October 6, 2008

Band Director Files Sexual-Harassment Complaint Against Marching Band

A former band director at the University of California at Davis has filed a sexual-harassment complaint against members of the Cal Aggie Marching Band, citing several incidents of crude and unruly behavior during his first year as director, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The director, Tom Slabaugh, filed the complaint last May after failed attempts to bring order to the band, known to be loud and rowdy, created a “hostile work environment,” according to a memorandum obtained by the newspaper. During his year as the band’s director, Mr. Slabaugh said he witnessed a string of “ridiculous, disturbing, and offensive” incidents, including a “naked van,” in whcih male and female band members stripped down to their underwear during road trips.

The memo says that the university would not back initial complaints from Mr. Slabaugh, and that a report to the campus police about a band member breaking a security gate ended up with no arrests and fueled animosity between the director and the band. After the police report, Mr. Slabaugh said, a band member directed obscene hand gestures at him and rammed into him during an encounter in a hallway. The director also received a crude Christmas card signed by the trombone players.

According to Lisa Brodkey, a university sexual-harassment officer, band members have now received sexual-harassment training, and obscene posters and items in the band room were removed. Mr. Slabaugh, a longtime band director who is working on his doctorate in musical arts from the University of Washington, left Davis on stress leave in September. —David DeBolt

Comments

1. Hooray, Mr. Slabaugh. It’s about time a professor stood up for himself! I applaud you.

   — Jackie Royal    Oct 6, 01:40 PM    #

2. He is not a prof. yet, and i say he gives new meaning to the phrase band geek. He most likely got beat up in school and now has a little power and is trying to use it. If they are not hurting anyone let them be kids, god knows once you are out in the real world all the fun is gone…

   — Remember the Alamo    Oct 6, 02:57 PM    #

3. They ARE hurting someone, dumbass: physically—I’d not want a college kid banging into me in the hall; and pedagogically—no discipline, and further disrespect when he tries to get control.

   — jack    Oct 6, 03:07 PM    #

4. “The director also received a crude Christmas card signed by the trombone players.”

   I’m still laughing over this sentence.

   — --john    Oct 6, 03:24 PM    #

5. And then this one time… at band camp…

   — Derek    Oct 6, 03:36 PM    #

6. Now, I could see cause for concern if they were actually naked in something called the underwear van.

   But wearing underwear in the naked van? Seems like these kids need to watch Animal House to get up to speed.

   — Anton Koopmann    Oct 6, 03:42 PM    #

7. As a former conductor, let me remind everyone that band is an elective. If this guy had established a code of behavior for the band, like most courses we teach, he could kick-out the rowdies. Do this a few times and then he would send a message that bad behavior would not be tolerated. This guy sounds like he wants everyone else to do what’s expected of him. He is, after all, the “director.”

   — Barbara Shell    Oct 6, 03:44 PM    #

8. I think everyone is missing the point… he was the DIRECTOR. It is his job to enforce policies and teach those students what they were doing wrong. Kick them out of the band if they were breaking policy or acting inappropriately. Who the heck was he complaining to if he was the DIRECTOR??

   — Jeff    Oct 6, 03:45 PM    #

9. I think that Southern Cal may try to recruit some of these Bandies for their football team. Sounds like a tough crew.

   — GT    Oct 6, 03:52 PM    #

10. Is there really such a thing as “stress leave”? Oh yeah, I forgot he was out in nut land aka. California.

    He probably could have gotten stress leave if he found out his solar panels were sad when it was cloudy.

    — Marty    Oct 6, 03:55 PM    #

11. Once they leave college and enter the workforce, these sorts of antics would lead to a very nasty lawsuit and Unless every member of the band consented to this type of behavior, there are likely some members who were made to feel uncomfortable. Again, a lawsuit waiting to happen. It is the band directors responsibility to make sure that standards are upheld and that all are treated respectfully.

    — Rbradley    Oct 6, 03:57 PM    #

12. It brought fond memories of my marching band days. Especially the comment about “ridiculous, disturbing, and offensive” incidents.

    — rob    Oct 6, 04:02 PM    #

13. John McCain is just the Maverick to tame that band!!

    — vw    Oct 6, 04:08 PM    #

14. This guy is obviously not a parent! Also, he was not properly schooled in behavior modification in his teacher ed program. I agree, it’s HIS responsibility to get things under control. Our band director was hard as nails, and everyone respected him.

    — Former Band Geek    Oct 6, 04:08 PM    #

15. Uh, Jeff? Read the article again. As presently constituted, the band is a student organization and the “Director” has no authority. All of the authority has been vested in a council of 12 students!

    In this case, the University deserves the bad press. The Student Affairs Admins who hold the purse strings need to tell the “Council of Twelve” that the band’s share of student fees will be cut off unless they keep their pants on!

