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Category: Campus life

UW Marching Band Returns To Camp Randall

WISC-TV 3

MADISON, Wis. — On Saturday night, the University of Wisconsin Marching Band made a comeback after being suspended from last weekend’s Badger football game.

School officials said the investigation into serious hazing allegations is still ongoing, but the UW Marching Band is once again permitted to play at football games.

Some fans said that they were glad to have the band back. One fan said of the band’s return, “It was invigorating. It was so much fun. It just wouldn’t be the same if they weren’t there so we were really glad that they were there tonight.”

Sexual Assault Reported Downtown

NBC-15

According to Madison Police, a 20-year-old woman was walking home at 2:16 a.m. when she was confronted by the suspect in a dark alleyway shortly after two o’clock Sunday morning.

The UW student was going home to her residence in the 400 block of N. Henry when she said she was approached by somebody at the back of the residence. This person — a stranger — assaulted her and fled.

Fans say they need the band

WKOW-TV 27

The UW marching band is practicing hard for their return to Camp Randall.

They missed the big ten home opener against Ohio State because of a suspension.

The first missed home game in 40 years.

And the band played on

WKOW-TV 27

Any Badger fan will tell you, there’s nothing like a gameday at Camp Randall Stadium. “Being at a Badger game is that’s about as good as it gets,” said Ron Green, a parent of a UW-Madison student.

As the details of hazing within the band began surfacing over the past week, many fans felt band director Mike Leckrone did the right thing by suspending the band. Leckrone and UW administration lifted the suspension Thursday after the team missed the previous game against Ohio State University. A suspension for away games is still in effect.

Penn State fans make themselves at home in Madison (BadgerBeat.com)

Capital Times

Fans from both Penn State and the University of Wisconsin were on their best behavior before Saturday night’s showdown at Camp Randall Stadium.

In fact, one fan who drove all the way to Madison from Pennsylvania gave me the shirt off his back. Really.

I was assigned to look into whether Badger fans still act like what a scolding editorial in our competitor’s paper dubbed “drunken louts.” What better way to do that than to be an undercover Penn State fan myself?

Growing emphasis on academics is helping athletes at UW-Madison

Wisconsin State Journal

In two private facilities on campus, UW-Madison varsity athletes can request a tutor in everything from calculus to Portuguese faster than it takes the wave to make its way around Camp Randall stadium.
There are advisers who help student athletes make flashcards and outlines, life skills seminars, career fairs and etiquette dinners to help them distinguish the salad from the dessert fork.

Unanswered questions haunt mother of Brittany Zimmermann

Wisconsin State Journal

MARSHFIELD â?? Brilliant flashes of autumn leaves light up the landscape and attest to the change of seasons in this central Wisconsin city. But for Jean Zimmermann and her family, time stands still.

More than six months have passed since her 21-year-old daughter was killed in her Downtown apartment after walking home from a morning exam at UW-Madison. Police have yet to find her killer.

UW band suspension lifted, but ‘culture needs to change’

Capital Times

And the band will play on.

The culture that has allowed demeaning and inappropriate conduct within the University of Wisconsin Marching Band, however, must change.

That was the message University of Wisconsin-Madison officials sent Thursday when they held a news conference to announce the band would be allowed to play at Saturday night’s UW football game against Penn State at Camp Randall Stadium.

Marching Band to play Saturday

Badger Herald

The University of Wisconsin Marching Band will perform at Saturdayâ??s football game, ending their indefinite suspension following hazing allegations, officials announced Thursday.

UW Marching Band will perform at Saturday’s football game, but director promises culture change

Wisconsin State Journal

The UW Marching Band will once again take to the field Saturday night in the Badger home football game against Penn State.

But university officials said in a news conference Thursday that some band members could still face punishment for recent hazing, characterized by band director Mike Leckrone as “asinine, disgusting and degrading.

UW says band will play on but culture must change (AP)

Janesville Gazette

The Wisconsin marching band will play on â?? but members better watch their step.

University of Wisconsin-Madison officials said Thursday the bandâ??s suspension will be lifted so it can play during Saturdayâ??s home football game against No. 6 Penn State. But they vowed to end a culture of hazing, alcohol abuse and sexualized behavior that has persisted for years and flared up in recent weeks.

