Straight Lines

Presidents and managers of the eight Ivy League bands met formally for the first time last spring in an exercise of intercollegiate musical summitry. At the conclusion of the weekend conference at the University of Pennsylvania, in best diplomatic tradition, they issued a joint communique.

After a bow to their importance for school spirit, alumni and public relations, and the need for cooperation with and support from their respective college administrations, they spoke out for diversity, acknowledged past concerns, and accepted responsibility for their role in educational processes.

Roughly translated, the statement could possibly be construed as a decision to clean up their collective act.