COLUMBUS, Ohio ― The alumni club of Ohio State University’s marching band said Monday that an independent review of band culture is less inflammatory than the university’s internal investigation and should be used to revisit the firing of band director Jonathan Waters.
The TBDBITL Alumni Club issued its response after evaluating findings of a task force led by former Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery and determining they were “generally even-handed.”
The club is named for what fans know as “The Best Damn Band in The Land,” which under Waters’ leadership produced halftime shows considered revolutionary.
Waters was fired in July after university investigators found he knew about but failed to stop a “sexualized culture” of rituals. Detractors allege many of that investigation’s findings were false, overblown or misrepresented.
The university stands by the investigation’s findings and Waters’ firing, pointing to the fact that he was an at-will employee who, revelations led them to believe, could no longer effectively lead the band. Waters has filed a federal anti-discrimination lawsuit seeking reinstatement and $1 million in damages.
The alumni club said Monday there should be further exploration after new findings of the task force cited deficient university policies, oversight and funding.
