Drinking and sex? College students don’t do that - no way.

Thanks Wiley…way to not even pretend that the primary concern is that someone did something either morally wrong or physically dangerous, and go straight to “It could cost me money if someone sues.” No wonder they got someone new.

I’m proud of the administration for standing up for the safety of the band members. It takes guts to do the right thing, and they did.

I was right on top of the field Saturday night and section P was rocking even without our beloved band.

It’s not about “drinking and sex” it’s about FORCED drinking and sex. Not to mention head shaving and putting nail polish on men, etc. Sure, they’ll tell you that they “weren’t forced to do it.” But that’s how hazing works. You have to, lest you are shunned by the entire group. The fact that they had t-shirts made that said “Michigan Trip 2008 - No Cameras this Time” is insulting. If ANY other organization did this stuff, they would be in far more trouble. It’s time that double standards end and they begin to act like adults and not some elitist cult on campus. You’re just a band, get over it.

Go you Badgers Go!

It’s about time the band gets punished. They have been getting away with this crap for years and it’s sad that nothing like this was done in the past. I agree with the decision to suspend them, and the guilty parties should have criminal charges brought against them.

oh wow…nailpolish on men? could it get worse? please. you’re not in the band, and you don’t know how it works. you don’t know how hard this is for us to take, to be constantly accused of things and have everyone believe it. we work harder than most people on this campus, and to only be seen as a bunch of morons gets really old, really quickly. so unless you have actually seen anything of what is being “reported”, keep your opinions to yourself.

Expel those responsible. These students just don’t get it and the whole band needs a lesson.

Does it not bother anyone else that the took such a drastic measure “amid allegations” of misconduct? Not having the band at the game is a punishment to everyone at the university, all the students, staff, and alumni. It makes us all look bad. And do take such a drastic measure without anything having been proven, only alleged? That doesn’t sit right with me, and reminds me of the Duke Lacrosse disaster a few year ago, when false accusations ended their season and ruined the lives of many players who did nothing wrong. This decision by Lecrone is a stain on our school and the band, and to do that without knowing for certain that anything happened, before the investigation even began, is unfair to everyone at this university.

I was in the band for 5 years in the 90’s and unfortunately was a participant and advocate of much behavior that should not be tolerated.

The band is an incredible institution full of tradition and honor. I feel it’s critical for people to acknowledge the unlawful and demoralizing behavior that has gone on for decades, but realize that the band can and must recover from this. It’s about time for a wake-up call - the band will be better for it.

Oh for chrissake. If the band is suspended for this, then every frat and sorority should be suspended too. Now THAT’S a double standard!

I thought the music at the game against Ohio was lousy. I missed the band but I do feel this is a serious problem and should be addressed. Not everyone at the game is between the ages of 18-25. The music was awful.

“If any other organization did this stuff, they’d be in far more trouble…”

You mean like athletes? Fraternities? I’m not saying what went on is right. I’m not saying that all or even most athletes or fraternities engage is this kind of behavior as well. But I think the Sig Ep incident last year should send us the message that maybe it’s not just the band doing this stuff. That’s no excuse for it happening, but we’d be naive to assume that only the band is responsible.

and yet you dont find anything wrong with the countless number of underage kids wearing Wisconsin T-shirts that support Beer companies such as Budweiser? Its all out of fun and is a great way to voice their opinion. Free Speech anyone?

really….you’re the band…get over yourselves

“I was in the band for 5 years in the 90’s and unfortunately was a participant and advocate of much behavior that should not be tolerated.”

Which means that you have NO insight into how the band works now. We DO NOT have beer on buses anymore. We DO NOT make band members kiss each other or play with sex toys. We DO NOT do ANY of the things that you are probably thinking of—things that were brought up when we got in trouble last.

The fact is that the current band is taking the fall for things that YOU DID ten years ago, and had already gotten rid of.

When is the last time the Band didn’t play? I know it is the first time it has been suspended under Leckrone, but when is the last time they were suspended at all?

It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt…

I’ve had a chance to know a lot of band members during my time at UW. Through my friends I even attended several ‘band parties.’ This whole situation doesn’t suprise me AT ALL.

These kids rejoice in their ability to drink excessively and experience the little bit of fame they get from being on the field. Nobody outside of the band cares about having them at the game so if the members cannot act appropriately then they don’t deserve to represent the University of Wisconsin.

“The fact is that the current band is taking the fall for things that YOU DID ten years ago, and had already gotten rid of.”

As another member of the 90’s band, this doesn’t surprise me. Even then, it was becoming only certain sections that had immaturity problems, and it was definitely better when I left than when I joined.

Hopefully those remaining troublemakers will finally wake up now that they’ve ruined the fun of everyone else. Here’s hoping the band is back on the field soon.

