greg_orangecounty

That's a bingo.

I was too. My girlfriend at the time was a flag in their guard. I was ecstatic for her and other friends in BD, but it was also bittersweet.

That night in Philadelphia (1976) was a seminal moment for the activity.

I know unwanted sexual assault/touching/advances/crimes have been going on in Drum Corps since my first year marching - 1971. I heard gallows humor about it that I didn’t understand at the time as I was young. What I will dispute is that it occurred in every corps at all times. It did not in the Anaheim Kingsmen the years that I marched (1971 - 1974). How can I say this? I knew and have kept up with everyone from those days still alive.* The caveat is if it actually did happen both parties kept it hidden from the rest of us. I doubt it as we know all the other dirty laundry in our lives as we’ve been friends for over 50 years. We were led by a Naval Officer who instilled in us respect and duty. Dont want to get into CDC stats as that would lead (for me) down the road to politics which isn’t relevant in this forum. I appreciate your thoughtful response. Thank you!

That might be an overstatement.

If DCP was my only reference point to the activity, I might think it was a cross between Jeffery Epstein Island and the Sopranos.

Anything's possible, but not probable. I wouldn't cry if Boston beat them. They're due.

Four is a foregone conclusion in my mind. They have the same staff and won in 2023 with a young corps. The only thing to wonder about in April 2024 is will they make it to five.

Thank you, Contraguard05. I appreciate your reply!

Yes, yes, I've heard the explanation. Mr. Ream kindly explained to me how teaching in modern Drum Corps works. I "get it" but don't understand why. Instead of paying stipends to 17 people how about hiring 1 or 2 full-time to stay all summer? Which one of the 17 do you listen to. Too many cooks in the kitchen. I see a lack of cohesion in color guard. This one's throwing a quadruple, that one's doing pirouettes, while the other is doing flag work all at the same time. It's as if they're independent of each other. (Preface: Boston is the exception and sometimes Blue Devils). Makes me wonder if the revolving door of instructors is the cause. I do love modern drum corps it just puzzles me sometimes.

I didn't either. It was a general comment.

I hope so! (never knew the lead singer was the drummer!)

I love Madison, and wish them a return to glory soon. And there are two things I will never understand; the tattoo obsession and the number of instructors required in modern Drum Corps for a single section.

So who now is the oldest active corps? Boston, Cavaliers, someone else?

It was soooooo stressful and often times you could smell the booze on their breath. So gross.

So do I.

Feel really bad for Cadet alumni as the pain is real. I'm so sorry.

Why?

Big upgrade from salt pills and bandages. Good for the new guy. Keep it up.

It can be a tough crowd here sometimes. I did not take your story as a "flex" either.

You’re en fuego today. 🙂

The Boy Scouts had money, lots of money, good legal counsel, and got whacked into bankruptcy with a 2.4 billion dollar judgment. The same could happen to any corps including DCI as there are parallels.

Waco!? I may have to go to that one for an excuse to visit the best dive bar in America; Scruffs. Sic'Em Bears!

Having raised 4 kids and now watching my grandkids grow up, there is a BIG difference in emotional maturity between a 14/15-year-old and an 18-year-old – generally speaking. An 18-year-old is much more equipped mentally and physically to be able to deal with, report, and say no potential physical, mental, and sexual abuse – be it member to member, or instructor to member. It wouldn’t solve the problem in its entirety, but it would remove the most vulnerable from the clutches of the pervs that continually infect the activity. In retrospect, what were/are we thinking? Packing busloads of children, hormonal teenagers, and young adults, together for weeks at a time on the road cross-country in close quarters without much, if any parental supervision. And we wonder why this keeps happening.

Raising the minimum age to 18 wouldn't solve the problem of sexual abuse completely, but it would help. Hate to have to do it, but under the circumstances I'd be all for it.