A popular marching band has been forced to drop out of Toronto’s Santa Claus Parade Sunday as part of punishment for sharing offensive material.

Queen’s University has suspended its historic band from performing at scheduled events for the rest of the fall term for circulating “information materials containing offensive language that is particularly demeaning to women,” said a university news release Thursday. The group is called Queen’s Bands because it includes a pipe band, drum corps, brass band and cheerleading squad.

The suspension was imposed jointly by Queen’s administration and its student council, which also will require band members to take human rights training and develop a plan to review and improve the group’s policies and practices.

“The materials, and the behaviors they promote, are unacceptable. They point to a sub-culture within the Bands where explicit, disrespectful and degrading language marginalizes community members who may remain silent for fear of exclusion,” says Dean of Student Affairs Ann Tierney in a statement Thursday.

“We are committed to supporting the Bands as they take action to ensure all of their activities reflect the values and principles of Queen’s as a welcoming, safe, positive and inclusive environment.”

On Friday, Tierney confirmed that the band had been asked to withdraw from Sunday’s parade in Toronto.

“We recognize the Bands has a special place in the Queen’s community, but this only serves to reinforce the need for the Bands to reflect the university’s mission and standards at all times,” said Morgan Campbell, president of the Alma Mater Society, which jointly condemned the band’s behaviour. “When groups are representing Queen’s, the community expects behavior that reflects the principles of equality we strive to uphold.”

The university and the society will review the Bands’ progress in the new year.