Uniform Replacement Project
When ground was broken for construction of the new Saluki Stadium, the Marching Salukis also began a mission -- we wanted the band to be as impressive in their uniforms as the new stadium is to the SIU campus.
With the assistance of Dwight Miller and Stanbury Uniforms, famed designer Brent Becker began work. His task was daunting. We asked him to stay true to the history of the band, but also to update and contemporize the uniform for 2010 and beyond. Every inch was considered: placement and types of buttons, piping, the addition of a school logo, the color and type of materials... the list continued.
The artisans at Stanbury Uniforms were also charged with a task of their own: to take the 11 distinct and separate parts of the previous uniform and engineer them into two.
After dozens of sketches and revisions, Brent submitted the final "golden" design to us on November 12, 2009.
With the blessing of Chancellor Goldman, College of Liberal Arts Dean Alan Vaux and School of Music Director Jeanine Wager, and with the help of CEO of the SIU Foundation Rickey McCurry, College of Liberal Arts Development Officer Tracee Tyner Norris, former Director of Bands Mike Hanes and Alumni Band President Eden Thorne, our campaign to fund the uniforms -- $65,000.00 in total -- began in earnest.
Over the next several months, donations were received from supportive alumni, friends and community members. Special campus organization like the SIU Alumni Association also recognized the importance of our mission, and the incredible dedication of the students who would wear the uniforms. We were able to purchase 150 new uniforms, hats, garment bags and raincoats.