<p>It was their extremely obscene “mid-term” exam they made the freshmen take, the “tricks” they had them perform, and the very disgusting comments they made to the female members (who were by far the minority) that made this so over-the-top. They weren’t just sitting in the back of the bus cackling over some porn magazines. This was a prolonged, organized nasty-fest.
I’m wondering how many sincere musicians were lost along the way because they didn’t want to participate in this, and if they were made to feel as though they “couldn’t handle a little fun”.</p>
<p>I agree that drinking, sexual innuendo, nicknames, etc. are not exactly uncommon things among a bunch of college students. To me what’s odd is that the students didn’t have the sense of shame not to do these things in front of the band director / other responsible adults. </p>
<p>Uh, I don’t think being forced to run around in underwear and drink to excess is the same thing as choosing to do so as voluntary hijinks. Humiliation and embarrassment are standard hazing techniques and are abuse.</p>
<p>^^This, garland, precisely. When The Group requires – demands – that individuals set aside their own common sense (drinking to excess) and moral compass (not every girl wants to lap dance or buy Victoria’s secret in anticipation of going nearly naked in a public shaming); not every guy wants to be groped or pretend to be an erection in public)… when a group requires that as “bonding” and adults condone it, you’ve got abuse. Note that two sexual assaults within the band have been swept away as well. </p>
<p>Hazing in fraternities is equally awful and unacceptable. Because it is expected does not make it right.</p>
<p>Some students like to drink to excess and run around in their underwear, and I suppose some women like nicknames about the size of their breasts (not that I know any such women, but I guess they must exist). But students should not be required to put up with that crap just to play in the band.</p>
<p>What a shame that a great band director had such bad judgment. Yes, I’ve read of far worse, but it’s not OK for the band to put pressure on individuals that way. The adults should be pushing back against that culture.</p>
<p>This is just amazing: <a href=“Ohio State Marching Band Hollywood Blockbusters Halftime Show 10 26 2013 OSU vs Penn State - YouTube”>Ohio State Marching Band Hollywood Blockbusters Halftime Show 10 26 2013 OSU vs Penn State - YouTube;
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<p>Yeah, that “voluntary” part seems to be lost on a few.</p>
<p>Granted, kids can “just say no,” but these acts should not be conditions of membership.</p>
<p>That’s a terrific show, Hanna. </p>
<p>The ends don’t justify the means, though-- the band director had to go.</p>
<p>Agreed.</p>
<p>Sorry, I feel strongly that condoning sexual harrassment as part of group membership just has to stop. Turning a head the other way perpetuates the “boys wil be boys” attitude that has no place in our current society. These “boys” become the men who think nothing of carrying on forms of this harassment into other environments. It just has to stop and responsible adults need to quit looking the other way. This was a first step. </p>
<p>I wonder how many students left the band because of the harassment? 18-year-old me would not have stayed in a group like that, no matter how much I wanted to be in the band.</p>
<p>I also wonder whether the harassment was known to prospective students who wanted to be in a big-time band. Did some graduating band members tell their younger friends, “I don’t think you’d like Ohio State, maybe you should think about applying to Michigan instead?”</p>
<p>You have to pick the right leaders. That band leader wasn’t the right one. Adults are supposed to act like adults. </p>
<p>I like the you tube of OSU band…very good and better than I’ve seen them do before, but I like the A&M Aggie Band best of all. I’ve never seen anyone do formations like them.</p>
<p><a href=“Texas Aggie Band 4 way cross drill - Miss St game 11/09/13 - YouTube”>Texas Aggie Band 4 way cross drill - Miss St game 11/09/13 - YouTube;
<p>I also like some of the HBCU college bands, but if I recall there have been some band hazing issues there as well.</p>
<p>I do think that some of these hazing situations are smokescreens for sadists and other a****les to whip up on people and have an “excuse” for it. Normally the right coach/sponsor keeps the lid on this business, but apparently its not as easy to monitor as you’d hope. </p>
<p>I know some kids that went to big ten schools because they made the marching band there. I wonder how many got to Ohio State U and were surprised about this stuff. What do you do if you really want to play in the band but don’t want to go along with this? Not the kind of networking that most of us think of, eh?</p>
<p>My guess is that a lot of people knew before joining the band, though that certainly doesn’t make it OK. The band community is pretty tight knit.</p>
<p>Goodness. Marching band was a huge part of my college experience (back in the dark ages!) at the University of Alabama (MILLION DOLLAR BAND)–and my oldest son’s as well. NOTHING like this stuff went on. Though plenty of alcohol was consumed, it was not mandatory. :)</p>
<p>Seriously, this is just sad. I have always admired Ohio State’s marching band. </p>
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mom2collegekids, some participated without even the underwear on.</p>
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<p>If that was completely voluntary, then I have no problem with it. However, to have a situation where the most people can have on is their underwear is completely unacceptable. For anyone carrying around a few extra pounds, the situation would be humiliating. </p>
<p>^^^^^I was as slim as can be when I tried out for the Longhorn marching band. I had gone to a hs with a weak marching program, so I didn’t even make the LMB and was pretty disappointed for a while. If I had heard that there were mandatory band practices with a dress code of only my underwear, NO WAY IN HELL would I have been on board with that! I would have found it humiliating no matter my form, but I get what you are saying. </p>
<p>I would have refused, even if it meant I would have to drop out of the program.</p>
<p>^^
Oh, I agree…even thin ones wouldnt be onboard. I can imagine a whole host of folks who would be self-conscious.</p>
<p>It’s not just people who think they would be judged unfavorably who might object to <em>having to</em> march in their underwear. An attractive young woman with no extra pounds at all might well be reluctant to have her fellow band members leering at her in her bra and panties. The whole thing is well beyond the pale, and I have no comprehension of the people defending it.</p>