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University of Wisconsin officials suspect some Marching Band members were sexually fondled or forced to drink alcohol against their will in a recent road trip, two of several allegations that resulted in the band’s suspension from last Saturday’s football game.
In a letter sent to band members’ parents, Dean of Students Lori Berquam said allegations also include “being forced to have their hair cut in a way that is not flattering” and “being forced or pressured to eat something disgusting.”
“I am notifying you of these allegations because of my concern for you son or daughter’s safety and academic success,” Berquam wrote in the letter obtained by The Badger Herald. “Although our investigation is ongoing and no specific disciplinary action has yet to take place against any individual student, it is important for you to be aware of these concerns.”
The UW community awaits the end of an investigation led by Assistant Dean of Students Kevin Helmkamp. Berquam said she hopes the investigation will be completed this week, by which time the band would be notified of whether they will perform during this Saturday’s game against Penn State.
On Tuesday, Band Director Mike Leckrone, who suspended the band Friday after learning about the allegations that stemmed from a recent trip to the University of Michigan, said the Marching Band will continue to rehearse every day of this week as if they were to perform.
“We will continue to practice every day this week; if we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it right,” Leckrone said. “We’re still waiting for a decision that could happen anytime.”
In 2006, the band was suspended after a trip to Michigan in which female band members were forced to kiss each other to gain access to the bus bathroom; at least one member had his head shaved against his will and at least one female member was forced to mimic fellatio on a sex toy.
Then-Chancellor John Wiley was an avid critic of the incident and wrote in a letter to Leckrone that the band could face “virtual extinction” if any further incidents arise.
Current Chancellor Biddy Martin said at a Faculty Senate meeting Monday that she supports Leckrone’s decision.
Berquam said last week the allegations could be in violation of UW System codes and the band’s own codes. Punishment could range from official reprimand to expulsion, and the UW Police Department may also get involved if deemed necessary.
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ahahahaaha. haircuts and gross food?! wow….this whole thing was blown out of proportion.
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Aren’t these students 18 years old? Why in the world would the Dean send a letter to their parents? I didn’t realize that the mission of the University is to breed a bunch of dependent losers for the future. This country is screwed.
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And we were told yesterday that the sexual fondling listed in that letter WAS NOT an allegation, at least anymore. No evidence of it was found at all, which doesn’t surprise me.
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I hope the police department is called in. Hazing is against the law. It didn’t just occur on the bus trip to Michigan. It started as soon as the freshman stepped foot into the band room. I also hope that the band DOES NOT get to play this Saturday. The people who are responsible for the hazing should come forward and face their punishment, and the band should not be allowed to continue playing until that happens. The current Chancellor needs to have a backbone like John Wiley did in 2006. Ms. Martin says she supports Mr. Leckrone’s decision, but does she realize that he is just trying to cover himself from any future liability.
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they deserve to be suspended in my opinion. i played drums my freshman year… booze was for the most part forced on freshmen and the things about sex toys and about kissing other girls is unfourtunately totally true… i refused… needless to say i’m no longer in marching band, it really wasn’t worth it… thing is, most of the other girls wouldn’t stand up to any of the mostly senior guys (and some girls)
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Do you find something funny about the word �tromboner�?
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They should probably ban exams, frats/sororities and relationships on campus. You know, anything that might make someone uncomfortable.
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Sexual fondling? That’s probably the most action these band kids have ever gotten. j/k I heard bandcest is quite common
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the next time i fail a midterm are biddy and lori going to call home to tell my parents i need to study instead getting high now?
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I can’t think of a more useless institution than the marching band. It’s not like they’re the ones playing Jump Around. Either replace them with a few MP3s or outsource to China… somehow.
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Hey, whoever that is who played drums freshman year… that stuff has CHANGED, even in the past two years…. severely.
Headshaving used to be pretty much mandatory, this year it isn’t… and two of the freshmen opted out—and their upperclass was FINE with it.
It’s sad that you had to endure such problems, but you should not make the assumption that the band has not changed (for the better) since then—it HAS. Significantly.
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I used to be in the band too, and while I’m not saying that things don’t need to change, I think that someone needs to speak up for all of the good people in the band who worked hard to make sure this kind of thing didn’t happen anymore. I saw significant improvements in the band in my four years there because of those particular students, and when someone screws it up, it weighs heaviest on these people. I’ve seen a lot of tears in the last week from band members who absolutely had their hearts ripped out when they heard that someone had messed it up for everyone. Punish the offenders, but also realize that there are some great people out there who feel as crushed about this as many of you do.
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You may want to change the title of this article as the Dean has now stated, “A report that students were fondled against their will was not substantiated.”
Nice.
How much else simply is not true?
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You’d think the student paper would at least report on the band’s perspective of things, but no, they’re the ones spreading rumors. I guess that’s what you get with a student paper…students who have no idea how to report on issues. I was in the band for 4 years, and never saw any of this stuff happen. Maybe it did, and I didn’t see it, but I knew pretty much everyone in the band, and heard a lot of things.
Also, any 18 year old guy who complains about his hair being cut into a funny shape is a pussy. Just throwing that out there. It’s not like you have a job or anything that you need decent hair for. Suck it up and give yourself a buzz cut when the trip is over. Good grief…
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Derogatory comments made toward 18 year olds who voice objections over forcibly having their hair cut against their wills by upperclassmen in a hazing-type situation are infantile. This most often reflects a group psychology in which individuals do things in a group setting that they would never do in a private setting. I was in the marching band, and there is definitely a group psychology at play that has resulted in the actions with which the band has been charged. Changing a group psychology or culture after years of existence will be a challenge.
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Twenty years ago, such allegations would have been tossed into the “not worth the time” pile. “This stuff makes you stronger” they would have said. 99 percent of what goes on in that band, while out of the ordinary, is just fine. Yet, out of fear of liability, the University destroys 100 percent of the fun, to clean up a 1 percent problem. Just the way of the world.
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A Band is a big Fraternity with Sorority. From time to time,some crazy things happen not necessarily to harm or violate anyone’s rights. From high school to college into a different World with uncertainty as to How to or whether not to try to fit in. How many other groups have done and are doing what some would call “silly” things but what or of whom determine the group(s) exposed?
If things did happen where was the band’s faculty and the director not been enlighten on things during the last almost four decades?
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A Band is a big Fraternity with Sorority. From time to time,some crazy things happen not necessarily to harm or violate anyone’s rights. From high school to college into a different World with uncertainty as to How to or whether not to try to fit in. How many other groups have done and are doing what some would call “silly” things but what or of whom determine the group(s) exposed?
If things did happen where was the band’s faculty and the director not been enlighten on things during the last almost four decades?