COLUMBUS, Ohio – Buckeye Nation was still reeling Friday morning from the bombshell dropped by Ohio State University officials on Thursday: That the director of the university’s storied marching band had been fired amid allegations he knew about and ignored “serious cultural issues” including sexual harassment.
In a statement, university president Michael Drake said a two-month investigation by the Office of University Compliance and Integrity had concluded that Jonathan Waters turned a blind eye to “an environment conducive to sexual harassment.”
The investigation found that Waters knew about the “sexualized” culture — or should have been — but “failed to eliminate it, prevent its recurrence and address its effects.”
The report mentioned at least two incidents of sexual assault or possible sexual assault between band members, one of which occurred in September 2013 and resulted in the expulsion of one of the students.
Waters had led the band since 2012, and served in lesser capacities for a decade. His popular halftime shows drew millions of viewers on YouTube.
The report on the investigation details in graphic, adults-only terms activities such as band members marching into Ohio Stadium nude or in their underwear during a ritual called “Midnight Ramp,” earned sexually-explicit nicknames with performances. It also described incidents of harassment, sexually-explicit humor, activities and pranks.
Messages were left with Waters seeking comment and his attorney was quoted in broadcast and print media as saying that Waters had been led to believe his job could be saved if he had adopted a “zero-tolerance policy.”
Drake said the band season will continue as the search for a new director begins. Former Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery will lead a full review.
The report concluded that the behavior among band members was “highly sexual, frequent, and longstanding as part of the Marching Band’s culture…indicating the existence of a hostile environment” in violation of federal sexual discrimination law and the university’s sexual harassment policy.
The investigators wrote that they found the incidents happened at practice at the stadium, during bus trips, alumni events and off-campus parties, many of them during official activities when members were supervised by Waters and his staff.
The investigation began after a band member’s parent inquired at the compliance office on May 23 if the band’s culture had become “sexualized,” according to the report. Investigators say they interviewed 16 witnesses, including Waters, his staff and current and former band members and staff.
Witnesses described a “culture of intimidation” to investigators, one characterizing the band as an “old boys club.” Women were not admitted to the band until required by federal law in 1973.
Two assistant band directors described the atmosphere in the band as improved over the past few years and getting better. However, one of them explained that change had been slow, partly because of an “at times stubborn alumni base that can be resistant to change.”
According to the report, the witnesses described the ritual known as “Midnight Ramp,” a longstanding tradition during which members would march into Ohio Stadium through the ramp at the north end of the field wearing only underwear and sometimes nude. The investigators said Waters and other staff members were present and witnessed the activity without stopping it.
Among the other band traditions the report called attention to: The bestowing of sexual, obscene and misanthropic nicknames; rookie Introductions for first-year band members, “midterms” and physical challenges; “Trip Tic,” a newsletter distributed before away game trips that included “disparaging information about members and sexually explicit content, including sexual activities of members”; a songbook of obscene alternative lyrics to Ohio State songs, other university’s fight songs and eve Christmas carols.
The report detailed misconduct on buses, including binge drinking and band members changing clothes.
“While some of the students may have engaged in such behavior and gave no indication that they objected, the interviews highlighted multiple situations in which students did not welcome this misconduct,” the report stated. “In a culture so sexualized for so long, students’ acquiescence and failure to complain cannot be taken as evidence that the range of this misconduct was welcome.”