A university marching band has reportedly disbanded 116 years after it was “founded on the basis of racism, cultural oppression, misogyny, and sexual harassment.
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According to the Columbia University Marching Band, they have reached a unanimous decision to call it quits due to the band’s questionable past.
As the Band’s leadership announced in a statement, they have “unanimously and enthusiastically decided to dissolve” because of the oppression and racism rooted in the band’s history.
“The Band has unanimously and enthusiastically decided to dissolve. The Columbia University Marching Band will not continue to exist in any capacity and will no longer serve as a Columbia spirit group,” the group wrote.
“The Band understands that for many, the damage experienced at the hands of the CUMB may be irreparable, and the Band will not be asking for or expecting any forgiveness.”
The statement went on to suggest that “the current Band hopes that the Band’s dissolution will provide relief to the present suffering of the Columbia community and time to heal from the decades of harm caused by this organization.”
According to The Columbia Spectator, the group, which previously branded themselves as “the cleverest band in the world,” has come to the conclusion to disband because of traditions of misconduct that are allegedly rooted too deeply in the band for the traces of damage done by their practices to be removed.
Following the band’s decision to call it quits, Columbia University officials announced that they respect the group’s dissolution.
“We respect efforts of the band’s student leadership to address in a serious manner recent reports of offensive and unacceptable conduct entirely at odds with the values of our university,” they wrote.
As the CUMB confirmed in their Saturday statement, they hope that their “disbandment can create a space that allows for the formation of a new spirit group that will provide a safe and inclusive outlet for students to play music at Columbia.”
Replaced!