Re: ‘Blurred Lines,’ David Woodley, the Marching Hundred

I am very disappointed in your song selection at the game this past weekend.

Although you said “Blurred Lines” was the worst dating advice ever, what you actually did was make a joke about it.

You negated the work done on campus to help survivors of sexual assault, and you supported a song stating that there are “blurred lines” when it comes to sexual
relationships.

Marching band is something I have been involved in and passionate about for the last nine years — starting in high school, continuing through Marching Mizzou with the Phantom Regiment and coaching at a high school.

I am extremely disappointed that the organizations I support so whole-heartedly was able to go against what it strives to teach — supporting each other.

You and the Marching Hundred were not the place to welcome individuals to the stadium and act as a safehaven for those who need and love music, but instead you were an organization that made light of the fact that 1 in 6 women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.

This would be eight of your members if half are women, five if a third are women.

You didn’t care that athletic programs have had many instances that glorify athletes who disregard human rights by claiming it wasn’t rape (Stubenville, Vanderbilt, etc.) — it was blurred lines.

Ohio University saw that performing this song would be problematic — why didn’t you?

While I in no way think it is all right for you to play a song like “Blurred Lines,” I understand wanting to please a crowd, but there are other ways to do that.
I also understand that mistakes are made. I wish you would have had better oversight in this situation, but even more, I hope you do not make another decision like this and educate yourself about the power behind language that supports rape culture.

If you would like more information about sexual assault or relationship violence, Indiana University has the Sexual Assault Crisis Services, as well as Culture of Care.

­— ramick@indiana.edu