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Ohio State band alumni: Reinstate director

By WTOP Staff

ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS
Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State University should disavow the investigative report of the school’s celebrated marching band that led to the firing of its director for failing to stop a “sexualized culture” and immediately reinstate him, according to report by a group of band alumni released Friday.

The report also calls for an independent investigation of the university’s handling of Jonathan Waters’ July 24 firing and a university apology to band members and alumni.

The 103-page report also recommends the university put the marching band, currently a part of the School of Music, under independent oversight.

The report said the university didn’t put enough weight on Waters’ attempt to address and stop older traditions in the band.

“Evidence of cited historic events does not demonstrate the existence of a ‘band culture’ as we move forward,” the report said. “They are not evidence of general misconduct, cultural problems or any failure of leadership or control by Jonathan Waters.”

Waters’ supporters defend his reputation and that of the band, whose halftime shows, including one in the formation of Michael Jackson doing the moonwalk, grab hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube.

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Education announced it was ending a four-year investigation of Ohio State’s handling of sexual violence complaints, and applauded the university for its handling of the marching band situation, which cropped up after the government launched the 2010 probe.

The alumni report says Ohio State succumbed to pressure in that investigation and fired Waters only to show it was taking a hard-line approach to alleged Title IX discrimination, referring to the law that prohibits gender discrimination at institutions that take federal funds.

Given that federal investigation, “an atmosphere existed in which the University truly sought to demonstrate its Title IX resolve in dramatic fashion, even at the expense of due process and fundamental fairness,” the report said.

The band “has remained a model of compliance with Title IX,” Gary Leppla, a band alumnus and lawyer said at a news conference Friday.

Ohio State has denied its actions against Waters were an attempt to placate the federal investigation. The university declined to comment on the report.

“We are focused on a great football game tomorrow and outstanding performances from our Marching Band and the alumni,” spokesman Chris Davey said in an email.

Waters, a band alumnus, was expected to march in the alumni band’s pre-game show Saturday and possibly direct a couple of numbers.

The two-month university investigation concluded Waters knew about and failed to stop sexualized rituals including students marching partially clad, playing groping games on buses, and awarding sometimes explicit nicknames based on silly performances mimicking sex toys, orgasms or body parts.

Waters’ supporters have lobbied intensely for his reinstatement, arguing he has been scapegoated by the university and was working to improve the culture inside the band.

Most of the alumni report consists of criticisms of Ohio State’s report and repeats allegations that the university investigation was incomplete and relied on a minority of current and former band members to reach its conclusions.

For example, it questioned the university’s criticism of sexually charged nicknames that some band members were given.

“Many of these names were the preferred names of these individuals, both in and out of band,” the alumni report said. “Some of these individuals had their nicknames included in their social media profiles.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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