Jonathan Waters was dismissed July 24 after a two-month investigation concluded he knew about but failed to stop activities contributing to a “sexualized culture” within the celebrated organization.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State University’s fired marching band director was lauded for “courageous” efforts to address attitudes surrounding the band’s traditions seven weeks before he was fired, according to records the university released this week.
Jonathan Waters was dismissed July 24 after a two-month investigation concluded he knew about but failed to stop activities contributing to a “sexualized culture” within the celebrated organization, including students marching partially clad, playing groping games on buses and bestowing sometimes lewd nicknames on new members.
In an annual performance review signed June 2, School of Music Director Richard Blatti gave Waters high across-the-board marks for the $150,000-a-year job, including with regard to band culture.
“Jon is confronted with many years of ‘tradition’ and many well-meaning alumni whose proclivities and excesses need constant but gradual attitude adjustment,” Blatti wrote. “Jon has already begun to address these predispositions and is courageous in tackling some of the more extreme views head-on.”
University spokesman Gary Lewis said, “Those comments stand alone and are separate from the complaint and the subsequent investigation which led to the personnel action.”
The university released Waters’ personnel file to The Associated Press following a public records request.
According to the file, Blatti had been critical of a younger Waters as a conductor and leader and observed he “occasionally shifts blame when circumstances dictate.”
