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Holding the man in charge of DCI accountable for having sexual predators scattered about all over the activity is hardly for optics. And if I hear one more time that the Executive Director of Drum Corps International has no ability to act due to the structure of DCI, then DCI needs to fail due to its rank incompetence at organizing itself. Look, I know in this day and age everyone yearns to be a victim and no one is accountable for anything. So yes I’m swimming against the current of our culture. But if you’re in charge, you need to be held accountable, if only because you’re in charge. Even if you personally had nothing to do with it. And also, nobody is irreplaceable. Nobody. The care and well being of the participants in the activity are what need to come first, not the ability to tour and the endless pursuit of money. Maybe having these priorities backwards played a part in creating this mess.

I think a lot of people were misguidedly trying to "protect" their corps or the activity as a whole. So they "hushed" things up. Additionally most of these folks were around when drum corps was far less careful with the well-being of the members. So they have a very muted reaction to (for example) a staff member and a student having a consensual sexual relationship. The unfortunate result is that when these abuses are finally out in the open, the fact that so many adults in a position of authority failed to act makes the attempted hushing up even more egregious. It's one thing to have an incident; it's quite another to have those you trust actively enable more incidents by covering things up. Not excusing this behavior -- just trying to explain it. They all knew better.

But can’t fire Paterno... #### think of what it will do to the football program. oops hit a flashback..... yet another parallel

mandated reporting. he had an obligation. He didn't ignore me, in 2012, Morgan Larson was nothing more than a name that appeared on DCP a few times. he did however ignore tohers on here who did report it, and raised hell with the corps, and got all kinds of threats for doing so. The wagons circled hardcore in Racine, and in fact all but one boatd member then is on their board now. but the Kilties are and were an affiliate member, with a member on the sex registry, performing at DCI shows with minors galore in attendance, on school grounds. And in fact in the incident mentioned in 2012 when police were called, the issue caused DCi to lose a venue from that day forward. So Dan had a reason to act. he chose not to.

Yes. So far, there has been no public comment from Dan A. at DCI HQ on this media report.. Nor if such clear and un ambiquous misconduct on the part of Mr. Morrison will have any consequences from DCI HQ. to either him or the Crossmen Corps. Mr. Morrison must have certainly known that if the info got out to Parents of marchers, that many of them would be steamed that he knowingly put their kids at high risk with such a hire... So he reportedly secretly hired and payed for a service in attempts to bury the guy's background info so no one would find out about it. If this report ( Philly Enquirer ) is accurate, Mr. Morrison is not to be further trusted in his capacity. DCI HQ should demand he be removed ( or he resigns himself ), or DCI HQ. should put the Crossmen on Probation and the Corps disallowed from competition so long as Mr. Morrison is still the Corps Director there, imo. If DCI's HQ's Dan A is too timid, too weak, or somehow otherwise incapable for some reason of taking such action, then he should step aside, or be voted out by others as well, imo In 2009, DCI HQ put the Troopers on Probation, and disallowed them from Competition until such time as they agreed to remove their Corps Director. His failings ? That he put in the Corps ( and by extension DCI ) into financial hardships with his apparent financial mismanagement of his Corps and its mounting debts. His actions were not intentional to do financial harm, but it did financial harm nonetheless according to DCI HQ at the time. Mr. Morrison's failings in comparison seem FAR more egregious to me. They were intentional. wilful, highly risky to youth in the Corps. Mr. Morrison's actions were apparently wholly secretive in nature, as well as unfair to prospective marchers and their parents. Thats not transparancy. If the reporting is accurate, thats sabotage of the info that people have a right to know about, should you decide to make a highly risky hire of someone with a series of sexually predatory episodes in dealings with youth in their charge in the past. DCI HQ put out a press release statement this weekend that states in part that DCI " will not tolerate abuse or misconduct ". We are all about to find out if they mean business, or if their words in that recent press release are about to ring hollow for a lot of people.

Sounds like a catch-22. The directors, who largely neutered DCI’s oversight ability some time ago, now need a little oversight of their own, but by whom? Is that the overall gist?

