an excited, hyper feeling to the performance, in comparison with the way a traditional

marching show is performed. The main source of entertainment for the audience in a scramble performance is not the music in their show, however. The main entertainment comes from the jokes told by the band out on the field, and after a joke is told, a formation or song is played to fit with the joke. Over the years, Columbia University's marching band has made choices in its show that have been humorous to some, but controversial to others.

Miscies
One of the things that helped people find humor in CUMB's performances were the introductions of miscies into their performance. Miscies were a new thing to the scramble band format. Miscies, which is a term short for miscellaneous, are members of the scramble band who are carrying miscellaneous objects to "perform" music with. At right, you see a member of the band hitting a black bird as an instrument in the band. Other items that have been used previously include mailboxes, kazoos, bagpipes, washboards, the didgeridoo, and kitchen sinks. Miscies brought a whole new form of performance to the marching band stage, by adding a humorous edge through the use of random objects that were not traditional marching band instruments.

Commentary on Social Events
The Columbia Marching Band is well known for their commentary on social issues, beginning way back in the 60's during the time of the Vietnam War. Due to their blunt perspectives on events in American history, the Columbia University Marching Band has been banned from performing at Ivy Leagues schools and at West Point. Columbia University's performance that resulted in a ban was caused by the statement against birth control they made. CUMB members formed a condom on the football field, and proceeded to play the song, "I Hear You Knockin' (But You Can't Come In). Other performances made by the band including formations such as a burning Cambodian village, a burning American flag, a mock consummation of a same-sex marriage, they recreated the Magic Bullet Theory (a theory which explains the death of John F. Kennedy,) and also had a show involving a homosexual Jesus Christ smoking pot. These topics are all topics you would not expect to see from an Ivy League school.

Analysis
Columbia University as an entity has displayed a vast amount of educational prowess over the years, making it one of the most esteemed and prestigious universities in the United States. This is in part explained by its connection to the Ivy League, which is known worldwide for impressive educational excellence. This excellence in a way can be used to help explain the existence of a marching band that may be considered radical in comparison with the school itself. It can be perceived that the Columbia University Marching Band was a way for students to escape from their school work and be able to express themselves in a way that they enjoyed, even if they people they were to be providing enjoyment for disagreed with their humor. That can be easily linked as an important aspect of life for the members of the band. The Columbia University Marching Band has made an enormous impact on the United State of America, through what could be considered contributions to U.S. society. The scramble band is a new innovation to American culture. The scramble band brought a new kind of performance to halftime shows around the country. The entire reason for this entertainment change for the football junkies were that the “forming rhombi thing had gone out of style with World War II”. This change depicted the refusal to conform to rules, which was a common theme in the 50’s and 60’s. Another reason for the swap to scramble format was the dislike of military concepts after World War II. Typical marching bands were very militaristic, by having to march in time to the beat and having to carry yourself in a proud way.Columbia University’s marching band helped to stray away from military style, and start a new, more spontaneous feel. Another connection the scramble format can make with the 1960’s is the economic growth of the time period. In the early stages of the 60’s, John F. Kennedy was in office as president, and he was a very energetic president. The scramble format reflected the personality of Kennedy, and still does today. The scramble format appears to have a lot of energy due to the lack of organization involved in making it to your location on the football field. Another issue the Columbia University Marching Band is known for is their ability to tackle social issues. One of Columbia University’s most famous social issues that were tackled was the push for birth control use.Columbia University’s Marching Band took an aggressive stand against birth control through a show they performed during the 1960’s with the push for birth control. CUMB went out onto the field, and formed many different objects that related to birth control, including birth control pills, condoms, a calendar (for the times when birth control should be taken), and a chastity belt. During one of the formations, the song, “"I Hear You Knockin' (But You Can't Come In)” is played by the band members. The CUMB was not the only group against birth control in the 1960's, however. CUMB may have gathered their opinions on birth control from their own state of New York, where it was illegal to use birth control until 1965. Another common theme during the 60's into the 70's was the protest against the Vietnam War. This also included protests about the secret bombings of Cambodia that did not remain secret for long.Columbia University's marching band was one of the first to march into the public eye and share the horrors of the United States' military actions. They did this by creating a Cambodian village that was burning on the field they were performing on. This action demonstrates the deep resentment United States citizens had about not just the Cambodian bombings, but war in general by that period of time. So far it seems like the Columbia University Marching Band is following popular opinion, but have been known to do quite the contrary in certain instances.Columbia University's Marching Band took quite a powerful stand against Christians, when they performed their show that replicated a homosexual Jesus Christ smoking pot. For obvious reasons, that greatly upset the Christian community. The spectators at the football game where that particular formation was made angrily left the stadium, and demanded a refund. This specific performance took place in 1998, a few years after the peak of the Christian Coalition. The actions taken by the band illustrate their beliefs about the Christian Coalition, as well as Christianity as a whole. The Columbia University Marching Band is a group of students who were greatly involved in American society, which is shown by their ability to make commentaries and express their opinions about events in American culture. As mentioned above, Columbia University was always one of the first groups to respond to changes in the perceived notions of American citizens. As time went on, people in the United States could predict, and were convinced that a reaction from the band was soon to occur once a new topic hit the media.Columbia University’s new styles of marching, introduction of miscellaneous objects to perform with, as well as social commentaries on issues, have caused a great change in American opinion. That in essence is the full extent of Columbia University Marching Band’s impact on the United States of America.