<p><a href=“http://www.cupidsundierun.com/city/newyork/”>http://www.cupidsundierun.com/city/newyork/</a></p>
<p>Of course, this is completely voluntary. In the band situation, there is obvious peer pressure.</p>
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Would the women defending this be comfortable being required to wear a bikini to work? It would be no big deal?</p>
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<p>Excellent point. The person with this defense should take a pic of herself in her bra/panties and link it for all of us to see. </p>
<p>If it’s pictures you want to see, Google search images of “undie run” and you will find plenty of young women posing proudly in public in their bras and panties. </p>
<p>^^^
Was that by choice? If so, then so what? I can google “boobs” and find a bunch of idiots posing topless. What does that prove? </p>
<p>It proves that this statement: " Bikinis are public attire, underwear is private." …is not accurate. That is all.</p>
<p>A young woman who believes her underwear should remain private should not be pressured or coerced to wear it in public as some sort of condition of membership in a school sanctioned group.</p>
<p>Moreover, aren’t many marching band members receiving a class credit for this? It used to be that way. If so, the school has even more duty to protect the members from this kind of harassment.</p>
<p>I don’t disagree with you, Nrdsb4. </p>
<p>As I age, I have been trying to make an effort to remain current, and not judge situations through my 70-80s lens. The whole wearing of underwear thing does not appear to be a big deal to college-aged students nowadays. I was just pointing that out. It doesn’t mean I would be happy with my kids participating, but they are adults and it is not illegal, so who am I to judge it as outrageous or something? I am a old person, and young people are probably rolling their eyes at the knee-jerk reactions to wearing undies at night on campus engenders. </p>
<p>I have two daughters who have no 70-80s lens, and both of them would be absolutely appalled by a requirement to strip down to bra and panties for a band practice, as well as some of these other “hijinks” described. </p>
<p>I am more offended by the nick-naming than the underwear-wearing. Everyone is different.</p>
<p>If you can access the article in today’s Columbus Dispatch marching in their underwear is the least of the issues. </p>
<p>My kids and nieces and nephews went to “undie parties” in HS and college. I thought it was a little weird - but different strokes. And of course, there are the “no pants” days in all major cities when people ride public transportation with no trousers on. And the “naked bike rides.” Sure all these activities are voluntary. But so, I believe was the band practice. Everyone chose to participate. They were not going to be kicked out of the band if they did not participate. Sure there was peer pressure, but there is always peer pressure to do lots of things. </p>
<p>Like I have said upthread, nothing excuses the staff involved.I just wish that the girls involved had spoken up sooner (or some of the guys) Why did it take a parent to complain? But I hope I’ve taught my kids to say something if they are uncomfortable, or at least walk away. All kids need to be taught to speak up</p>
<p>To me, this is like fraternity hazing. No one should be coerced to do something they don’t want to do - especially if it is dangerous. Everyone should have been given an out and a choice whether or not to participate. I do think it would be better if there were no sexual harassment - of males or females, gay or straight. But the unfortunate facts are that young people (and old, I guess) do stupid things in groups. </p>
<p>@megpmom apparently at least a few of the students said something–there were 3 complaints of sexual assault and/or harrassment over the past three years. Water’s answer to one of the complaints was to try to keep the victim and the accused off of a band trip. Yes, the victim. One of the accused students was expelled. </p>
<p>There was a “duct tape” party at my D’s college. No clothing allowed, only coverage made from duct tape. Some of the creations were amazing. </p>
<p>I didn’t realize that there had been complaints before. Again, no excuse for the staff and administration involved. They needed to be the “adults.” I hope criminal charges were filed for the sexual assaults. </p>
<p>@Bay - duct tape - ouch!! You would definitely want to wax ahead of time. Or maybe it was just instant waxing!</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/07/27/blurred-lines.html”>http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/07/27/blurred-lines.html</a></p>
<p>That is the Dispatch article.</p>
<p>I had been wondering about gender balance in other bands. The Ohio State band is only about 20% female-- I wondered whether that was the norm. Apparently, no, it isn’t. According to the article, the Michigan band is about 50/50 male/female.</p>
<p>Ohio State is a big school, and undoubtedly has many talented female musicians. I just can’t imagine why more of them wouldn’t want to join the band and get sexually harassed. It’s a mystery, to be sure.</p>
<p>Many of these students are away from home for the first time, and are counting on the comaraderie of the marching band. It’s sad that it might turn out this way for many of them. It would be hard for students to complain for the same reasons that they feel pressured to participate, they feel pressure not to report it. It just makes matters worse when they hear from others that it’s to be expected, or it just for fun, and excuses are made for this behavior…more blame the victim for not being a good sport.</p>
<p>I wonder if some students might also feel they need to remain a part of the band, as they may feel (or it may have been) a part of the reason they were accepted to the school, or got a certain scholarship.</p>
<p>It’s just not OK. Some may feel that this didn’t go ‘too far’, but who gets to decide that? Shouldn’t each participant feel free to decide how far is too far for them? I imagine it would be frightening, just not knowing how far things will go, and what you might be subjected to next.</p>
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<p>One of the comments to the Dispatch article explains this is due to the fact that OSU band is a horns and drums band, and since women often play woodwinds, they are not as prevalent in the OSU band. I don’t know if this is true or not, just relaying the message.</p>
<p>Good point, Bay. I thought of that, but didn’t realize that other bands weren’t just brass and percussion. Anybody know what the typical gender breakdown is for college age horn players and drummers?</p>
<p>drums are a heavily male instrument. Brass instruments are also heavily male. Without flutes and clarinets, the gender balance will shift. In DCI, you will see 80 member horn lines with 10-15 female members. In DCI, you will see maybe a couple females in a drum line of 15-20. Of the brass instruments, you will probably find most females in the french horn (mellophone) sections, and then trumpets. Almost no tubas and baritones/euphoniums.</p>
<p>Most college bands have a full group of woodwinds (not that you can hear them on the field, or in the stands, but whatever).</p>
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<p>you can tape the duct tape to itself and make clothes out of it… not to your body =P</p>