K-State Band Sanctioned

BREAKING: Kansas State University has agreed with the Big 12 Conference to impose sanctions on the Kansas State Marching Band as a result of the national outcry against this formation from their halftime show this past weekend.

The sanctions include: a self-imposed $5,000 fine to the Big 12 Conference for violation of the league sportsmanship policy; a single-game suspension for the university director of bands during the Nov. 28 game against the University of Kansas; and prior approval for the content of all band halftime shows by representatives from the Office of Student Life and the Athletic Department. 

“At Saturday’s home football opener, Kansas State University fell short of its obligation to conduct itself in a consistent manner with the principles of sportsmanship,” university president Kirk Schulz said Tuesday in a statement. “We look forward to our upcoming athletic contests with the expectation of sportsmanlike conduct from the entire K-State family.”[/left]

The main offense was for the inappropriate use of a member institution logo. “The actions of the marching band depicting the disintegration of a member institution’s mascot was inconsistent with the principles and expectations of the Big 12 Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Policy,” Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said Tuesday in a statement. “I appreciate the prompt actions of K-State President Kirk Schulz and Athletics Director John Currie in addressing this matter and accept the University’s self-imposed penalties.”

The theme of Kansas State’s halftime show on Saturday was “space”. During one formation, the Kansas State band formed the Kansas Jayhawk mascot and what was supposed to be the USS Enterprise from Star Trek. The drill was designed to have the ship crashing into the Jayhawk. The band was unsuccessful in making a clean formation of the ship which many people interpreted as them making male genitalia. Screen shots posted on twitter and facebook set social media a buzz and things escalated very quickly after.

Show your support and donate to a special GoFundMe set up to help the Pride pay for the $5K fine here:http://www.gofundme.com/7u3paang