    — Ugh    Oct 6, 04:09 PM    #

16. I thought men’s athletics were bad-This weekend the U of Wisconsin’s marching band was suspended for bad behavior. What are campuses coming to? with so much bad behavior there won’t be any students left to play and PLAY.

    — jb    Oct 6, 04:09 PM    #

17. I am shocked, shocked I tell you that trombone players would send a rude Christmas card. <that would be sarcasm for you left coasters> Guy must have been a flute player or something.

    — Trumpet player    Oct 6, 04:10 PM    #

18. The band director needed training in leadership and should have been taught something about human behavior; theirs and his. Most often, bands are close-knit groups of students who want to work hard (and play hard) at appropriate times. They, as a group, found him to be obnoxious and turned on the negative behavior to lead to his retreat – and it did!

    — stan wollock    Oct 6, 04:17 PM    #

19. The football players for whom these musicians have to feign enthusiasm week in and week out can get away with the most boorish, offensive, sexually brutish behavior in our boorish, offensive lexicon and they are protected by administrations and applauded by fans and, adding insult to injury, they seem to get a lot of sexual attention. Cue the band geeks who pile into the “naked van” (in their underwear, of course. No problem with that, hygeinically speaking) and can’t get their minds off sex and suddenly we’re talking about legal action against the entire band? Really? Well, alright then. Keep the geeks in order, but compare their GPA’s to the boorish players they have to pretend to revere with awestruck wonder and phony school spirit coursing through their veins and then tell me: to whom would you rather give your scholarship dollars?

    — BP    Oct 6, 04:18 PM    #

20. I just want to remind you that Sarah Palin played the “flute” as a talent. Is there a history of unruly and libertine behavior somewhere in those 6 colleges she attended. Where oh where is the National Enquirer when we need them? :)

    — Lee C    Oct 6, 04:19 PM    #

21. I’m concerned about the tone of some of these comments, especially
    the “kids will be kids” attitude from “Alamo”. I recall the same language being used about sexual harrassment, rape and other types of sexual assault heaped on girls from those “boys just being boys” (wink, wink). The statement “If they are not hurting anyone let them be kids…” was also bandied about regarding the very serious issue of bullying…I agree that as the “leader of the band”, this guy needs some backbone and a good dose of self-confidence to impose basic behavioral control in his venue, but it also sounds like he did not have administrative backing either. I don’t find it difficult to maintain control of my sweet darlings in my classroom, but many faculty/ professional staff are so seriously threatened by possible litigation that an enviornment of “turn a blind eye” to very real and dangerous situations has become the norm. Good puns and jokes aside, this type of nasty behavior could easily lead to some equally nasty (and preventable) outcomes. I wonder how many of the female band members have been abused by these same rowdies?

    — Pat Moran, Director Disability Services, Blinn College, Texas    Oct 6, 04:20 PM    #

22. What’s the matter with her?????

    — DeeDee Pontiac    Oct 6, 04:47 PM    #

23. I went to UCD and the “Band-uh!” is a fairly irreverent freewheeling organization. In the old days they used to have a great battle of the bands with Stanford and a few other local colleges during Picnic Day. I think the Director must have been a bad fit.

    — Book Guy    Oct 6, 04:51 PM    #

24. I’ve enjoyed the comments much more then the article. I find it comical that people are “concerned” about the contents of some of the responses. To me, they are just highly educated people being highly educated people attempting to be funny? I especially like the solar panel comment :)

    — Terpowl    Oct 6, 04:57 PM    #

25. So the question in my mind is, how do I sign up for this band? Will they accept non-student members? Good god, there are so many other things in the world that are wrong and dark right now, why do partially nude, socially cohesive band students garner such attention?

    — O.J's Cousin    Oct 6, 05:13 PM    #

26. As a retired college band director of many years: Where is the backbone of the director and the University? Does the University really want this cleaned up? If it does, show
    some support, leadership, and outline exactly what is expected
    from the director on down!

    — Eric A. Johnson    Oct 6, 05:25 PM    #

27. People! People! People, pay attention! People! People, do you hear me? I’m not going to shout over you! People! People, Pleeeeeze! You’re being very rude! People! Oh, God! Will someone please get me an Advil? People! People!

    — My Soap Opera    Oct 6, 05:28 PM    #

28. That wasn’t a crude Christmas card, that trombone player’s nickname really is “Rusty”.

    — maxsdadeo    Oct 6, 05:55 PM    #

29. Given the coarsening of our society during the past 40 years, why is anyone surprised? To borrow the jargon of the 1960s, these kids are jus’ doin’ their own thing. Anyway, are we supposed to be judgemental? Who is to say what is right and wrong, anyway? Kool, dudes and dudettes.

