UW band parents' letters say hazing violated their sons' morals
Report says students were forced to drink alcohol, play inappropriate games
By Erica Perez of the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Nov. 24, 2008
The investigation into hazing allegations by members of the University of Wisconsin-Madison marching band stemmed from complaints from parents of two male freshman band members, according to documents released Monday.
A few previously unreported examples of inappropriate behavior by band members included singing a cadence that includes the word vagina, placing a condom on a banana and a game involving alcohol in which some band members formed a "hamster cage" for other students using torn up pages of phone books.
The Journal Sentinel obtained the records through a request under the state's open records law.
The entire 315-member band was suspended Oct. 3 and kept from playing in the Ohio State game so the university could investigate accusations of hazing. In the Oct. 3 news conference, band director Mike Leckrone said the hazing accusations involved alcohol and inappropriate sexual behavior.
After the investigation, the university found the band had a culture that allowed demeaning and inappropriate behavior. The band was reinstated and allowed to play again Oct. 10 and some students faced disciplinary action.
An Oct. 3 letter to band parents said allegations included students "being sexually fondled against their will," but Dean of Students Lori Berquam later said she regretted some of the language of the parent letter because reports of sexual fondling were unsubstantiated.
The main complaint behind the allegation of inappropriate sexual behavior was a game that was not widespread in which a blindfolded freshman male was told he was to remove someone's bra and the person turned out to be another male with a stuffed bra on.
The investigation report from Associate Dean of Students Kevin Helmkamp confirmed other behaviors had taken place, including a boredom-busting activity for bus rides in which some upperclassmen stuck an apple between their buttocks and dropped it into a hat.
Berquam said Monday she felt Leckrone made the best decision with the information he had when he decided to suspend the band. She also said it was unfortunate that band members who took no part in the hazing incidents felt they were deemed guilty by association.
"They really also in some ways suffered here, and have a tarnished reputation, fair or not, because of the actions of those who demonstrated these behaviors . . . But I don't think professor Leckrone had another option," Berquam said.
Freshmen forced to drink alcohol
The first parent complaint, an Oct. 2 e-mail, said that the sender's son was initiated into the band "in a way that was both humiliating and required him to violate . . . personal morals, standards and convictions against consuming alcohol."
The parent said he was complaining despite his son's reluctance and expressed concern about how the matter would be handled so as to avoid retribution.
"What can be done to correct this situation in a way that does not cause grief . . . for the students who are opposed to this 'frat' type environment?" the e-mail says.
The second complaint, a three-page Oct. 2 letter to Chancellor Carolyn "Biddy" Martin, says the parent's son was forced to drink concoctions of mustard, ketchup and chicken broth mixed with liquor, sit in the bus bathroom for an hour or two at a time while adult band staff members were on the bus and have his head shaved in a way that "looked hideous on national television."
The father who wrote the letter also said in an e-mail that his son, also a freshman, wanted to withdraw from the band after being hazed.
The complaints do not name specific individuals behind the harassment.
As a result of the complaints and interviews with the two accusers and their parents, the university interviewed 62 band members and most section leaders, according to a letter from Helmkamp.
A standard script was used to interview students based on the specific allegations made in the complaints.
"During the interviews, all specific behaviors that we inquired about were confirmed as having occurred," Helmkamp wrote. "Virtually all interviewees indicated that they were not forced to do any activity."
Since the investigation concluded, the university has installed more oversight over the band, including a new staff member charged with promoting a positive culture and changes to travel policies.