The Marching Storm
The Insite has learned there is more trouble brewing just north of Houston.
Band members at Prairie View A&M have started a campaign to get rid of their interim band director – Dr. William McQueen.
Students claim the director lacks passion for the program, has failed to get them scholarships on time, and refused to provide musical direction.
One student says they’ve already collected over 200 signatures to ask school officials to replace McQueen and their list is growing.
Those students are also considering a walkout and protest.
Dr. William McQueen (PV A&M Band Director)
A meeting held this week between students and the administration resulted in no action taken against McQueen according to students.
They tell the Insite school officials say they are not ready to move Dr. McQueen.
However, I have been told a new business manager is in the works for the band to ensure students get their scholarships on time.
One student says, “we have 30 years of legacy behind us and we went this year from having 340 band members to 130…and that’s really bad….we want to be great again.”
Students say we still have a good program but it’s far from the greatness we once knew under previous leadership.
The Insite sent to messages to the university and I will post the responses once I get them!
UPDATE – THE UNIVERSITY RESPONDS:
“The Marching Storm is an excellent source of pride for Prairie View A&M University. Throughout the last year, the University has been evaluating the ways in which it operates to ensure that it continues to uphold that great status.
This evaluation, as your reporting shows, includes reviewing everything from the way scholarships are distributed to the scheduling of tryouts, the hiring of a business manager and even evaluating the current leadership. We will continue to evaluate and make changes as necessary to our band program to ensure that our historic legacy is not only upheld but continues.
President Wright’s meeting with the band last night is an indication of how serious we are to continue our goal of achieving excellence in teaching, research, service and, in this case, the marching storm.”
- Sheleah Reed
PVAM Communications
I believe that the former and current students expect Prof. McQueen to run the program exactly as Prof. Edwards did, when he was alive. It should be understood that McQueen is not Edwards. Either way it goes, if new leadership is brought to the band then its not guaranteed that the program will maintain tradition or improve. Right now, it is the student’s responsibility to work and perform for the band if they want it to be like how it was in the past. Without their commitment and dedication the band isn’t going to improve, regardless of the type of leadership. A program is what you make it….it’s not what makes you. I am a product of the Marching Storm, however I believe the way the students are approaching the situation should be reevaluated. As stated before, the Storm is under McQueen’s guidance and however he wants to lead the band, they need to follow.
It will never be the same as before. Change will take time because it is not something that will happen overnight.
I came into the Marching Storm under Prof. Edwards. It was a great experience. But what people don’t know is the Marching Storm was having problems before Prof. Edwards passed away. The students GPA’s were the same now as they were then. The band had to put in a lot of effort to get students to go to LA for the Rose Bowl Parade. I understand Alumni are mad because they help build the program and do not meet their expectations but they also need understand that America is not the same when they were in school. Prairie View A&M University Marching Storm leadership has failed before Prof. Ed left but became worse when he passed. No one wanted Prof. Ed to be replaced but unfortunately life has to go. Prof. McQueen took the honor to take role as our head band director. But no one respected him every since step up to the plate. The first year it was understandable because most of the upperclassmen were still in mourning. But it has been three years and they still act the same way to him as they did when he took the position. Yes students are not always going to like what the band directors say but they do have to respect them. The Alumni wants to blame him for the Band’s unsuccessful season but it shouldn’t be the case. He has been lenient on them for the past three years. When the alumni students were in school they would practice all night and I was one of those band members who were out practicing every night in the midnight hour. But students were failing were failing then as well as now. To band students their education is second and that was the problem when Prof. Ed was here. Everyone put band first and if that is your major that is fine. But if it was not their major, students should have put school first. Since Prof. McQueen has taken over he have not kept the students late in practice because he battling with the school about students’ grades. So do not blame students GPA on him because it is not his fault. These band members are college students and they need to take responsibility of their own actions. Also with the scholarship situation, the band students know that band scholarships always post late. Under Prof. Edwards during his last year at least, students who came in on full band scholarships did not receive some of their money till the spring semester. Some people like me only received half of my money and I received it in Feb. the second semester after I came in along with my other crab brothers and sisters. My point of all this the alumni has no say over how the program is being ran, they are gone. If alumni have any problems or concerns they should take it up with the band fraternity, who are the leaders of this band. Criticizing the band is not the way to handle your opinions. If the alumni are really concerned they should set up a program or something to assist the band directors. Maybe a scholarship fund should be set up for students who are part of marching storm or even take out some time and set up seminars or private lessons for those who are struggling. Now there are several alumni who are fighting for this band as of right now and putting in long hours to support the band but the ones who are not there and don’t know the issues this band has been facing are the ones who are complaining. Take the time and come out once or twice a month and see what kind of problems the band is having. We had great experiences under Prof. McQueen and we have had some bad experiences. But that is life you go through ups and down, life is not perfect. But I really do feel that Prof. McQueen cares about his students and the program. He has been going through a lot but he has held on tight and continued to fight for this program. It is a shame that the alumni can talk down upon the Marching Storm without having a clue what this band program has been through these last years.
