Bucky doesn’t live underground like most badgers, but the UW-Madison marching band’s recent actions may force him to.

According to an Oct. 6 article in The Badger Herald, the band did not play at Saturday’s home game against Ohio State for the first time in 40 years in response to allegations of hazing during the band’s trip to the University of Michigan.

Madison band director Mike Leckrone’s suspending of the band was appropriate. Hazing is never justified and just because it was done to someone doesn’t mean they have to do it to others. People joining the band should feel safe and hazing takes that away. Freshmen, eager to be accepted, suffer in the long run from the events and actions needed to be taken in order to pressure the band into stopping their hazing.

Action also needed to be taken because the band is an on-campus organization that receives money from the school and alumni. To not punish the band or to let them off easy would reflect poorly on those who fund the band. Suspending them for the Ohio State game, arguably the Badgers’ most important contest this year, makes a statement that although sports for Big Ten schools are very important, they do not trump the well-being of others.

Unfortunately many around the country only see sports and the band when it comes to Madison. The university is the main school in the UW System and the reputation they earn trickles down to the rest of the System schools.

The actions by the band do not represent the state of Wisconsin. Further measures should be taken to prevent these actions from ever happening again. Although the suspension likely will curb the hazing, even more severe punishment should be considered for future incidents, including the threat of expulsion.