The University of Wisconsin Marching Band will travel to Lambeau Field Sunday to perform at halftime of the Green Bay Packers-Indianapolis Colts game, university officials announced Wednesday.
The band's previous travel ban has been lifted for this weekend, but according to Band Director Mike Leckrone, the investigation into hazing within the band is still ongoing.
Leckrone said the university's decision to allow the band to travel is not contradictory.
We didn't really reverse anything. What we did was say we wanted to keep the investigation going, which we have,"" he said. ""We wanted to come up with some guidelines that would enable us to travel.""
According to a university statement, the band will travel to and from Green Bay on buses, but will not stay overnight. Instrument sections and class levels will be split by random seating assignments, a quiet bus option will be available and initiation activities will be prohibited as part of new travel policies.
The entire band was suspended before the Oct. 4 home football game against Ohio State because of reports of hazing, but performed at last Saturday's Penn State game.
""Last week we just wanted to get on the field and get that part of the business taken care of '¦ We were trying to solve the problem and take it one step at a time,"" Leckrone said.
According to Leckrone, the band has learned and grown stronger from the experience.
""When you get thrown off a horse, you want to get right back on again and show that you can do the right thing ... Now [we] want the opportunity to do the right thing,"" he said.
Drum Major Jon Alfuth said the entire leadership squad of the band has taken the initiative to make the experience a positive one.
""We have been figuring out what we need to do to take care of it and move past the situation,"" he said. ""The whole leadership team has really stepped up, and I am really proud of them.""
The band found out about the day trip to Lambeau Field at the beginning of practice Wednesday.
""It [is] exciting. We are excited to get back out on the road and put this all behind us,"" Alfuth said.
According to Leckrone, no band members will be prohibited from traveling Sunday.
Alfuth said he could not comment on whether members of leadership were involved in the hazing activities.
""It has been involved in the culture for quite a long time, but everything in the last couple of years has taken steps to improve, and we just need to keep taking steps,"" he said.