Fred Morrison. Knowingly hired a perv who sexted underage school kids. Paid to cover it up. Is Fred still the Crossmen executive director?

I think that's fair. I have a feeling the chain of events and actions will be made clearer in time so we can draw some clear conclusions. Personally, I'd rather chop off the right heads then kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out....

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

Hey, Jim and Fran! A "Normal"!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wrong, it doesn’t matter where the suspected abuse occurs. If a mandated reporter hears about or thinks they see evidence of suspected abuse they must report it period. Have family members in teaching. If they thinking abuse is going on in the students house they must report. Not just in the school. In one case kid came to class with a bruise the shape of a hand on the face. Authorities were called immediately.

My elementary school desk was so sturdy, big, and strong and nailed to the floor so tightly, that to this very day I believe a direct hit on my classroom by a Nuclear Blast gave me at least a 50-50 chance of making it out of there alive.

Bringing light on teachers is not a bad thing. It happens all the time, and it should continue. As I said in a different post, NJ just implemented a "Don't pass the trash" law to help stop the ability of teachers to move from district to district after engaging in inappropriate behavior. As for the articles, George Hopkins' behavior, that started these news articles, had nothing at all to do with schools. You are still somehow trying to tie drum corps and marching band together, which IMO is not valid. These articles started with Hopkins, and they have morphed in further drum corps examples. Nothing wrong with that. She writes for a PA news organization, and Hopkins worked in Allentown. Band circuits are just not remotely organized as you seem to think. The bands who compete in band competitions, be it BOA, USBands, etc, are not "their" bands, as DCI corps are "their" corps. The bands just sign up to compete at shows, or host a show. They are not integral to the operation of any particular circuit; they are not controlled by the circuits. The school districts bear all responsibility to monitor and control the people who work with children of all ages in their district. There are news stories all over the country about teachers and other staff being caught and punished for their behavior. they do not get a free ride when caught, and hopefully more will be caught and either prosecuted or at least removed from any contact with students....be it band, sports, clubs, or any school activity.

Can you clarify, please? Is it your contention that DA was ignorant about GH, Crossmen, Genesis, OC and all the other myriad scandals surrounding our cherished activity? I am not asking about what he did or did not do. I am asking did he know anything.

We had to go to our school cafeteria which was on the basement level, and get under the tables. Because hey.... the first place targeted by Soviet military planners would be a Catholic grammar school in the NJ suburbs.

They made us do the same exact drill for tornadoes. So I guess tornadoes = thermonuclear warfare in the Chicago suburbs of the ‘60’s. Who knew?

Because it fits your fantasy. The CEO is not the face of DCI? WHAT? lol you're delusional. Acheson's resignation will not destroy DCI. The DCI staff will not all quit when he resigns. Tour will proceed as normal. An interim CEO will be found from inside the activity. The search for a new CEO will find a good replacement. The world will continue to turn THOSE are facts. When Acheson is FORCED to resign because the reporters put together the right sources to prove he was aware of at least one case of sexual abuse and did not report it, the scandal will be MUCH larger than otherwise would be the case. Hiding from the press and pretending everything is going to be just fine moving forward is magical thinking on his(and your) part. And the BOD will not act to force his resignation because THEY are as guilty as he is and are active participants in this doomed strategy of duck-and-cover.

Well I 've been pretty much a lone wolf calling for this for years now, WaxDCIFan. But taking the pulse of most fans/ marchers/ parents, there seems at the moment to be little to no support for DCI to enact any sensible and reasonable transfer rules/ policies between Corps in DCI. So witthout such sentiments, I'm resigned to the status quo on this.. Without such transfer rules however, its almost a given that the Blue Devils will be winning 40% of the DCI Titles ( or finishing runnersup ) over the next 40 years, just like they have for the last 40 years.

To me, the message that would send is that DCI cares more about optics than solutions.

We pay to do it. 😂

My family got it but co-workers never got the parade bit. What did you do 4th of July? Was at two parades in Baltimore Oh you watched 2 parades? No in them Riding a float or something ? No marched couple miles playing a horn Wow how much do you get for that?

Excellent place to start. And the longer the wait, the more the distrust festers. We cannot have the Mel Brooks Blazing Saddles "We've got to protect our phony-baloney jobs, gentlemen!" moment.

