Lang
9/21/19
The University of Iowa has reopened its investigation into allegations of harassment and assault made by members of the Hawkeye Marching Band, who claim they were physically assaulted as they were leaving last weekend’s Iowa/Iowa State game in Ames.
Athletic Directors Gary Barta of Iowa and Jamie Pollard of ISU issued a joint statement Thursday saying that they believed it would be difficult to verify the allegations, so their focus going forward would be to ensure that future events would be safer. But on Friday marching band members began taking to social media and contacting news outlets to express their frustrations with the UI administration’s handling of the case. One member showed KCRG-TV9 a bruise he says he suffered at the hands of rowdy Iowa State fans who threw a beer bottle at him. The mother of another band member told Quad Cities radio station 97X that a female member of the band suffered at least one broken rib as a result of the incident.
UI officials also sent KCRG a copy of an email it sent to marching band members saying they were continuing their investigation. The email included contact information for various UI counseling services, including the Office of Sexual Misconduct.