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Drumming in the dark

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by Badger Herald Editorial Board

Thursday, October 12, 2006

For a group that does its work on large fields in front of thousands of fans, it's hard to believe the University of Wisconsin marching band could be shrouded in so much mystery. That's the situation the band finds itself in, however, after Chancellor John Wiley unleashed a tirade about members' behavior in a letter Oct. 3 obtained by The Associated Press through an open records request. The chancellor placed the band on probation and is threatening to make the band "extinct" should another event occur.

Band Director Michael Leckrone is remaining tight lipped on the issue, and Mr. Wiley has not publicly released any further information about what actually spurred his backlash.

All anyone knows is the alleged improprieties occurred sometime during the band's trip to Ann Arbor in late September for the Michigan-Wisconsin football game.

According to Mr. Leckrone and Provost Patrick Farrell, the incidents involved something related to hazing, and one band member said part of the problem might be related to inappropriate nicknames and song lyrics.

Though one can speculate based on the provisions Mr.Wiley outlined the letter, it is impossible for us to know exactly what occurred in Michigan, and we certainly condemn any practices of hazing if that indeed was the problem. We have no reason to believe that Mr. Wiley is overreacting to a small problem — whatever happened in Michigan, Mr. Wiley surely thought it demanded immediate action.

It seems, however, that the chancellor should be more forthcoming about the cause of his ire. The band's reputation has taken a hit with the news of alleged misbehavior, and no one — apparently not even the band itself — knows why.

We call on Mr. Wiley, for the sake of the band's members and their fans, to shed some light on the situation and clear up the ambiguities that surround this contentious issue.

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Anonymous (October 12, 2006 @ 6:18am):

The facts may be yet to emerge, but it doesn't take much imagine.

This one time, at band camp...

-Victor Blake Marx

Anonymous (October 12, 2006 @ 1:05pm):

Jeesh. It's Political Correctness run amok. It's not like they're acting like the Leland Standford Junior Varsity Marching Band. Why, I remember when my Hawkeye Marching Band visited Ohio State in the 1980's, one kid sat in the hotel pool on a piece of patio furniture and caused Iowa City newspaper headlines to say, "Band Trashes Hotel." So, Wisconsin Administrators, get a life. You've got better things to worry about-- like grave robbers, white buffalo, Hmong hunters, Brett Favre, and museums dedicated to mustard!

Anonymous (October 12, 2006 @ 3:08pm):

As a former member of the marching band, I can pretty much guaranty that current band members know exactly what the chancellor is talking about. There was absurd behavior on every bus trip--but Leckrone couldn't possibly be on all eight buses all the time to monitor it. The hazing that went on is something that he probably didn't really know too much about because it never happened when he was around, the the Field Assistants on those buses probably wouldn't have said anything about any occurrences for fear of the backlash. Though I don't agree with what the Chancellor is threatening to do, it's about time someone put an end to. I loved my four years marching on the field--I couldn't done without all the off-the-field crap that happened.

Anonymous (October 12, 2006 @ 6:16pm):

Don't blame the administration for protecting the harassed. This band has developed a culture of pushing the envelope of what's acceptable or even legal. They have been warned repeatedly to clean up their act and leadership is either unable or unwilling to comply. Pretty safe to say Wiley has more important things to do than babysit this situation, at some point you throw your hands up and reshuffle the deck.