Another Band, Another Scandal

marching band photo I was saying this back when it was the Ohio State Marching Band that was in trouble for hazing and sexual harassment, and I’ll say it again now that it has been announced that Stanford’s band will not be making any road trips for the 2015 season.

This is what happens when the federal government starts hammering down on schools about sexual assault and sexual harassment. Stuff that people my age look at and think “Gee, that’s been going on forever, sometimes worse than that”, is no longer acceptable. As a University depending on federal funds, and just about all of them are in one way or another, you cannot have a campus organization, whether it be the band, a sports team, the debate club, the ROTC, or anything, that has a culture where sexual harassment is common, even if none of the members complain. You simply can’t allow it to exist. Knowing that alcohol and drugs are involved only serves to prove that the environment is dangerous toward female members, and not addressing that will get the University in much more hot water than a few put out alums.

It’s 2015, times have changed and some traditions have to follow suit, whether you agree or not.

Photo by –Mark–