This is not everyones business and we do have things set up to keep it in house. With that being said I think we should do just that. Secondly, both sides have fell short with I the situation and that can not be over looked, but something does need to be done as soon as possible. “FAMILY BUSINESS”
Dr. McQueen isn’t the only one who has been aiding in the downfall of our program.. It is ALSO his staff.. Yes the students need to wrk harder on their grades this is true! But it’s completely unfair to the students whom are eligible to be stuck with a band director who didn’t want the position in the first place.. I am one of the ones who signed the petition, and I agree with this movement 100%.. These Band Director are suppose to be able to run this program because if experience alone! Dr. Mqueen has been at PVU done the 70s.. Which was before the late Goerge Edwards arrived and took the position of Head Band Director.. There are far more issues than Grades and scholarships.. This staff isn’t right.. And respect, how can you respect someone who says “I don’t give a damn about the band, all I want is my check”? Students have had run in’s like this with the current leaders.. How can you expect the band to be on time WHEN YOU ARE NOT ON TIME! How can you grow musicianship when it’s not being taught? How can the students put on a good show when you learn it 2days before the actual performance.. This man does not know how to run this program, and students and alumni are not the only ones who feel this way.. Some of the staff in the music department will NOT even come to the game because of tuning issues.. Now I marched in both eras.. And THERE IS NO COMPARING THE TWO! 1st and foremost Prof Ed wouldn’t bring students for out of state with nowhere to put them, and no money to give them.. He cared enough about his students enough to tell them the truth! And the whole respect factor.. Please.. We didn’t always agree with what he said, yes that is true; However, we trusted him to know that his vision was effective.. And musically he challenged us… Now, we don’t even know what McQueens vision is.. These two band directors can not be compared IMO.. When Prof ED came in 1987, the program imidiately took of.. It’s the complete opposite now.. No one expects Mqueen to approach the band like Edwards.. They are completely different.. We students only wanted him to pick up and enhance where he left off.. And he couldn’t even do that.. The program was set up for him.. Then he started to screw students over with vindictive ways (because the might not agree with him or they “aren’t on his team”).. I’m only scratching the surface, it gets real deep… The students are tired of the BS, speaking up about it and there is a petition to prove it… Let’s get real.. And again there are Staff members that say that this is the right approach… I hope they send the band some new direction… SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO GROW THE PROGRAM AND IS NOT JUST IN IT FOR A CHECK!!! One more thing… Dedication? Students have been putting up with this crap for the past 3 years.. Staying at practice late for no reason.. And someone wants to question dedication… People are in this thing for love alone… Please send the band new leadership.. For the future of this program.. And alumni are our audience.. Why wouldn’t they have an opinion.. We would accept their opinions if they were good.. But since we don’t agree, then “they shouldn’t say anything… Sometimes it’s harsh.. But true for the most part.. WE NEED BETTER DIRECTION! POINT BLANK PERIOD…
This is an easy fix with the right leadership.. Honestly, The students have the desire to be better, the talent is there, the love is there; however we are being prohibited in doing so under our current leadership.. The band isn’t bad, but we could be so much better, and while it is a two way street, it ultimately falls on Dr. McQueen and his staff.. we need to get on our grades, but a change of direction is in order..
I don’t see why I should care for someone who doesn’t care about others come on now this is the same dude who removed the entire drum section from the band , can anybody tell me why we was removed you can’t because it was a personal issue he had with the drumline “The BOX”. And even if you don’t think it was personal why didn’t he leave the freshman from that year, but yet people can do more extreme stuff and allowed back with welcome arms to the band I just don’t see how you can even compare him to Prof Edwards it’s time for ones who have been complaining to stand up and stand behind their word.
Can we edit before posting because you all are making us “band members” look redundant! Get it together focus on the bigger issue at hand. Go to class, pass and graduate, goodness! You may never find a prof like Professor Edwards, this is an extra curricular activity either agree with the program or go home and study, that’s just it!
This man does NOT care about these students.. It’s pretty evident!! Send help NOW!! The band is crying for help.. Why can’t the University understand that.. I mean before the football team started to improve, the band was putting on for the University.. It is a major tool for recruitment.. But now there is a sense of neglect.. Wake up PRAIRIE VIEW! “take care of what takes care of you.. Think about it.. Peace
You know what after seeing some of the member’s post on here it’s clear that Dr.McQueen is the perfect band director for the band right now .
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It baffles me to hear all of this “craziness”..I was in the band before it had a name, I was in the band and marched without a team. Our “Group” named the band “The Storm”. It was nothing to be at practice till 2am.. Prof. Ed would tell us to “Burn that midnight Oil”..which meant to hit the books, no matter what. “I GRADUATED–Class of 93″ These young bucks don’t have “That drive” to be “GREAT”! Prof had a vision and “WE” decided to give birth to it!!! How you practice is how you perform….you give 50% at practice,,,you look like 40% at the game with the heavy uniform on. You don’t focus on the lines at practice…that “V” will still be crooked…lol ! There will always be problems…..not having a football team was a problem..no where to go or march was a problem. But we still showed up at THE COTTON and waxed ass! Because we truly loved our program, and believed what we stood for. We thought about the future of the “Storm”. That’s why we stayed and “Marched”!!! Just think , we called ourselves “The Storm” because it represented what we had been through just to maintain the program. A “Storm” should be able to face any obstacle. Life will teach you all soon enough. I don’t care for my boss either, he’s there for a check too, but that doesn’t stop me from doing what I need to do. People don’t notice the “Director”, they notice the “Storm”. The Director doesn’t make up the dance…cadences,,,stand dances..There’s plenty of people around the campus that can write music…Hell, you all are still playing what we played..Every little step..!! P-Funk…so the LEGACY is created from the heart ….”YOU”. Yeah Prof Ed was a great leader and guide….but the band “Churning” like a mad hurricane…twisting and turning, like an F-4 Tornado…chunking straight “Hail” is up to you guys. P-V- U know !!!!!!! “It’s SHO–TIME !!!!! To The Hole Band!!