The band, the pride of many Badgers fans, was suspended for last weekendâ??s game against Ohio State after the university received allegations of hazing. It was the first time the band missed a game in 40 years.

Marching Band Suspension Lifted

NBC-15

The UW Marching Band will be on the field again Saturday night against Penn State even though school officials confirmed sexual hazing did occur.

Music and marching are what the UW Band is best known for, but for the last week it’s all taken a back seat.

Director Mike Leckrone says, “It’s obvious that the band’s culture needs to change. It needs to change now and it needs to change permanently.”

UW Band to play Saturday; “humiliating” rituals took place

WKOW-TV 27

UW-Madison officials announced the marching band’s suspension has been lifted and the more than 300 member band will peform Saturday during the Badgers home football game against Penn State.

But Dean of Students Lori Berquam said an investigation found some band members engaged in humiliating rituals, including forcing band members to kneel and bite a sausage, and remove lingerie from male band members.

“Our review confirmed that much of the behavior described in the complaints (from students) actually took place,” Berquam said. “These activities represent intimidating behavior and extremely poor judgment on the part of people who represent the university as ambassadors.”

Fans React To UW Marching Band Reinstatement

WISC-TV 3

MADISON, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin marching band is cleared to play in Saturday’s game at Camp Randall, after an investigation into hazing last week led to suspension of the band for last week’s game against Ohio State. Fans now ponder whether these actions were serious enough to match the punishment.

“I mean, the fact that they’ve been in trouble before puts them in a hard spot, but I also have some friends in the band and they say it probably was a measure that didn’t have to be taken that extremely,” said Amy Boerneke, a UW-Madison grad student.

Leckrone: band culture will change

Wisconsin Radio Network

UW-Madison Marching Band director Mike Leckrone pledges a new culture in the wake of an investigation into hazing. They will play for this weekend’s game against Penn State, but it’s been a tough week for the band. Leckrone told a campus press conference that he’s embarrassed by events that have occurred on his watch, calling the hazing abuses asinine, disgusting and degrading.

The graying of UW faculty

Badger Herald

Seven hundred and sixty University of Wisconsin faculty are expected to retire in the next 10 years, posing yet another challenge to the recruitment and retention issue at the university.

Band allegations include sexual fondling

Badger Herald

University of Wisconsin officials suspect some Marching Band members were sexually fondled or forced to drink alcohol against their will in a recent road trip, two of several allegations that resulted in the bandâ??s suspension from last Saturdayâ??s football game.

Ray Bayley: UW music promotes drinking culture

Capital Times

Dear Editor: It’s an old story. Why be surprised? University leadership has made the UW band the strongest promoter of drinking on campus there is. Incessant use of the Bud song melody and “Roll Out the Barrel” popularizes and encourages student drinking. Yes, the students are old enough to be responsible for their actions (though predominantly under legal drinking age), but leadership encouragement through music shares the blame. Oh, yes, and don’t forget the example set by 50-year-old adolescent alumni.

Ray Bayley, Sauk City

UW band remains in limbo

Capital Times

The University of Wisconsin Marching Band practiced again Wednesday afternoon and continues to fine-tune its routine in advance of Saturday night’s UW football game against No. 6 Penn State at Camp Randall Stadium.

Whether or not the band will be allowed to perform or not remains in limbo.

Prior to Wednesday’s practice, band director Mike Leckrone said it is not yet clear whether the band’s suspension will be lifted before Saturday.

Band allegations include sexual fondling

Badger Herald

University of Wisconsin officials suspect some Marching Band members were sexually fondled or forced to drink alcohol against their will in a recent road trip, two of several allegations that resulted in the bandâ??s suspension from last Saturdayâ??s football game.

In a letter sent to band membersâ?? parents, Dean of Students Lori Berquam said allegations also include â??being forced to have their hair cut in a way that is not flatteringâ? and â??being forced or pressured to eat something disgusting.â?

Editorial: Breaking the band (UW-EC Spectator)

Bucky doesn’t live underground like most badgers, but the UW-Madison marching band’s recent actions may force him to.

