The Syracuse University Athletic Department informed the Sour Sitrus Society on Sunday that it would not fund a trip to New York City for the society to play at SU’s National Invitation Tournament game against South Carolina University.

Mike Oliveira, the chairman of the Society, said there were not any definite plans in place to play at the game, although he had already organized 30 members of the group to leave on Tuesday and stay through Thursday. He said he was notified through the band department that Rob Edson, associate director of the Athletic Department, said that the department would not finance the pep band’s trip.

Earlier in the semester, the Athletic Department sent a letter to the society reviewing guidelines and policies for conduct. The letter was sent after a University of Connecticut fan complained about band member’s conduct during a UConn-SU women’s game at Manley Field House.

Oliveira e-mailed everyone who was planning on going on the trip Sunday night to inform them of the development.

The society regularly plays at both women’s and men’s SU basketball games. It recently was sent to Waco, Texas, and New York City for a NCAA women’s game and a Big East tournament game, respectively.

“When they take us, it is out of their own good will and it happened that they couldn’t take us this time,” said Oliveira, a junior television, radio and film major.

When contacted, Edson said that he was unaware of the decision.

Jay Proulx, a member of the band who was planning on going, found the decision not to fund the trip surprising. Proulx, a senior music industry major, said he planned on missing an entire week of work as a disc jockey at jazz station WAER and did not know that there was a possibility the team might not be going.

“Changing the schedule around at the last second is kind of a shot in the back,” Proulx said.

Published on March 24, 2002 at 12:00 pm