Ohio State Band Director

Days after Ohio State University marching band director Jon Waters was fired, supporters, many who are former band members, have rallied to save his job.

(Adam Cairns, The Columbus Dispatch )

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Support for former Ohio State University marching band director Jon Waters, fired last week after a university investigation determined he was aware of and did not defuse a "sexualized culture," has been widespread and strong.

Most is spearheaded by former band members.

A petition to reinstate Waters, who had directed the band since 2012, had more than 6,100 signatures by Tuesday morning. A fundraising campaign to help his family that began Saturday has raised almost $7,000 from 110 donors, including one $2,000 donation. Donors who give at least $15 receive an #IStandWithJonWaters t-shirt.

Many alumni and current band members are active on #standwithjon and #westandwithjonwaters on Twitter.

A long impassioned essay from a former band member is posted on The Buckeye Battle Cry website, which also drew many comments of support.

Commenters demand that Waters be reinstated, that the university and media have overreacted and every band member had the option of participating in band activities and suffered no consequences if they did not.

Ohio State fired Waters on Thursday, and released 23-page report with expicit exhibits following a two-month investigation that determined sexual harassment had existed for years in the band.

David Axelrod, Waters' attorney, has maintained Waters was a scapegoat and will fight his firing.

But the university, once it determined the marching band's culture led to sexual harassment, had to fire Waters or potentially face lawsuits and federal sanctions, says a legal expert.

The band is known as "The Best Damn Band in the Land" and has appeared in television ads for the iPad.

The university began an investigation in May when the parent of a band member reported information to the Office of University Compliance and Integrity.

That office, following a lengthy investigation, concluded that the culture "facilitated acts of sexual harassment" and Waters, 38, who had been involved with the band since 1995, when he became a member, knew about the culture and failed to address it.

Examples of abuse in the report include an annual incident in which men and women marched into the stadium at midnight wearing only underwear.

In addition, new band members were given nicknames, many sexually explicit and were forced to perform "tricks," including imitating sex acts.

Witnesses told investigators that students hung from the luggage racks and posed in a sexual position. That and the midnight march into the stadium were witnessed by Waters, witnesses said.

People from around the country have left comments on sites supporting Waters.

They say Waters worked to improve the band and make it a safe environment, is a master innovator and the activities of some students have damaged the band.

A woman, who is a former member of the band, an educator and the parent of an Ohio State student, said she never felt harassed or uncomfortable during her time in the band.

Dave Spohn, son of the late band director Charles Spohn, who directed the band from 1964 to 1969, signed the online petition.

He wrote, "While I was never a member of the marching band, I enjoyed the gift of being raised around the band while my father served as both the Assistant Director and Director of the OSUMB. While there are clearly issues that must be addressed within the culture of the organization, I do NOT support the firing of Director Waters.

In many respects, I think Director Waters has already proven to have a commitment to improving the organization...as has been easily seen and heard in the tremendous results during the OSUMB's performances while he has served as director. I also firmly trust the opinions expressed by many current and former band members that Director Waters was beginning to make headway in regards to improvements behind the scenes.

I respectfully ask that the university reconsider the dismissal of Director Waters in favor of allowing him a probationary period during which he can fully institute the changes that are deemed appropriate by The Ohio State University. While I realize there are likely elements which would prefer to see a wholesale cleaning of the house within the leadership of the band, I am of the firm belief that because there are many honored traditions and cultural elements of the band which are worth preserving...as well as those which have no place in ANY organization at Ohio State...the best possible instrument for change is the former band member and most recent director who has devoted nearly two decades of his life to the OSUMB, the university, and to those of us who hold both organizations quite dear."