Given its viral success with YouTube hits such as “The Par ty Rock Anthem” and “Gang nam Style” throughout the past few years, it’s safe to say that people are aware of the Marching 110’s repertoire.
But as the band gets ready for the new year, its passion and commitment off the field is something that is often un derstated.
“When you work this closely and for this amount of time with people, you create a spe cial bond that is hard to find anywhere else,” said Kyle Lik ens, current field commander for the Marching 110 and a senior studying communica tions. “I can personally say that I have met some of my closest friends in this band and cre ated connections that will last past my time in the 110.”
The band has been able to go everywhere from the set of Deal or No Deal in L.A. to, most recently, Dublin and Rome in May.
“When you join the band as a freshman, these are the first people you meet on cam pus,” said Nick Parsons, a 2006 alumnus who played in the Marching 110 for four years. “You instantly have 200 friends who would do anything for you.”
Although it’s certainly a time commitment, Parsons and other members are confident when they say that they have no regrets.
“Joining the Marching 110 was the best thing that hap pened to me in college,” Par sons said. “Some of my non-band friends have shared with me that not joining the band was their number one regret from college.”
Although it has its rewards, joining the Marching 110 is not without its hardships.
“Be prepared to work hard, (and) know that you are going to be part of a close-knit group that is going to impact your life in a positive way,” said Richard Suk, director of the band.
Even though he has been away from the band for a cou ple of years, Parsons and other alumni have been able to stay in touch through various forms of social media. Andrew Trach sel, director of bands, said he’s seen an increase in interest for the Marching 110 among stu dents in the past couple years due largely to social media.
“I’ll never forget what my mother and her best friend, who went to Kent State, told me: ‘This school pride/obses sion thing will fade away even tually,’ ” Parsons said. “I laugh as I’m joined every Homecom ing by fellow band alums who are twice my age and haven’t missed a Homecoming since they were students.”