“We DO NOT have beer on buses anymore. We DO NOT make band members kiss each other or play with sex toys. We DO NOT do ANY of the things that you are probably thinking of—things that were brought up when we got in trouble last.”

OK, then what exactly did you do? Please enlighten us.

get over yourselves, band. don’t punish the rest of us by acting like idiots. you play music. you’re good at it. quit with the stupid, sophomoric pranks. grow up.

Not a single friend of mine, or person I knew at the game cared that the band wasn’t playing. One can only hear “If You Want to Be a Badger” so many times. YOU’RE TIRED, played out, etc… and halftime performances of oldies are bland at best.

So band: NO ONE cares if you’re not there playing, so if you want to keep your crew together and your 15 minutes of fame, grow up.

“OK, then what exactly did you do? Please enlighten us.”

The fact of the matter is, most of the band has no clue as to what happened. Everyone just assumes these allegations are far worse than they probably actually are. And they are just that… allegations. What happened to being innocent until proven guilty?

“get over yourselves, band. don’t punish the rest of us by acting like idiots.”

Do you honestly think the band intentionally tried to get suspended?

“Nobody outside of the band cares about having them at the game…”

The generalization that nobody cares is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard. If nobody cared, do you think this would be getting national attention right now?

“OK, then what exactly did you do? Please enlighten us.”

the problem is, we dont know what we are being accused of. if any one out there knows what the charges against us are we would all love to know.

Please don’t judge the entire band on what you read. the majority of the band is JUST as in the dark on what went down as the rest of the public, which is why it is incredibly frustrating and hurtful to hear people hurling insults and accusations with absolutely no evidence whatsoever. This band isn’t about “fame” and “elitism” — what people don’t realize is the band is full of smart, responsible students who give a significant their time and energy to please Wisconsin fans everywhere (NOT just the student section!). While some members obviously made poor choices, it is downright ignorant and spiteful to assume that the rest of the band members acted the same way. And telling us to “get over ourselves”…since WHEN is it wrong to have pride in what you do? Camp Randall is full of pride and tradition…I should think anyone would be honored to get the chance to step on that field.

I would expect that the upstanding band members, of which there are many, would have stood up to stop whatever activity or activities led to the suspension. To be viewed as classy, dedicated representatives of the university you first have to act like classy, dedicated individuals. Someone should have shown the leadership in keeping fellow band members on the right path.

It seems that no one did. Allegations have been made that are serious enough for Leckrone to take action. There was no band at the game. The band looks foolish.

To the concerned poster who thinks people are picking on band members, maybe you could have done something to prevent this but you didn’t. Don’t blame everyone else for piling on.

I was not happy to hear the news that after spending more than $1,000 to get back to Madison for a game, there would be no band. Bucky loses a game Bucky should have won, and to top it off, there is no fifth quarter.

Couldn’t the band have learned from their mistakes the last time this happened? Why does it have to happen more than once? Did you just think they were bluffing about consequences?

You uphold a high standard at this university, and you’re disappointing everyone. There are many people that aspire to be in the band, and stunts like these affect them too.

Try thinking about more people than just yourselves for once.

This one time at band camp….

I have been to a lot of “band parties” I have a lot of friends who were and still are in the band and to my knowledge nothing such as hazing has ever occurred to them or anyone that I have seen. I think Mike is right to say it is a few ruining the image of the whole. Until I am told and shown proof of this being false I will continue to support the band because I don’t think a few bad apples should ruin the whole bunch

“OK, then what exactly did you do? Please enlighten us.”

If anyone knew what happened do you think this investigation would be going on? The answer is no. The perpetrators would have been punished by now and the rest of the innocent band members would have been able to march on Saturday. And to those of you who think that you do know what happened, you don’t. So please stop judging and spreading rumors when you don’t know the facts. It really doesn’t help anything. Above all remember these are still allegations not charges and everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

It’s not worth writing what the band does, because it’s pretty lame. It’s like that south park episode, where Bart said “one time, I cut off the head of a statue”…really? wow…that’s bad ass.

College(s)and students usaually have a gret deal of problems with relative and absolute concepts. “Animal House” activities are not tolerated, like uderage drinking and other borishish behavior, but they occur. The questionable behavior of the band has dramatically deminished, its members need to be aware they can’t behave as just another college student. But the university is requiring absolute compliance with its Code of Conduct. Seldom do the students or its administation expect absolute compliance of their by-laws. Any administrators wonder why the student section fills up ten minutes after the start of the game. Do they think that no nonsense occurs in and around the stadium on game days.

“I’ve had a chance to know a lot of band members during my time at UW. Through my friends I even attended several ‘band parties.’ This whole situation doesn’t suprise me AT ALL.

These kids rejoice in their ability to drink excessively and experience the little bit of fame they get from being on the field. Nobody outside of the band cares about having them at the game so if the members cannot act appropriately then they don’t deserve to represent the University of Wisconsin.”

