re: The Ohio State University fires band director Jon Waters

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On May 23, 2014 a parent of a Marching Band member visited the Office of University Compliance
and Integrity and reported that she had concerns about whether the Marching Band’s culture was
sexualized, and stated that its members were made to swear secrecy oaths about objectionable
traditions and customs. The parent specifically described an annual tradition of members marching
across the field in their underwear under the supervision of the Marching Band directors and staff,
including Jonathan Waters.

The information provided by the parent constitutes a complaint under the university’s Sexual
Harassment Policy 1.15 and Title IX; the parent requested an investigation of these issues, which
implicate university policy and federal prohibitions on sexual harassment and raise the possibility of
a hostile environment in the Marching Band.2

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