According to an Oct. 6 article in The Badger Herald, the band did not play at Saturday’s home game against Ohio State for the first time in 40 years in response to allegations of hazing during the band’s trip to the University of Michigan.

Madison band director Mike Leckrone’s suspending of the band was appropriate. Hazing is never justified and just because it was done to someone doesn’t mean they have to do it to others. People joining the band should feel safe and hazing takes that away. Freshmen, eager to be accepted, suffer in the long run from the events and actions needed to be taken in order to pressure the band into stopping their hazing.

Band status remains uncertain

Badger Herald

For the first time since allegations of hazing came out last week, the University of Wisconsin Band practiced Tuesday for Saturdayâ??s football game, with the knowledge they may not perform.

UW band prepares as usual for Saturday’s game

Wisconsin State Journal

At Tuesday’s practice of the UW Marching Band, students blasted a brassy version of “On Wisconsin” and read through the sheet music of Penn State’s fight song.

It was little different from any other band practice, except for the cluster of TV cameras and reporters on the sidelines and a veil of uncertainty surrounding the band’s future.

Dave Zweifel’s Plain Talk: Don’t punish whole band for sins of a few

Capital Times

I think the world of UW Band Director Mike Leckrone. He and his marching band have been nationwide ambassadors for the University of Wisconsin for decades, adding color and excitement to everything from athletic events to the wildly popular spring concerts at the Kohl Center.

Sports purists hate this, but some people actually go to football games to hear the band first, watch the team second. The band is, after all, one of the best bands in the land, if not THE best.

I’m disappointed, though, in Leckrone’s decision to suspend the entire band for the misdeeds of what appears to be a handful of members.

Not Known If UW Marching Band Will Play Next Game

WISC-TV 3

Will they play or won’t they, is the question surrounding the University of Wisconsin Marching Band.

It is still unknown if the UW Marching Band will play at this Saturday’s football game against Penn State.

All members of the band are suspended.

“As soon as I walked through that gate yeah it was like ‘ok let’s get down to business,” said UW Marching Band Director Mike Lackrone. “I can sense there’s some tension on the part of a lot of the kids as it should be they’ve felt a lot of what’s going on.”

Marching Band Hazing Allegations

NBC-15

For the first time since their Friday suspension, the University of Wisconsin Marching Band is taking the field.

They’re practicing like they’ll perform at Saturday’s home game but hazing allegations may silence them longer than that.

After a weekend full of questions and national embarrasement, the UW Band is getting back to what they do best, marching.

Director Mike Leckrone says, “It’s going to serve as therapy for us all to get back to work and hopefully put it out of our minds for an hour and 45 mintues.”

UW Band practices; future uncertain

WKOW-TV 27

For the first time since the entire UW-Madison marching band was suspended and kept out of the football team’s Oct. 4 Camp Randall game against Ohio State, band members resumed pratice, with no guarantee they will play at Saturday’s badger home game against Penn State.

Band director Mike Leckrone has told 27 News the suspension was the result of accusations of a pattern of season long hazing, and allegedly inappropriate actions by band members during last month’s trip to Michigan for a badger game.

Contra-Band

Badger Herald

The University of Wisconsin Marching Band learned once again last week that what happens in Michigan does not stay in Michigan.

After allegations of hazing surfaced last Friday afternoon, Band Director Mike Leckrone suspended the band indefinitely, including during last Saturdayâ??s football game against Ohio State. According to Leckrone, the hazing allegations are alcohol-related and involve inappropriate sexual conduct. The situation appears to be very similar to misconduct on another trip to Ann Arbor two years ago.

More than 40 years of marching bands behaving badly

Chicago Tribune

Allegations of hazing, alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct got the University of Wisconsin marching band suspended last weekend, making the Badgers the latest in a long line of college bands that have had to face the music for their missteps.

1967: The Columbia University band is banned by the Ivy League from performing at any athletic event after its “A Tribute to Birth Control” show, in which band members formed the shape of a condom and played “I Hear You Knockin’ (But You Can’t Come In).”

Zimmerman parents denied access to investigation records

WKOW-TV 27

A Dane County Judge denied a request from Brittany Zimmerman’s family to access information on the murder investigation for a civil lawsuit they are pursuing against a Madison rental company.