Tell that to Cadets2.

Good call! It's definitely a "Ball of Confusion? 😂

All of the talk of this person knew, or they should have known and whether or not they had responsibilities and duties to report, followed by those who say there is no proof... lather, rinse repeat. This board knew and should have done something and that board should have known too, followed by more Rabbit Season, Duck Season back and forth. More discussion of resignations and what not and why not. Does DA inhale or exhale during his back-swing on the first tee, how many pieces of corn were in the morning constitutional; and on and on. Yet, Fielder can't be discussed? I'm being sarcastic on purpose... but, Wasn't Fiedler a member of the DCI board and at one time the chairman of that same board when some of these things went on that have been discussed in the last year or so? What did he know and not report, was he part of some Glenn Beck worthy conspiracy? "... and the band played on." ($1 to Melvin Franklin and the Temptations) Irony is so ironic.

A standard police background report won't indicate an instructor with a history of flirting or making suggestive comments to students (that's gross, but not a crime), or one who entered into a consensual (if totally unethical) physical relationship with an adult member of a band or corps, or one who was investigated by his or her prior employer but then quit before the investigation was finalized (which has been the case in numerous situations, both those reported and those that are generally well-known at the top, but haven't yet found their way to publication). So what should happen is that each instructor or staff member has to agree to sign away their rights to sue others they worked for if that other employer discloses to their next potential organization that the employee was, in fact, engaged in behavior that would violate the standards of the activity. Let's say that happens: in January, DCI passes a rule that you can't work in drum corps without giving your corps the right to investigate your past fully, signing away any rights to sue if information detrimental to you turns up. Great: so then comes the hard part: no school or other past employer's lawyers would dream of letting them tell another potential employer that you (the instructor) in fact were kind of a creeper, because they don't want to open up even the faintest possibility that the org could be sued for defamation, even IF there's a piece of paper you signed giving them the right to do it. There are some things that could be instituted: mandatory reporting by the corps of all investigations into their staff members for inappropriate behavior, those records held at the DCI office, would be a start, but it's unclear if even that would have headed off some of the most egregious offenders (no one at YEA's BOD cared to look into Hopkins, so there would have been no record, and I hadn't heard that the latest d-bag in the Inquirer story was ever investigated by a drum corps, prior to OC's investigation). This would mean that DCI's relationship to the corps has to change dramatically, which WOULD require bylaws changes and structural changes, giving the office in Indy much more power to direct the activities of the member corps than DCI currently has. But the way it's set up right now, based off a model from 1972, DCI isn't charged with that level of responsibility, so calls for them to retroactively "do something" with information they didn't have is a non-starter.

Thank you for that perspective. It seems that the price tag for ruining a life is very low.

I’ve got two MMs on the audition / callback trail right now. They are both 4 year vets reaching up this year for the brass ring, so to speak. So we had some long dinner table conversations about which corps, cost of plane tickets, etc. It’s real. It’s not only hard on the MMs, it’s also hard on the smaller corps who are trying to be more competitive. If the big corps pulls in 36 trumpets trying to sign 6 “A” list performers, then there will be a whole bunch of A or B list players who aren’t available to fill the ranks at those lower tier corps who still have to contract their performers in Dec / Jan. The net effect is that the gap widens between the top tier corps and the others each year, either because the other corps have to either accept more B/C level talent or wait longer to finalize their lines and start preparing. One idea that has come on this forum in the past that seemed to have some merit is the transfer rule idea, similar to NCAA athletics. Having a transfer rule would dramatically limit the callback craziness and help with parity / competition by encouraging vets to stay with their home corps. And for those readers of Adam Smith, you know that more competition makes everyone better in the end.

If an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor was reported to DA directly, he would be considered a mandated reporter. He might be considered a mandated reporter in some states if a person spoke to someone at DCI hq. if he learns of an allegation through the grapevine, he should make sure it has been reported, but legally whether that makes him a mandated reporter is unclear, civilly is a different matter, and interstate adds a whole new dimension. Unless a huge coverup from the top down is involved, the chances of DA being charged for failure to report abuse would be slim to none. Whether a lawyer could maneuver things in a civil lawsuit against him is a different matter.

