I was on the UW campus Saturday afternoon and at the Badger game Saturday evening. It was a beautiful autumn day, and I was again reminded of the myriad reasons that for me, make the pageantry of college football superior to any other sport.
The fans narrowley missed out on a Badger victory. They also missed out on the tremendous and always entertaining performance of the spectacular UW Marching Band. The band, already on probation from an incident two years ago, was suspended from this game for activity occuring on the previous week's trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Officials are interviewing band members "one at a time" to investigate "allegations of serious hazing", alcohol consumption, and "inappropriate sexual behavior".
Now here are a few quick thoughts. First, for the University to suspend a band that is almost as much a part of the football program as the team itself, is a very serious step. The timing of the suspension reveals this with even greater emphasis, for this was no afternoon game against South Dakota State. It was a night game against the mighty Ohio State Buckeyes, served up to our sports-frenzied nation on live, prime-time television. For officials to deny the kids this chance, and the invaluable publicity attendant with such a show, indicates that the alleged behavior went well beyond college kids just having some exuberant road-trip fun.
Further, the suspension of the band prior to the results of the investigation being completed, tells us that what has been alleged was not only serious, but dangerous. If the allegations are true, the University was probably exposed to enormous financial liability. And worse, students may have been subjected to risk of emotional or physical harm.
Lastly, it tells us that someone was so alarmed by what they saw that they took it upon themselves to come forward with an anonymous tip to Band Director Mike Leckrone. We will probably never know, but in all likelihood it was a student of small group of students that took this step. If that is the case it was an act of tremendous courage, for doing so put the wildly popular and successful program in serious jeopardy.
As is typical in such matters, we can surmise that most of the kids in the band are great students and musicians, and that the alleged behavior is a case of a minority emperiling the entire group. The protection of that majority is all the more reason to take swift and definitive action, along with protecting the University from potentially staggering litigation.
The competition to be a member of the UW Marching Band is enormous, and those who wear the red and white have earned that spot with hard work and talent. UW officials are correct in conducting a thorough and confidential investigation. They are to be encouraged to take firm and decisive action against any members of the UW Staff or band that may have emperiled its collective good standing and health.
Membership in the elite UW Marching Band is an honor and a privilege.
One that should be revoked if necessary.
In the interests of disclosure, I have no formal or informal relationship with the UW Marching Band, nor do I know any individuals currently associated with it.
