Former OSU Band Director Drops Claims Against OSU

Former director of what is commonly known The Best Damn Band in The Land, was fired in 2014 for largely ignoring a sexualized, hazing culture within the band.

According to NBC4i, he denied wrong doing and sued Ohio State University for reinstatement and damages, which he has now dismissed in return for the university not recovering costs from him.

In a statement, the university said, “Jonathan Waters, former director of The Ohio State University Marching and Athletic Bands, has voluntarily dismissed all of his claims against the University, including all appeals, in exchange for the University not seeking to recover its costs from him, as OSU would be entitled to do as the prevailing party.  The decision by Mr. Waters to terminate his two pending cases leaves in place the prior rulings of the U.S. District Court in Columbus and the Ohio Court of Claims, which both found against Mr. Waters.  Ohio State is pleased this litigation is now concluded and all parties can move forward.

The sexualized culture in question included senior band members giving new members nicknames of a sexual nature, and instances where rookie band members were made to answer dirty jokes or questions before walking to the back of the band bus while other members tried to remove their clothes, according to CNN.

Waters’ lawyer claimed that Waters was a ‘scapegoat’ for a sexual climate that had begun long before his tenure.

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