FRATERNITY GIVES MUSIC LIBRARY'S ONLY DONATION: $500

By Samantha Sigmon
The Arkansas Traveler

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Negligible funding received by the music library this year from the UA has been a controversial topic surrounding the music department. But, thanks to a music fraternity on campus, students might soon have more options when it comes to checking out CDs and other audiovisual materials.

This week Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a social music fraternity, donated $500 to the music or audiovisual library. This fraternity's object is "to advance music in America through brotherhood," said Brian Sours, president of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

When the fraternity had $500 to give out, they looked for the organization most in need. The music library, located on the first floor of Mullin's, had received a $300 budget this year; it was less than "what we donated to them," Sours said.

Sours said this amount of money was "pathetic" because this section of the library has to buy CDs, musical scores and other things that music students need. It is "kind of a shame" that money was taken away from Fulbright College, which has the largest number of students and the largest amount of diversity, and that the college gave the library even less than Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia donated to them this year, Sours said.

"If this school wants to be recognized in all areas, they need to not forget certain departments," Sours said. "We are top in the nation in business and agriculture, but to be a well rounded and diverse university, we need to not take so much from Fulbright College," Sours said. "Cutting from the most diverse, largest college is making a statement to the nation and world."

The music library is a place where students can rent headphones and CD players. They can also rent all kinds of media including CDs and DVDs. People go here to transfer media like vinyl records to CDs or VHS tapes to DVDs, he said.

Sours works in the library about 25 hours a week. He has talked extensively with the director of the library, Laura Lennertz-Jeffon, about the lack of funding, he said. The money will be given to Lennertz-Jeffon to purchase what she thinks is best for the library, Sours said. The fraternity wants to give the money to what is needed the most. All they ask is to know what she bought.

They raise money by selling Domino's pizza slices for a dollar, cookies, and sodas for 50 cents in the music bridge on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Sours said. All of the proceeds go back to the music department.

"That's what we're about," Sours said, "giving it back to the music department."

The fraternity is also donating $500 to the UA band camp around May or June. They also have more money they are willing to give away, but have yet to narrow down places in the music department that need help.

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