You bet, Jim. It's been that way for years, not just in PA. Went through a harrowing NY teacher's in service circa 1990 on child abuse and reporting. What was said in that presentation about stuff that happens to kids in graphic ways left me pretty messed up at the end of it. If they wanted to make their point... they made it.

let's be honest here....Larson had a record you could look up online...and the people that reported it were ignored by some, threatened by others. While I won't dive into the other names mentioned, Larson had had that record for a decade plus when he was reported. I know you got all ###### at me last time when Larson came up, but that's not defensible in any way shape or form. one good google search would lead to you the fact he was on the sex offenders registry, and he was participating in DCI events with the Kilties.

I always love hearing the creative math coming out of drum corps camp auditions :)

Problem is, you do not know that. ####, you even admitted not knowing earlier in this thread. For all you know, Acheson had the investigators on speed dial, and called them immediately upon receiving a credible claim. But if the investigation fails to find something, then what? It is not prudent to publicize claims that do not pan out. If someone makes a confidential claim against Karuna, and investigation finds no corroborating evidence, there will be no press releases or blogs about Karuna being accused. It would be wrong for Acheson to leak such information and smear the good name of Karuna, even if it helps unsmear his own name. Be sure to let us all know when you have proof that Acheson both: - received a credible claim, and - did nothing Until then, it would be appropriate if you continued to use the phrase "if he... " in your accusations.

The one thing I’ve learned about drum corps in the last eight months that I somehow missed in the last 50 plus years, is that there is no shortage of excuses. So, we that going for us.

Yet the apologists for Dan persist.

And the cost to travel too and from Finals, hotels, meals, and tickets is close to being more than what some mm paid annually to march way back when.

Lol, knew leaving this line blank was a good idea... I just say... the CORPS get paid and see if they catch I get squat.... Then there is that o dark 30 wake up time to catch the bus an hours drive away. Could drive to Baltimore but traffic down there ugh

We always called them "Normies" as well.

Just hit me “... run, run, run, but you sure can’t hide..” fits too.

Search around for an old mello (like 15-20 years old) online somewhere like ebay that is a King or Dynasty that has all moveable parts. Yamaha is where is gets really nice and also expensive, so keep it to a minimum and don't buy anything like what the corps sell at the end of the season. You might also have luck checking around to music shops that the local band directors work with about renting one for a few months too. With all the audition info out floating around on the web, sometimes corps put on their websites the mouthpieces that they prefer or what the line uses during the summer so search around there and find some current reviews that seem reputable. You honestly could get away with not hiring a private instructor. Once you get an instrument and decide on a mouthpiecee, see if any of your trumpet friends that plays well can help you set your embouchure and some basics like all the different types of articulations. Get an ear for the mellophone and work on your range. Can't emphasize enough how starting off with good basics will help you in the long run. Also start from the beginning playing and practicing standing up with the horn held in a good position like you were marching. Good Luck!

Since Bounce dryer sheets were first sold in 69, hopefully you had a few pinned (if no pockets) to that wool uniform.

School systems are responsible for anybody they hire. Marching band is but one relatively tiny area. Band circuits are not run by member bands, like DCI is run by the member corps. Bands pay fees to compete at BOA/TOB/USBands/etc sponsored around the country. That is the sum total of the circuits involvement with individual bands. To somehow drag them into this discussion is just not valid, which is Jeff's point. I just had my fingerprints taken and background check done in order to substitute teach in two districts. Newly implemented in NJ this year is a law called "Don't pass the trash". I had to identify any district I worked at going back 20 years, and provide contact info, so the districts where I sub can contact them to see if I was let go for poor behavior. Districts used to just state that teachers resigned....now they must disclose the issues.

To me Tricia's article speaks more to the sad state of sexual harassment that is perpetrated across our school systems. Which is going mostly ignored via weak detection, little engrossment and lack of severe treatment to those in charge. Whether dci exists or not is not going to fix the issues Tricia raises. She is certainly setting her expectations too low, just worrying about the 3500 kids on tour where there are millions of kids at risk in our high schools. I would give up dci if it meant our schools were safe but it won't and it would be a crying shame if it comes to that. That's why I question her motives is dci just easy pickings and the school system to big to go after?

