Hunter
02/06/20
The state Board of Regents are meeting in Urbandale this week, and have announced that although there are no charges in the alleged assault and abuse from the Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band, all three schools will work together to make the students safer.
UI president Bruce Harreld tells the Gazette that solutions being discussed include walking the bands in and out of the stadium together, sitting the bands side-by-side, or assigning additional security.
Several Hawkeye band members eventually filed police reports making allegations in conjunction with the CyHawk game in Ames, and police at Iowa State launched a formal investigation. Police chief Michael Newton said they couldn’t find sufficient evidence to support the allegations.
ISU facilities and grounds director Tim VanLoo has apologized for his behavior toward the Hawkeye Marching Band.
Wednesday’s meeting was interrupted by Iowa Student Action, a statewide group of students, protesting the tuition increases planned over the next several years. They say higher tuition prioritizes the white and the wealthy, resulting in an atmosphere of racism.
The group also expressed concerns over the underfunding of organizations that benefit minorities and first-generations students.
The regents dismissed the meeting early due to the protest, with regent president Mike Richards telling the Daily Iowan that the protestors missed the public comment window between Noon and 1pm.