In the ancient days, troubadours were free to exchange tunes of merriment for alcohol. Those days may soon be at an end in Iowa City.
From Press-Citizen.com:
For decades, groups of brass musicians calling themselves the Beer Band have traveled to local bars on the night before a Hawkeye home football game and played fight songs in exchange for beer and other beverages. But on a recent Friday night, an onlooker reported hearing lyrics that included "gang rape, gang rape, twice a day."
As controversy over the Beer Band has flared at various points over the past quarter century, officials have repeatedly reasserted that UI, and specifically the Hawkeye Marching Band, has no direct affiliation with the unofficial tradition. Concerns about the Beer Band tradition have been raised previously as university and community officials have focused on addressing binge drinking and sexual assault in the downtown area.
Former UI President Sally Mason instituted a six-point plan last year for improving UI's response to sexual violence and a rape culture in the broader community. Among other points, the plan calls for working with local groups to train bystanders to intervene when they see behavior heading in a dangerous direction.
Alcohol-imbibing masses have never been know for the decorum, but even pro-gang rape chants are a bad look. Granted, I doubt those neanderthals were among the majority of the group, but bad apples have ruined traditions since the beginning of time.
