The Columbus Dispatch reported band director Jonathan Waters was fired for fostering “a deep culture of sexual harassment.” Waters was ousted after complaints surfaced that male and female band members had to play together in only their underwear during an annual midnight practice session, new members were allegedly given sexually explicit nicknames, and hung from luggage racks on the bus in sexual positions. Explicit lyrics set to team songs were part of a band songbook, the Dispatch reported. “In one case, a female student was told to imitate a sexual act on the laps of other band members, including her brother,” the Dispatch reported. Waters allegedly ignored complaints about several of these allegations from band members and did nothing to stop alcohol abuse on a band trip.
So, Waters was fired. Now, he wants his job back ..... "problems that existed were not true" he says. I gathered they were "old" problems ... seems to me that a word from him would have removed the problems.
If OSU lets him return I would think they are opening themselves to a lawsuit, I don't see how they could possibly do it. Waters is in New York, hitting the TV circuit, crying, "I want my job back." I would doubt that it would ever happen. I am sure that OSU, prior to dismissing him, had just cause.
How often do you see someone .... RE hired, none come to mind .... and, The Pride of Ohio .... The Best Damned Band in the Land .... Well, OK, all the things that happened, well, it was before your time, and well, you probably could have stopped them, but ... well, it's better to taper off, I guess .. so here, is the "baton, Maestro"..... when time permits, have them cut down on the hazing and the harassment and abuse and stuff, OK John, we're sorry .... You dot the i this year, OK?
WHY would he even want the job back? The "blemish" is on his record, never to be removed, maybe no one else wants him so he is trying to get his old job back. He must be a really proud man, no, not that, practical, perhaps .................
If he gets his job back and is rehired .. the wore PROUD should not be used, either by the director nor the university ...........
