UW band remains in limbo
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.
"We're going to continue to work hard to resolve the matter," said Leckrone, who suspended the band indefinitely Friday after hazing allegations were leveled against some of its members. "Everybody wants to make sure we're crossing our t's and dotting our i's."
Last week's suspension meant the band did not play during the UW football team's nationally televised game Saturday against Ohio State at Camp Randall.
Leckrone reiterated Wednesday that the decision to suspend the band was his, and noted his actions were rooted in 2006. That's the year the band was put on probation after reports surfaced of sexual and hazing behavior on a road trip to the University of Michigan. Then UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley ripped the band for that incident, and in a letter to Leckrone described the actions as behavior "that can be seen as anything from boorish and offensive to patently dangerous and unlawful."
Wiley put the band on probation following the 2006 incident.
"I told them a couple years ago they were still going to be on probation with me, too, and if they thought that was an idle threat, I think they've discovered this is something they need to really take seriously and to heart," Leckrone said Wednesday.
Prior to practice, Leckrone reiterated that he is committed to weeding out a "counter culture" of individuals who might still think unruly behavior is an accepted part of being in the band.
"What a lot of people don't seem to understand is that if there is a, for the lack of a better term, a 'counter culture' within the band, there has to be a very strong message sent," said Leckrone. "And if anybody doubts where I stand on that issue, they can't doubt that anymore. That's really the message that I sent."
Leckrone said he is "hopeful" the suspension issue can be resolved by Thursday.
"As it progresses, people say, 'Well, we're getting very close to having a resolution,' " he said. "I keep hoping every day we'll be able to sit down and resolve this."
UW officials have remained tight-lipped about the details of the allegations. Last week, Leckrone said they involved "inappropriate alcohol use, hazing and sexual behavior."
Dean of Students Lori Berquam's office is handling the investigation, which will determine whether the alleged behavior violated band or University of Wisconsin System codes of conduct.
