The Ohio State University dropped a bombshell late Thursday afternoon when it announced it had fired the director of the world-famous Ohio State University Marching Band, Jonathan Waters, for tolerating of harassing and degrading behavior. The firing culminated a two-month investigation that found the band had a highly “sexualized” and intimidating culture that went back several years. The investigation also found that Waters knew that some of the goings-on and failed to do enough to stop them. If this report is any indication, the band best known for the “Script Ohio” had a culture that would make the rowdiest frat house look tame by comparison.
According to Waters’ attorney, David Axelrod (no relation to the political consultant), Waters had been told two weeks ago that he would be allowed to return for his third season as band director if he agreed to enact a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment in the band. So what changed in two weeks?? The answer comes in the form of a 23-page report and 59 pages of exhibits detailing what is described as an environment that “facilitated sexual harassment.” Read the full report here. Among other things, the report states that Waters was well aware the behavior was taking place, and made little to no effort to change it until the investigation started.
The investigation began on May 23, when the mother of a band member told school compliance officials that she’d learned about a number of secret oaths regarding traditions and customs that went way beyond what can reasonably be chalked up to college kids being college kids. She was particularly alarmed to learn about “Midnight Ramp,” in which band members marched down the entrance ramp of Ohio Stadium, then marched across the field–wearing only their underwear. Waters and other members of the staff witnessed this. The report strongly implies that Waters only called a halt to this tradition when he learned the investigation had started.
Among some of the other revelations:
- Veteran members gave new members, or “rookies” as they are called–a legacy of the band’s roots as an ROTC unit–nicknames. By Waters’ reckoning, at least half of the nicknames were sexually explicit. Two witnesses recalled that Waters called at least one band member by his sexually explicit nickname when he got upset.
- Upperclassmen also had new members march to the back of the bus on away game trips while other students tried to remove articles of clothing. According to Waters, this dated back at least to his time as a sousaphone player in the band from 1995 to 1999–though based on the report, things escalated from taking off crossbelts and berets in Waters’ time to groping and fondling in the 2010s.
- On long bus trips, upperclassmen had rookies take “midterms” that contained sexually explicit written questions and physical challenges.
- A songbook distributed among band members contained several songs that glorified violence against women.
- During parties and occasionally on down time on trips, upperclassmen had underclassmen perform “tricks,” some of which were sexually explicit.
There were other instances of sexually explicit behavior on bus trips–including hanging from luggage racks in sexual poses. Longtime band volunteer Pam Bork told investigators that Waters was present when this occurred on a 2013 trip to California. It turned out to be her last trip; she ended her association with the band when it became apparent that Waters wouldn’t do anything about excessive drinking on the trip. A female band member claimed that she complained about having to change clothes on the bus in front of male members, only to have Waters give her the cold shoulder.
Waters’ handling of the situation seemed to consist largely of talking to squad leaders and asking if certain things really needed to continue. This contrasts sharply with how Mike Leckrone, director of the University of Wisconsin Marching Band, handled similar behavior in 2008. When he learned about several instances of hazing, he announced the band would not perform at a nationally televised home game–ironically, against the Buckeyes. While this action may have looked heavy-handed at the time, there hasn’t been a reported instance of hazing at Wisconsin since then. Combine Waters’ apparent “please don’t do that” approach to handling this with his use of a sexually explicit nickname for a band member and the fact he condoned the distribution of the songbook despite its misogynistic lyrics. When you put it all together, there was really no defensible reason for Waters to keep his job. It’s hard not to agree with school president Michael Drake that “some of the aspects of how the band was guided are not acceptable in the modern world.”
Waters spent the first two decades of his adult life at Ohio State. After graduating, he became a graduate assistant on the directing staff while getting two masters’ degrees at Ohio State. He then served as assistant director to longtime director Jon Woods from 2002 to 2011. After Woods retired, Waters served as interim director for most of the 2012 season before being given the job full-time late in the season. While this looks to be the end of his career, given the circumstances it was the only acceptable response.
While Ohio State was required by law to conclude the inquiry within 60 days, the school has announced a wider investigation into the matter, which will be led by former state attorney general Betty Montgomery. Hopefully this will mean more firings. I know it sounds harsh, but given that this may have gone on as far back as the 1970s, Ohio State needs to come down on this whole situation with hobnail boots.
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Darrell Lucus is a radical-lefty Jesus-lover who has been blogging for change for a decade. Follow him on Twitter @DarrellLucus or connect with him on Facebook.
