On Thursday, August 16th, 2018, DCI placed Pioneer DBC on suspension, citing major operational concerns that were raised by students and staff. These concerns include underfeeding and overworking members, among other things. The response to these recent events by Mr. Blenski was underwhelming to say the least. The official statement lacked any degree of accountability, serving more as a deflection and denial than a clear commitment to change and improvement. It is clear that Mr. Blenski and his administrative staff have not taken these concerns seriously. It is now readily apparent than in order for this corps to improve not only the well-being of its own members and staff but also its own operational abilities, Mr. Blenski must step down from his role as executive director immediately.

As an active member of the Drum Corps community since 2015, I myself, like many in the Drum Corps community, have heard stories of the horrible treatment that the members and staff of Pioneer have endured. I care deeply about the well-being of my fellow members, and it has become clear to me that a major change is long overdue. Like its mission statement echoes, Pioneer fosters an environment where everyone is family. As a part of this family, members and staff should feel safe and cared for while they pursue their passions and improve their livelihoods. This has clearly not been the case in the past, and it is time for Pioneer to get back to what makes the activity so great.