Members of the Syracuse University Sour Sitrus Society will be heading for the Big Apple after all.

The Athletic Department told the pep band it would pay for its travel accommodations in New York City when the SU men’s basketball team plays in the semi-finals of the National Invitation Tournament starting today and running through Thursday, said Rob Edson, the assistant athletic director.

Edson said that reports of the Society definitely not going to the tournament were premature, as the Athletic Department had only made a recommendation that the band not go. The Band Department, however, sent an e-mail to band members Sunday telling them that they would not attend the event.

Edson added that the initial decision was based on academic concerns for the band, along with gauging weather. There was enough interest, however, to attend the games because the band did not play at the NIT games against St. Bonaventure in the Carrier Dome, which was held over Spring Break, and against the University of Richmond in Virginia.

“There were some people in Sitrus that were under the impression that if (the basketball team) went to New York City they were going,” Edson said. “And there were some people in the Athletic Department that thought that no matter where (the basketball team) went they would not want to go.”

He said that the reversal came after the department received several complaints from Society members, who expressed interest in the event.

Edson also said that there is no NIT rule that each team has to send a band, unlike the NCAA tournament.

Mike Oliveira, chairman of the Society, refused to answer questions on the topic and Treasurer Alyson Wasko could not be reached for comment.

Society members who are going on the trip were notified through an e-mail Monday that detailed departure information and explained the reversal.

Edson said that the interest in the finals probably has something to do with the location along with the prestige.

“There is a lot more interest in spending three days in New York as opposed to spending one night in Virginia,” Edson said. “And we understand that entirely.”

Published on March 25, 2002 at 12:00 pm