The Friday Letter

“Go Vandals, Go” is the only fight song we know. Our Vandal Marching Band, the Sound of Idaho, has led us through that fight song on campus for decades. This Saturday, five current and former marching band directors will lead our Homecoming Parade as grand marshals to celebrate the band's 100th anniversary. Former band directors – Robert Spevacek, Dan Bukvich, Al Gemberling and Torrey Lawrence – are being celebrated alongside Athletic Bands Director Spencer Martin to mark a century of the band’s signature sound.

This milestone is significant. It’s also worthy of its own Brave and Bold moment.

The band, with help from partners across campus, has a special show planned for us during halftime of tomorrow’s football game against Idaho State. The performance includes 150 new percussion triangles. These are not your ordinary triangles. Working with colleagues in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences and the College of Engineering, they've created triangles that light up when played.

Mechanical engineering and computer science students in the College of Engineering designed the rebar triangles. Students in the Apparel, Textiles and Design program in our College of Agricultural and Life Sciences created hip belts with holsters to hold them. Band members, many enrolled in the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences, volunteered weekends to assemble the triangles that have circuit boards custom-designed by our U of I team in Coeur d’Alene. Watch a video of the triangles being made.

I’m looking forward to the show. Our marching band makes Homecoming a special time. The Vandal Family supports each other and I am proud to support the best marching band in the country.

Homecoming Week is a time of celebration and revelry. As we reflect on what it means to be a Vandal this week, let’s ensure we’re paying tribute to the band and its members for providing the soundtrack to that experience.

Donate Canned Food, Show Vandal Pride

Congratulations to Our Summer 2019 Graduates: U of I awarded 276 degrees, including bachelor's, master's, doctorate, law and specialist degrees, following the summer session. That's in addition to 1,527 degrees awarded to students following the 2019 spring semester.

INL Cuts Ribbon on Two New Buildings: From the Idaho Falls Post Register: Idaho National Laboratory cut the ribbon on two new buildings Monday that will boost the lab’s cybersecurity work and its research collaboration with the state’s colleges and universities.

Post-Haste Reed Duo Album Featured in Fanfare Magazine: The Post-Haste Reed Duo, co-founded by Assistant Professor of Bassoon Javier Rodriguez, will be featured in the November/December issue of Fanfare Magazine for the release of the group's latest album, “Donut Robot!” 

Note: The LED triangle project was funded by U of I students through the Student Arts Fee Grant, distributed by the U of I Arts Committee.