Marching 110 reflects their own traditions due to the OSU scandal of sexual harassment in the past years.
Ohio University is examining the Marching 110 program after this summer’s controversy at Ohio State University, where former band director Jonathan Waters was fired for allowing a sexualized culture.
“No sexual harassment cases have happened that I am aware of,” said Richard Suk, the band director for The Marching 110. “I’m sure there have been cases (in the past) because we have a lot of males and females but none that have been reported to me.”
Suk took over direction of the band in 1996.
“We are not aware of any multi-departmental investigations, such as that which must have occurred at OSU in connection with their band director,” said General Counsel of Legal Affairs John Biancamano, in an email in response to a records request.
A records request for information involving all investigations, not necessarily those that involve multiple departments, was submitted.
“Now there is more awareness of it than there was, there’s more awareness in 2014 than there was in 2001,” Suk said.
Over the summer, a two-month investigation into OSU’s band revealed a sexualized culture within the institution, as band members simulated sex acts and gave new members sexual nicknames. Waters claims he was working to stop these entrenched traditions within the band when he received the job in 2012 and in an interview with The Columbus Dispatch said he wants his job back.
“(It’s) something that we look at now and say ‘Alright, now how are we protecting against this and what precautions are we making and how are we educating our students about this?’,” Suk said.
Suk spoke with student staff members about alcohol abuse and the potential it has to influence poor decision making.
“I want to stress that the 110 is definitely against any hazing policy or any practice like that,” said Jared Halter, senior studying integrated mathematics and field commander for the 110. “Obviously the Ohio State situation made us take a look at what we do. We were sure that everything that we do is in line with the Ohio University code of conduct, and we are pushing to make the 110 a great organization for Ohio University.”
Alcohol is a major factor in sexual harassment and assault, so Suk and his band members said they were sure to focus on that, specifically.
“We told them to watch out for each other and make sure it doesn’t get to a point where you make poor decisions when intoxicated and that goes for males and females,” Suk said.
After Suk read the OSU report, he thought of Marching 110 traditions that could “put us at risk” and made sure to check that the band members’ behaviors, including when on the bus traveling to games and at practices, was in line with university expectations.
He didn’t shut down any traditions.
“We have a tradition that essentially freshmen and returning members kind of do this call back and forth that is at the end of performances called ‘the question’ and it’s the first time that our freshmen are introduced to the returning members,” said Josh Boyer, the assistant director of The Marching 110.
Band members then go to Glidden Hall 101 and have a jam session to play the songs Marching 110 has performed for decades, Boyer said.
“(The traditions) are fun,” said freshman member Chandler McAlpine. “It’s a great way for us to bond.”
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