When is it time to ban something? In today’s world, sexually explicit language and music seem to go hand in hand, especially among youth. University students, though we are cultured individuals, don’t always engage in the most tasteful activities in the opinions of the older generation. The older generation has always told us how ‘music just isn’t the same as it was in their day,’ a fact which becomes increasingly true as we march in to the new century, though the recklessness of youth hasn’t changed as much as they would lead us to believe. Recently Queen’s University suspended their school’s marching band, cheerleaders and highland dancers for publicly distributing pamphlets called “The Banner” at open events. The pamphlets contained sexually explicit content, inappropriate pictures and violent language which we do not wish to repeat in the Iron Warrior and unsurprisingly, was deemed offensive, especially towards women. Which brings us to the question, when does ‘just a little fun’ turn in to too much? When does a joke among friends become degradation and bullying? The line has been smudged beyond recognition and now, it seems as though few know when they have stepped over it. Why now? Queen’s has long had many traditions bordering on the inappropriate, but until now they have been overlooked in deference to the positive reputation from having the bands participate in events such as the Toronto Santa Clause parade and the Calgary Stampede as it celebrates its centennial in 2012. This crack down on lewd, unrespectful behaviour at Queen’s has come in the wake of Jerry Sandusky’s November 5th arrest on convictions of sexually assaulting minors. If you are wondering who Jerry Sandusky is, he was the Football coach at Penn State University prior to his arrest. Though evidently both offenses are fairly different in nature, this arrest has placed a spotlight on university campuses, and not one which is highlighting our wonderful academic programming.
Universities have long been exciting and emotionally charged places. For many people going to University is the first time they are leaving home and this new environment away from their sheltered home lives allows them to explore new interests, and pursue new experiences such as drinking and socializing. Yes, Arts students get to journey long and far on this experimental path, but engineers have their fair share as well. Most people expect to have a few wild years in which experiments take place and mistakes are made. A little more than a century ago campuses were filled exclusively with men, so the jokes about women and drinking songs which are being so criticised by officials now were common and for the most part condoned practices. After all, boys will be boys. Pub nights would be a common occurrence, one at which songs bemoaning their single state might be sung in terms not befitting any woman’s ear. Now, however, there are members of the female sex involved in nearly every aspect of academic life, and we expect equal treatment, courteous behaviour and the ability to take part without hearing about certain aspects of the female form, or male anatomy for that matter which men seem to find so fascinating. Huge expectations, we know. Now before I go any further, a Disclaimer; I do not in any way have any problems with my colleagues, let’s just roll with the stereotypes for awhile here. While most of us here at Waterloo have chosen to explore in the region of fabulous amazing sciency things, or friendly open group activities like building robots or taking part in EngPlay, we are not the norm. Pupils at other schools, and plenty here as well, have chosen to embrace the wildness of youth, occasionally taking it a little too far. For most of us it’s all in good fun, but it is difficult to know how our humour will be taken by someone raised in a different environment then ourselves, and they might not make the group aware when they have become uncomfortable. That’s why societal conventions are in place.
Members of the Queen’s bands, which also includes those involved in Cheerleading and highland dancing, will now be required to take mandatory human-rights training to create a more inclusive, respective environment which better reflects the school’s mission and standards since it is such a public face for this prestigious old school. In this ever changing social climate, it has to be remembered that however racy the mainstream music becomes, and however acceptable something seems in a group of friends, a team or club should not be exclusive. People will still be judging based on their own standards which don’t necessarily agree with your own. The sub culture of hyper sexualisation of women, vulgarity and partying which has taken root within Queen’s Bands does not display characteristics of equality (which is what we’re all about, right?) I have come up with a two step strategy to cope with this. First ask, “What would grandma do?” And abstain if what you are planning to do would cause your grandma to have a heart attack. Finally ask yourself, “Would this disappoint the Tool?” If you are planning to steal the math tie, paint the Guelph cannon black and yellow or some sort of similar trick, go full blast ahead, but if your plans might offend the sensibilities of someone else who is participating, choose no. Do Not Dissapoint the Tool. If only Queen’s had such an awesome mascot, they might not be in the pickle they are in today.
Leave a Reply