“One time at band camp…” is a classic joke, but revelations about the culture of sexual harassment that’s existed for years in Ohio State University’s marching band are far from funny.
After a parent complained, the Ohio State administration launched a two-month investigation of the band that uncovered some deeply abusive hazing traditions.
According to the 23-page report released at the investigation’s conclusion, each new member, or “rookie,” is given a nickname; past nicknames have included “Captain Dildo,” “Jewoobs” (given to a Jewish girl with large breasts) and “Tw*t Thumper.” A couple of witnesses said that even the band’s director, Jonathan Waters, used band nicknames on occasion when he was upset.
Another practice, called “tricks,” involved “acts that band members individually perform,” usually connected with their nickname. For example, a college girl called “Squirt” was told to pretend to orgasm while sitting on bandmates’ laps… including her brother’s.
Each year, the marching band also held a late-night practice at Ohio Stadium called “the Midnight Ramp,” which band members attended either in their underwear or completely naked. According to The Columbus Dispatch, a female student once got alcohol poisoning during a Midnight Ramp. After that, staff members committed to coming every year. No one else got alcohol poisoning — but no one stopped stripping, either.
“[A] witness described her first year in the Marching Band as ‘culture shock’ and cited alcohol consumption at away football games as an example,” the report said. “Another witness described the Marching Band as operating under a ‘culture of intimidation.’”
As a result of the investigation, Waters was fired today. He “knew or should have known” about the sexualized culture but “failed to eliminate it, prevent its recurrence and address its effects.”
Hazing is usually associated with fraternities, sororities and sports teams, but the revelation of the marching band’s dark culture proved that hazing and harassment can in fact occur in any student group at any school.