UCAFANS.COM | GO UCA BEARS!

The university has also raised tuition 14 percent, or $640 a year, starting this fall. EWU will save about $20,000 by trimming uniform, field and instrument maintenance; not buying music and show designs; and not hiring a percussion instructor. Devin Otto, the marching band director and a lecturer, resigned after seven years to pursue his doctorate degree. His position as lecturer was filled, but the band director position was eliminated, shaving another $10,000 from the budget.

Eastern Washington University officials have reversed their decision to discontinue the marching band, they announced this afternoon.

Faced with $13.3 million in budget cuts, the college had decided to cut marching band, which would have saved about $30,000 this year.

“EWU has faced severe budget reductions in the past six months and eliminating the band seemed like one of many budget reduction possibilities,” Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs John Mason said in a press release. “But recent robust enrollment projections, not available at the time the University’s budget reduction plan was adopted, mean the University will have funds to support the marching band.”

Eastern’s music department is currently making plans to hire a new band director to work with the nearly 100 students who make up the Eagle marching band, said college spokeswoman Teresa Conway.