Stanford band can travel again
“The students have been working diligently on changing the culture of the band. As a result, we decided to remove the provisional status, return the band to ‘good standing’ and lift the travel ban.” — John Etchemendy, provost, Stanford University
Stanford University officials lifted most of the sanctions on the school’s marching band on Friday, meaning the student group is again in good standing and can travel to away games.
Provost John Etchemendy placed the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band on provisional status in January following a suspension due to violations of campus alcohol policy, and bans on drinking and traveling, among other issues.
“The students have been working diligently on changing the culture of the band,” Etchemendy said in a campus news release Friday. “As a result, we decided to remove the provisional status, return the band to ‘good standing’ and lift the travel ban.”
The alcohol ban will be in place through the fall football season, Etchemendy added.
The band will continue to work with the Office of Alcohol Policy and Education to “reintroduce responsible use of alcohol at social events,” according to the university statement.
The band, which has about 200 members, was initially suspended in December 2016 for hazing, sexual harassment and alcohol abuse during a trip to Lake Tahoe, which the university’s Organization Conduct Board said broke campus policy.
One of the sanctions that resulted from this investigation prohibited the band from traveling with university sports teams and taking group trips.
In January, Etchemendy praised band students for their response to changes university officials requested. In recent months the student-run band was allowed to recruit new members and perform at approved events. And former Baylor University associate professor of music education Russell Gavin became the band’s director on May 6.
Band manager Cassidy Forler, a junior majoring in biomechanical engineering, said in the campus news release that band members are excited to be back in good standing and able to operate again at full capacity.
“It seems that we have experienced our lowest of lows with our initial suspension at the beginning of this year and our highest of highs in quite a long time with the lifting of the travel ban and the removal of our provisional status,” Forler said. “Seeing this outcome in a mere four months speaks to the hard work and dedication of our alumni, members and especially our student staff.”