Bingo. It's just one of the smaller elephant's in the room. There's a bigger one right now getting most of the attention.

Prior to the #MeToo movement, there were very little resources for people who needed/wanted to speak out. Times have changed since the inception of that movement & more is coming out now than ever as a result of it. Is that to say these are all new claims? Nope - they span multiple decades. People just feel empowered to speak out now! Let us not forget how different times were in the 70's, 80's, 90's...shoot, even Y2K! Members should have always been safe, that is for sure. None of this should have happened - I think (or hope) we can all agree on that! The mere definition of sexual abuse has changed, as have gender roles, political focus, human rights, etc. Change can be a very good thing, and is neither an excuse nor a reason to excuse any of the behavior, simply fact that we as a society have changed. Yet to this day, prosecuting sexual cases continues to be humiliating & emotionally draining on the victim while the success rate is still ridiculously low. Here is another fact. No environment is 100% safe from this type of disgusting behavior. Even in schools, a place we would expect to be one of the safest places, it continues to not only occur, but thrive in some situations. My MM had three school personnel excused this past year for actions such as this. Disgusting & disheartening to say the least…but I continue to send my MM to school. We have discussed school safety in depth at my house - too many scary situation not to. However, the world continues to turn. I know many on this board marched (I won't say ages ago :P) years ago & they may not have a dog in the fight, but there are many that do. So if we can't 100% protect members, what can we do? Well, we can ensure we do our own due diligence in training, reporting, researching, hiring, etc. Kind of a duh, but hey… Also, arming members with the tools they need to protect themselves. This means ways of reporting, processes, empowerment, etc. AND encouraging parents to participate. Corps currently have a lot of power - they can cancel contracts with members at the drop of a hat, they are self-governed, and the gossip train chugs along between corps. Being involved could be key though as it helps bring outside influence & eyes to what can be a closed society. Call me a helicopter parent, but I have loved being a part of my MM corps. I bond with people, I hear/overhear things, and I get the general pulse of the corps. …and yes, I volunteer for our local corps as well. Here is what I know. My MM loves this activity almost more than life itself. I would absolutely hate to see the activity completely shut down due to the horrid actions of a few. Even the reporter commented how the relationships are often life-long. These members, both past & present, are family. Do we need change, yes. Doomsday? My heart begs for that not to be the case. Oops...broke my soapbox 😛

anyone still on a board...corps, DCi....that swept this stuff under the rug needs to be out. Period.

The press has probably been reading DCP for months.

Since this particular reporter is working on series of articles, this one is just another one in the series... which has been about sexual predators in drum corps. There is no rule anywhere that requires her to provide new information, or to clarify anything about the current state of drum corps... but in fact, she does, when she reports on the changes DCI has made in reaction to this entire mess, changes aimed at ending the "haven." I think that provides some perspective here. You can read into this line... "Elite youth drum corps have become a haven for instructors with sexual misconduct in their past".... any way you choose. But to me, it's a factual statement, based on the evidence presented so far about various people... GH, this OC guy, Larson, etc. For those of you cautioning us to not place blame where it doesn't belong... in this case, on the DCI front office which was just following the BOD's rules... perhaps you can also refrain from placing blame or throwing shade on this reporter, who certainly did not cause any of the problems she is now writing about.

I thought I knew everything about the Morgan Larson saga. I was wrong. When I read about him dating the developmentally disabled woman, my jaw dropped. I had a hard time sleeping last night with that revelation. There’s a special place in hell for that.

His moral and ethical responsibility (and perhaps legal) was to report the suspected abuse to the appropriate authorities. His leadership is bankrupt if it becomes clear that his character (ie morals and ethics) allowed him to turn a blind eye to sexual abuse simply because his BOD told him to do so. How you keep failing to comprehend that is mind boggling. He's not in a position to lead DCI or any youth organization under these circumstances. The best thing for DCI is to find new leadership ASAP which is untainted by his failure to act.