Saturday, September 19, 2009
Drop & do fifty, flautist
JACKSON, Miss. — Jackson State University officials say about 20 members of the school's marching band are accused of being involved in hazing and have been suspended.No surprise. Jackson State is the kind of historically black southern college where the music department is as important as the football team, there's prestige to being in the marching band, & the bands are highly competitive within sections & with other bands. I have no problem with that. It's a campus culture explored in the movie Drumline. But forcing sloppy musicians to do crunches is stupid. Make them practice more. Does a football coach discipline a player by making him learn Sousaphone?University spokesman Anthony Dean says the rest of the 300-member Sonic Boom of the South band would perform Saturday at JSU's football game against Grambling State.
Dean would not discuss details of the accusations.
In 2007, university officials had initially barred the entire band from performing at a football game against Southern University because section leaders made musicians do push-ups or crunches if they didn't perform correctly. However, the order was overturned two days later.
No one was disciplined, but officials limited the responsibilities of section leaders and began educating band members about hazing.
If you want to hear dorky white kids blaring out wooden versions of "Hang On Sloopy" & "Hawaiian War Chant," watch Big Ten football.