Jealous?

“OK, then what exactly did you do? Please enlighten us.”

We’ll let you know when we find out.

This is ridiculous! To punish 83,143 fans (and all non-involved band members) for the acts of several Badger Band members is ridiculous! (“Leckrone hits 83,000 fans between eyes with sledgehammer”!) Maybe those responsible for managing the band should be suspended! We bought (very expensive) tickets to see the band, the fifth quarter AND the football game today! Many come ONLY for the band. A Badger game is an experience, only part of which is the actual game. This is criminal! Will the ticket office be refunding ticket prices? If not, I’m looking for a hot UW Law student to sue Leckrone, the Atletic Department and the Dean of Students for breach of contract in small claims court! “RE”THINK FORWARD!

You know what the worst hazing I was part of was when I was in band? An upperclassmen ASKED me to clean the dishes after dinner! This one other time, I HAD to save seats for people. OMG!

And yes, when I was in college, I drank underage. If you have to seek a source of “blame” for my underage drinking, try my RA who bought for us.

Chancellor, please spare me from this lifelong embarrassment. OR, find something better to do with your time!

The band is under-appreciated and you bastards who blame the loss on the band and complain that there was no 5th quarter when all you want to hear is Swingtown represent the worst fans we have. You don’t have a clue what the University of Wisconsin or its traditions are built on and have only been here for probably 2 or 3 years when we’ve had a decent football team. You have no idea what this band means to the University or the state and think you can just run your mouths over something you read in a school newspaper and have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. Get your facts strait and have some goddamn respect before you continue generalizing, slandering and running your mouths about the completely inaccurate shit you think you know about what’s going on here.

The band is under-appreciated and you jerks who blame the loss on the band and complain about the band to no end as if it is a entity created to please your every need represent the worst fans we have. The band is not here to play your favorite pop music song and make shapes of cartoon characters so you can jump up and down and pat yourself on the back for recognizing what’s going on in your drunken state. You don’t have a clue what the University of Wisconsin or its traditions are built on and have only been here for probably 2 or 3 years when we’ve had a decent football team. You’re probably a coastie. You have no idea what this band means to the University or the state and think you can just run your mouths over something you read in a school newspaper and have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. Get your facts strait and have some respect before you continue generalizing, slandering and running your mouths about the completely inaccurate crap you think you know about what’s going on here.

I’m proud of the band that UW fields. Most school’s bands are full of a bunch of geeks, ours is one that does a better job of getting us rated as a top party school than all of us fans.

Thank you for giving me something to brag about!

Signed - an anonomous FIB who has to hear it from all of the other Big 10 alum.

maybe folks can channel some of their anger around being denied “the band experience” at the football game to congress and it’s ceo cronies at denying most of us future financial security.

The issue is that there is obviously something going on that should not be going on and nobody is stepping up about it. Something clearly happened, otherwise this would not have come up. The people who weren’t involved but know about it and aren’t saying anything are equally at fault. Leckrone should have done more about the band’s behavior earlier on instead of allowing this to happen. Now a few irresponsible band members have ruined it for everyone.

/\ This guy and 3/4 of you idiots have no idea what you are talking about. You have no correct information which would give you any kind of right to state what you think should be done in this situation. You read one article and you think you have the whole damn world figured out. GET A CLUE

As a UW senior who has attended every single home game for 4 years, I can honestly say it was not a big deal that the band wasn’t there. Does that mean I never want them there? Of course not. Just because I as a student do not care about the band, their music, or the 5th quarter , does not in the slightest mean that the other 83,999 do not want to see the band. For most of the non-student crowd, the band plays an important role in the Badger Game Day experience.

The real issue is that the band has had some behavioral problems in the past and seemingly only got a slap on the wrist. Anyone who has ever been part of a team or a group knows that when one person acts outside of the approved standards, everyone suffers. One bad apple ruins the batch. It’s just the way it is.

I think that people should take a step back and say “There have been multiple instances of misbehavior, the band has been punished. Yes the crowd and the school have in essence been punished as well, but that should help the band to act more responsibly as a group in the future.”

The band prides itself on being wild, (just look at their antics during the game) which is fine, but there comes a point when someone needs to say “Hey guys, let’s keep it reasonable.”

And where do you draw all of this “factual information” from, UW senior? What first hand information do you have to support what you just presented as something that you personally can account for?. The truth is YOU DON’T, and neither does anyone who thinks they can run their mouths about this.

So the fact that freshmen got their heads shaved is false?….the fact that freshmen were forced to swallow some type of food/condiments concoction is false?….the fact that the freshmen were stuffed into the bus bathroom was false?…the fact that other freshmen were forced to sit in the bus bathroo for over two hours is false??…give me a break…