    — why wonder    Oct 6, 06:13 PM    #

30. Somehow, if the band director had been female, I doubt that we’d have seen quite so many of the gibes and put-downs that appear above.

    — Gustave    Oct 6, 06:16 PM    #

31. All they need – the sexually harrassing trombone players – is the exposure, one hour will suffice, to a good Regimental Sergeant Major. Does wonderds to the rowdiest trombonists, and even sets tubas to rights. Incidentally, despite all the talk on the hallowed subject, have ALL academics lost their elementary leadership, REAL leadership, skills entirely? Poor Band Director, stress leave, and a session with a shirnk most likely to follow. One’s heart bleeds in its palpitating fit.

    — Dag von Lubitz    Oct 6, 07:27 PM    #

32. Who in the world thought that Tom would or could be an effective band director? He never had a band experience. He played a violin in his school and college orchestra.

    — Bill    Oct 6, 08:32 PM    #

33. I’m wondering why the taxpayers are paying for these a- holes to go to uni? They should be digging ditches, picking grapes, harvesting tomoatoes, etc…

    — WEJ    Oct 6, 11:35 PM    #

34. As the name suggests I actually play trombone in the CAL AGGIE BAND-uh! At least get the name right, sheesh! What I say here as I say as a student in the organization. My views in no way reflect that of the band-uh! or the University of California-Davis. Being in the band-uh! I can attest that it is so much fun and rarely a problem. This is just one guy with a bone to pick. He was angry that the band council still maintained control despite his pointless position of faculty director, a position with no real authority for good reason. The band-uh! antics described in some cases were blown out of proportion. Then “naked van” part is grossly exagerrated and trombone players sending lewd christmas cards was an attempt to bring Dr. Tom closer to his students. In all actuality the University sexual harrassment officers gave the bandsmen EXTENSIVE sexual harrassment training and the band-uh! is working WITH the University to help iron out the problems. Suspension & at most a serious probation may be levied but I doubt it. There are serious, confidential personell problems in effect here as well that do not allow some pertinent details to be shared. Again, the Cal Aggie Band-uh! is fully aware of the gravity of the situation but I cannot emphasize this enough; this is a case of bad, sensationalist “yellow journalism.” This reporter left out a direct quote from the Band-uh! because it hurt his article and failed to mention the spirit and good, clean fun so prevalent in this fine organization. The band-uh! will be tested and I would venture that we pass the test with flying colors. And this is not the same as Wisconsin. The Cal Aggie Band-uh! strictly prohibits hazing and punishes those who violate this policy. What the Wisconsin Band did was wrong and deserves a suspension. A few sexual harrassment complaints from an uptight director in a VERY laid-back band will not slow the Bold, Blue, And Bitchin’ Cal Aggie Band-uh! one bit.

    — aggiebone7    Oct 7, 02:21 AM    #

35. Overall, I think the article and the comments (including aggiebone’s #38) are hilarious. If wearing underwear counts as naked, I think I have had some naked classes during summer school. I really needed that laugh.

    But seriously, I would guess most of the students know where the line is. There is a difference between poor discretion in dress (or are they just following the fashion-uh!) and ramming into a professor in the halls. And therefore I agree with Pat Moran #24, that not all sexual banter is harmless. Someone needed to step in. Obscene posters cross the line, since it is very unlikely that every band member or visitor to the room found them inoffensive. And I especially find the justifications of “kids will be kids” and “everyone else is doing it” chilling, for exactly the reasons Pat lays out.

    — Shar    Oct 7, 02:40 AM    #

36. Thank you all. You have managed to make me laugh and believe in college kids again. I was concerned that the spirit of youth had become a victim of technology.

    Bluto Blutarsky may indeed be proud of this latest display of college spirit.

    — Jon    Oct 7, 08:26 AM    #

37. The trombone players are my heroes.

    — The trombone    Oct 7, 08:40 AM    #

38. Hey #24while i think people who commit sexual crimes should be put to death, the only one with issues is the band director. Why do you think there is no disapline in schools, you can think the ACLU for that.

    — Remember the Alamo    Oct 7, 08:45 AM    #

39. You go, Band-uh! I’m with #40 on this and applaud #38. People are SUPPOSED to have fun in college.

    — BertW    Oct 7, 08:52 AM    #

40. We see again that anything can be made anything, when the real purpose and pleasure is one kind of person constraining another sort of person and using the apparatus and powers of government and government-like institutions and offices to do so. Here, rude — that is, people who act like lower-class people — is said to be sexual and being sexual means all governmental and government-like persecutions [sic] must be visited upon the sexual deviants who harass by their very existence. Like the old Soviets, we can only hope that our training will make the rude people less deviant.

