By: Megan Melone, Writer
Photography submitted by David Justice
David Justice is a senior music major from Vandalia, Illinois. Along with being the president of the McKendree Spectrum Alliance, they are also a resident assistant in Walton Hall, a member of the Spirit of McKendree Band, Vice President of Finance for Alpha Delta Gamma, and involved in the McKendree Theatre program.
I interviewed David about their time at McKendree and their plans after graduation:
Why did you choose to come to McKendree?
Justice: I was originally recruited for the former marching band, but I came here when everyone had just got back from COVID, so we didn’t really have too much of a marching band. And with other circumstances, it turned into the spirit band, which is what it is now.
How is campus different from when you first got here with COVID-19 compared to today?
Justice: It was really isolated. There was a point where you weren’t even allowed to have guests in your dorm. So, it was really weird to invite someone to come hang out in my dorm after they lifted the restrictions because everyone was not social with each other.
Why did you decide to pursue a major in music and education?
Justice: I decided my major about four days before high school graduation, after I had already completed a few credits for my original major I was going into. I just fell in love with seeing how students grow, and music in itself is really the best.
You said seeing kids grow, but what else do you like about teaching?
Justice: There is a lot of immediate showing of my efforts, kind of. Now that could be a two-edged sword, but most of the decisions I make shows immediately.
You like seeing the effects of your teaching on the kids.
Justice: Yeah.
You substitute at Carlyle. Tell me about that.
Justice: Yeah. I had to get that sub-degree whenever I started being a brass instructor over at Carlyle. Yeah, it’s been really good.
What did you do with the band at Carlyle?
Justice: The director there is an alum of McKendree. We met when she worked for my old band director back in Vandalia. Right now my position is a brass technician, but I also serve as a professional member of staff. I write some of the pep charts they do. I helped with percussion a little bit, and not this year, but last year I helped with the marching band design.
Tell me about what you’re involved in at McKendree.
Justice: My goodness. So, let’s just go down the list: I am involved with the Office of Residence Life. I started out as a community coordinator for Baker Hall. Then this year I got placed as an R.A. for Walton Hall. I am the president of Spectrum Alliance. Me being in Spectrum Alliance happened as an accident. I tell everyone, “Oh yeah I fell in love with it.” But the reason I came there was because a friend of mine who was the president said, “Hey, you wanna play Mario Kart?” and then later saying, “Hey you wanna be treasurer?” I’m like ok why not. Then just going up the ranks and running unopposed. But it’s been an interesting thing. I work for the Hett. I am also involved with the most recent [theatre] production of These Shining Lives. I’m a conductor for the spirit band, as fun as that can get. Actually, I think that’s about it. …
Are you in ADG? (Alpha Delta Gamma)
Justice: Oh yeah, I am in ADG. I think my official title is vice president of finance.
Tell me about your presidency of Spectrum Alliance.
Justice: It was really an interesting process because most of the time I was president it was find someone to fill all these roles, figure out how to do all of this. Because all of the RSOs were shut down for God knows how long [due to COVID].
You kind of came in blind.
Justice: So that was the biggest thing, and now it’s getting back on its feet. We actually got shirt orders in and all of that fun stuff, and we drafted up a budget. It’s all falling into place now that I am going to leave the presidency and Spectrum Alliance. But it is what it is, and I am just glad that it’s starting to get its holding back.
That’s definitely a testament to what you’ve done though that it’s moving in the direction you would want it to go. That’s good.
So what are your after-school plans?
Justice: At the moment pursuing a master’s in the arts of teaching. I haven’t decided on a subject because that was a really recent decision I made.
Do you know where you want to pursue your master’s?
Justice: I looked into McKendree, but it depends on the timing and the cost, to be honest. If that doesn’t work out, I am looking into a master’s in musicology.
What advice do you have for other students?
Justice: I would say go out and do events because you never know who you are gonna meet because if you go through college sticking by yourself, you are not gonna have a full college experience.
