This past month, The Scotsmen acapella group finally gained official accreditation from Monmouth College. Since their founding in September, the group has been applying for accreditation. “It has been a long process and is quite a relief,” said senior Matt Henning, one of the group’s co-founders. By gaining accreditation, the group can now reserve rehearsal time and schedule performances. The group is now an official organization that is faculty-sponsored, and can attach themselves to the school.  Henning is also looking forward to, “the school funding to go on trips and promote the school, which we couldn’t do before.” In order to become accredited, the group had to draw up a constitution and allow for revisions from four sanctions: the student senate, faculty advisory, faculty senate and finally the full faculty.  The full faculty was, “the hardest one. In front of the majority of the faculty with an open question and answer [session] we had to defend out constitution,” said senior Brian “Big Red” Jordan. Having no women in the group was one of the biggest feats the group had to overcome.  Since they require a range of voice that is usually reserved for men, they are a primarily male group. Although they do have women involved in their website and promotions, the lack of female involvement was difficult for the faculty to accept.  Henning said, “Females can be in, but need to be able to have the right voice range.”

This group has been an idea since 2004, but they finally became a reality when there was enough interest and dedication to start the group.   There are currently twelve singing members and twenty-five people involved.  Henning and Jordan hope to see the group “blossoming” even after they graduate. 

The group can be found on their MySpace and Facebook pages or at their upcoming concerts on April 16 at Scotlight, Scots Eve on April 22, May 3 at the Sound of 5 concert and their last performance of the year, which will be on May 7.  The final event of the year will be a charity event for United Way.  The Scotsmen would like to, “say thank you to the faculty for supporting the group.” 

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