    — Pat    Oct 7, 09:23 AM    #

41. This is ridiculous. If these students had been part of a sports team, everyone here would be crying to disband them immediately and how their behavior only goes to show how athletics shouldn’t be on campus. But, because they are “band geeks,” everyone wants to laugh it off and applaud their behavior? I think what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

    — Whatever!    Oct 7, 09:31 AM    #

42. Sounds like Director Tom expected that having a title bestowed on him would substitute for the leadership skills he obviously lacks. This has all the appearance of being a petty attack (and an abuse of what sexual harassment policies are intended for) for having had one’s inadequacy exposed. If the facts are no more than what is being reported here, I hope it is recognized for what it is and dismissed out of hand.

    — CW    Oct 7, 09:40 AM    #

43. This is a law suit filed in California against a California higher education institution. If I remember correctly the Cal Univs have been experiencing an extremely bad run of luck in the judicial system lately when an employee sues on a discrimination issue. Thus the band director may view this as a Lotto drawing.

    — andy    Oct 7, 09:43 AM    #

44. Don’t you hate a Band Director who was a String Player? They never have a definite beat; they merely wave their baton around aimlessly. Can you imagine the First Violins sending a nasty Christmas Card? He probably doesn’t have problems with the French Horns! Trombones were trouble when I was a band geek in the ’60s.

    — Patricia    Oct 7, 09:54 AM    #

45. Dear “Remember the Alamo” (#43): Please learn how to write and learn how to present an argument. Your comments really need to be kept to yourself. Your message has spelling errors and grammatical problems in addition to the issue of tone and derision.

    — ann    Oct 7, 10:54 AM    #

46. Plenty of fault to go around on this one. An administration that allows wide ranging leeway to students who govern their own behavior while officially representing the university, a faculty member in over his head, and students taking advantage of it. I do have a concern if the students who were down to their underwear were in a van marked with UC Davis on the side. They are representing the University, etc. in a state/university vehicle, so they forfeit the right to determine appropriate attire. They should be called out on that.

    — Brian D.    Oct 7, 11:30 AM    #

47. Hey, ann I think I took your class that is why I can’t read or write!!! I am not arguing with anyone, if that where the case I would use facts and not opinion which this entire site is. The main point is that these are kids who works hard in school, hard at entertaining fans at a sporting event and as far as I have read none of them have filed any complaints. Only an over zealous piled higher and deeper (Ph.D.) who cares about what people do on their own time. Who are any of you to say if young adults can do what they want. I also pointed out that discipline in schools was never a problem until the ACLU and cry baby liberals said” we can’t punish kids”. Which if you go back and study is when k-12 along with higher education started to go down hill, nothing wrong with giving a child the paddle, may keep them in line. Fear is a wonderful thing; I also stated that all sexual predators should be put to death, what is wrong with that? If you don’t like what I have to say who cares move on and read something else, freedom of speech; isn’t nice that we all get to use it, even us dumb people with spelling errors!!!! BTW this is a blog not a term paper, I am sorry you fill you need to correct my rants, although ann I am glad you care!!!

    — Remember the Alamo    Oct 7, 11:53 AM    #

48. Band is not always an elective. At some schools, majors in certain instrument categories are required to be in marching band. Those who aren’t happy to be there are often the root of discontent.

    — CB    Oct 7, 02:33 PM    #

49. Doesn’t the university have an obligation to maintain a hassle-free workplace for its employees and students? This mess at Davis has existed for a long time, and harms the potential that this band has for making a point. How bad would it be for the band’s message at games – which is often fun and irreverent, albeit sophomoric – to be underscored by a rehearsal/practice environment that included consideration of everyone involved – students and director alike? Wouldn’t we all like to believe that intelligent students like those alleged to be at UCD are capable of making this happen? And at what point does the administration make it obvious to everyone that they support the director as he addresses these legitimate concerns?

    — Robert Halseth    Oct 7, 04:29 PM    #

50. Robert, this is Earth. I don’t know what planet you come from, but this is Earth. There is no such thing as “hassle-free” on this planet. No one has an obligation to provide hassle-free to anyone else. No one has a right to expect hassle-free. Hassle-free, Robert, doesn’t exist.

    — formerly known as . . . .    Oct 7, 04:51 PM    #

51. “Hassle-free” may not exist: but Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, 1964, certainly does.

    — Gustave    Oct 7, 05:54 PM    #

52. Harvard has its “male-only” bars, and UCD has its fun-loving band. Why should we care, moreover become highly exercised by it. Everyone should take a deep breath, chill out and move on.

    — Bill    Oct 7, 08:06 PM    #

53. I am a long time TTC person…Third Trombone Club…We count measures except in marching band…How come the administration put a violin player in charge of what us basicly Infantry in attack? Bad idea to put him there…also he had no chance! Band directors have to lead and also “set the tone”…The guy needs to do something else. Next director may do better at the task of “taking charge”…
    Janeen

    — janeen    Oct 9, 08:59 PM    #

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