Letter to the Editor: follow up to “Take the Money and Run”

Illustration by Gareth Bentall
Illustration by Gareth Bentall

Dear Editor,

I first witnessed the VCU Peppas at Freshman Convocation in the Siegel Center in August 2015. I was hooked. Their energy was like no other, and as a musician and a non-music major, the idea of being part of a school organization where I could continue to hone my abilities piqued my interest. I was thrilled when I made the cut, and immediately started playing bass guitar with the group.

Honestly, I wouldn’t trade my time with the Peppas for anything. It was truly a rewarding experience, and I gained a very solid group of friends and sense of belonging to not only a beloved VCU organization, but also the university as a whole. As most know, this past summer, the Athletic Department could not agree to the contract terms of our long-time director Ryan Kopacsi, and hired Duane Coston, who functioned as the Assistant Director under Kopacsi my freshman year.

After VCU announced the hiring of our new director this summer, Duane held two meetings with various band members about the state of the band. Needless to say, many of us were skeptical about returning to the band. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend either of the meetings due to the fact I was working in my hometown of Bristol, Virginia. I contacted Duane, and we spoke over the phone at length about his goals for the band. He made it seem as though he honestly felt the situation regarding Ryan’s departure was unfortunate, but the only way for the band to continue to succeed was for him to “take the reigns.”

When I arrived back in Richmond I was eager for my next chance to perform with the Peppas, which was Ram Camp at the Siegel Center. I arrived early, and gradually other returning members filed in after me. When downbeat finally came, much to my surprise, our new director was nowhere to be found. Coston only appeared after the event while the band was packing up to inform us that we could go home.

One week later, we had our second event of the 2016-17 season: Freshman Convocation. Convocation is one of the most visible events for the Peppas, and is attributed to most of our roster growth. The previous years’ convocation is what got me interested in the pep band begin with, and once again Duane was in absentia. Similarly to Ram Camp he showed up at the end of the event to ride in the bed of a pickup truck while the incoming freshman class marched behind him.

It pains me to say he followed this unfortunate trend throughout the rest of my tenure with the Peppas. Out of the twelve events I attended, Duane attended three and conducted at only one.

My last time performing with the Peppas was during a men’s soccer game against Radford University on Friday, September 9. Needless to say, Coston did not attend this game either. Our performance that evening was turbulent, and I felt as though we needed the leadership of an actual director instead of the two student assistants who had been picking up his slack. So after the game I shot him a text message stating my concerns about the current state of affairs regarding the Peppas. Shortly after, I received a phone call from Duane, and he was very upset. This wasn’t due to our performance, but outrage at a student who would show concern about our leader’s performance.

He then dismissed me from my role with the band by saying “Anyone who disagrees with how I’m running the band will be taken off the roster and asked not to return.”

During our phone conversation he also said it was his goal for the Peppas to be a completely student-run organization, which was never made clear to us before, and that “If VCU wants me to stand in front of this band they will give me full pay and benefits.” I tried to reach out to him several times after this incident, but received no response whatsoever.

I did not see my time with the Peppas ending this way at all. I actually had great hope for the band under Coston’s direction, and it pains me to say that I’ve been completely let down. Obviously his attendance reflects his lack of commitment to the band, which also shows in his failure to deliver on any of the promises he made.

He promised us a guaranteed rehearsal space every week, but by my termination we had no rehearsals. He guaranteed us reliable transportation to and from all events, and we never got it. By this point we were deep into the fall semester, and still no scholarship contacts had been given to any members. The extra money he had promised to pay to Peppas who continued to perform after meeting their Olympic quota? Nowhere to be found.

Our previous director always welcomed constructive criticism and concerns from the band members. He wasn’t just our leader, but our biggest advocate. He always fought for better treatment and compensation for the band as a whole. I have a feeling the administration and the Athletic Department have lost sight of what the Peppas truly brought to the table.

We played numerous events completely unrelated to sports but supported VCU as a university. This is a facet of our schedule Coston is actively trying to change, saying “I have been reluctant to add more events to our already packed schedule,” even though this is our lightest year in recent history. The Peppas WERE one of VCU’s biggest ambassadors, but at the current rate this will cease to be true.

These issues need to be brought to light. Administrators and students need to know what’s going on in one of VCU and Richmond’s most beloved entities.

Playing with the Peppas was my favorite thing about VCU. The band had always felt more like a family to me than just a group of students. It’s a shame that the very people that make the Peppas great are now in such fear of repercussions that they feel as though there only outlet is anonymous letter to the Commonwealth Times. It pains me to say that even if I were to be asked back, based on the way things are going I would refuse to return.

To be a Peppa WAS an Honor, HONOR IT!

– JD Scarbrough

3 Comments

  1. Duane Coston is not Ryan. He did not build the Pappas as a student with the students. He is coming in as a part of the faculty of VCU. He is well qualified and very creative. He is trying to continue a program, but it’s not going to be Ryan’s program. There was only one Ryan. This does not mean it will not be a successful program. Give him a chance……

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