Attorneys for Zimmerman’s parents requested any and all information from Madison Police, the Dane County 9-1-1 Center, and UW Police about the murder.

UW officials say band investigation is ongoing

Daily Cardinal

UW-Madisonâ??s dean of studentsâ?? office is in the process of conducting individual interviews with UW Marching Band members in the hazing investigation that led to the suspension of the entire band Friday for the game against Ohio State.

Faculty Senate addresses band, Athletic Board issues

Daily Cardinal

The tone of the first 2008-â??09 Faculty Senate meeting Monday turned from a welcome for new Chancellor Biddy Martin to concerns over the suspension of the UW Marching Band from last weekendâ??s football game and the recent resignation of a faculty member from the Athletic Board.

Students right to scrutinize fees

Wisconsin State Journal

UW-Madison students are smart to step up scrutiny of the excessive fees they pay on top of tuition.
Student fees at UW-Madison have more than doubled over the last decade, from $404 to $890.

That’s a much faster rate of growth than inflation or personal income in Wisconsin. And it makes affording college that much harder for ordinary students.

Chancellor backs up decision to suspend UW band

Capital Times

Carolyn “Biddy” Martin said Monday that she agrees with Mike Leckrone’s decision to suspend the UW Marching Band indefinitely after hazing allegations were leveled against some of its members late last week.

Martin, speaking with The Capital Times after the UW-Madison Faculty Senate’s monthly meeting at Bascom Hall, also said it’s too early in the investigation to know when the inquiry might be complete or whether or not the band will be able to perform at Saturday night’s UW football game against Penn State at Camp Randall Stadium.

Complaint: Man said he stabbed UWM student to death

WKOW-TV 27

BEAVER DAM, Wis. (AP) – Authorities say a young Watertown man’s desire for a sports car led him to kill the owner who had it up for sale and later commit suicide as police were closing in on him.

Two other young people are jailed in the killing of 31-year-old University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student and businessman Haroon Khan, who was reported missing last Wednesday night.

Badgers may not let band perform (The Penn State Daily Collegian)

The University of Wisconsin may not permit members of the Penn State Blue Band to play at this Saturday’s football game at Wisconsin, a Blue Band official said Monday.

The Blue Band plans to send a smaller pep band to Wisconsin this weekend, but the Wisconsin athletic department has not confirmed if the band will be allowed to play during the football game, Blue Band Director Richard Bundy said Monday.

More groups being cut off from UW student fees (Wisconsin State Journal)

St. Paul Pioneer Press

MADISON â?? A student-run UW-Madison committee has decided that the 37-year old student organization Vets for Vets won’t get funding through student fees.

The group has typically gotten about $40,000 to fund resources for student veterans, which includes benefit counseling and help with the transition into civilian and student life.

Leckrone Defends Band Suspension

WISC-TV 3

UW Band Director Mike Leckrone told WISC-TV on Monday that he made the right decision in suspending the band from Saturday’s home Badger game against Ohio State.

It’s the first time in the director’s nearly 40-year history that the marching band did not perform at a home game.

Leckrone told News 3 that while his decision may have been somewhat, impetuous â?? he is comfortable with it and believes he did the right thing.

UW Band Director talks exclusively about suspension tied to pattern of hazing

WKOW-TV 27

UW-Madison marching band director Mike Leckrone told 27 News the suspension of the band for the Oct. 4 home football game against Ohio State was tied to alleged band misconduct last month in connection to the band’s trip to play at the Michigan game in Ann Arbor.

Leckrone also told 27 News his unprecedented step of stopping the band form performing also stemmed from an alleged pattern of hazing he only learned about last week. “There were situations that we saw evidence that there was some kind of hazing going on from the beginning of the school year.”

Bands Gone Wild

Inside Higher Education

The allegations sound like the exploits of Mötley Crüe:

Women and men stripping to their underwear on a tour bus.

Drunken band members urinating in elevators.

A drummer giving lap dances.

Such behavior was routine for the University of California at Davisâ?? Cal Aggie Marching Band, according to the student groupâ??s director. And, as the San Francisco Chronicle reported Monday, Director Tom Slabaugh found he had little power to stop the madness, even after filing a sexual harassment complaint against his own band.