Drum Majors fill leadership role

Fans tend to associate drum majors with the flashy strutting and mace routines seen on the football field, the job of drum major for the Purdue "All-American" Marching Bands entails much more. Pregame and halftime shows at Ross-Ade Stadium give the drum majors a chance to strut their stuff. Then the tall ceremonial hat, traditionally made of Russian black bear fur, comes off and the long mace, decorated with gold braid, get laid aside. Purdue is one of only a few universities where the drum major has the responsibility to conduct the band in the stands, picking tunes that will fire up the fans. This year Dan Campbell, a senior education major and graduate of Penn High School, and Dustin Nicholson, a senior majoring in building and construction management and graduate of Minooka High School, will serve as drum majors.