Chancellor John Wiley recently tightened control of the University of Wisconsin marching band following reported violations of the band's code of conduct.
At a meeting with the band Oct. 5, Wiley issued a reprimand and emphasized he will further discipline any band members who act inappropriately.
""The meeting was brought about primarily because of reports of behaviors that came to our attention after the Michigan trip, but they are representative of reports that we've had previously and that we have previously discussed with the band,"" said Casey Nagy, special assistant to the chancellor. He said multiple people came forward about misconduct in the band.
Band members who violate the code of conduct could suffer consequences including expulsion from the band or disciplinary action in the Dean of Students office, according to Nagy.
Regarding rumors Wiley would suspend whole sections of the band if needed, Nagy cited Wiley as saying, ""I'm not sure what a band would sound like without any tubas or trumpets or any other particular group of instruments, but we can certainly find out.""
Drum major and UW-Madison senior Adam Gill said some marching band members were using the term ""double secret probation"" from the 1978 film Animal House to refer to the outcome of the meeting.
""Basically we're just under more of a microscope than ever,"" Gill said.
Wiley did not address specific conduct violations, according to Gill, but ""he wanted us to know that we're being watched more closely.""
UW-Madison senior and assistant drum major Jeff Gelhausen said the chancellor did not give any specific information about what prompted the meeting. Wiley was not available for comment as of press time.
Although band members and administrators did not provide details, previous violations of the code of conduct include band members using foul language on a trip to the Women's Big Ten in 2004 and a student showing up intoxicated to a morning practice last spring, according to Gill.
Gill said band director Michael Leckrone always tells the band, ""It's not what actually happens, it's what the public perception is.""
Band members expressed reluctance to comment on the meeting situation. UW-Madison senior Tim Schultz said he worried about making a comment Wiley would consider retaliation, for fear of being expelled from the band.
According to Nagy, Wiley's overall message at the meeting was, ""If you wouldn't do it in an academic classroom, you shouldn't be doing it as part of the band.""
He said the band will attend a workshop on behavioral standards.
