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The university announced today the band would be allowed to play at halftime during the Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau Field on Sunday.
The university temporarily suspended the band's travel privileges last week after an investigation uncovered inappropriate hazing and alcohol-related activities. Some of the behavior occurred during the band's last road trip to Michigan in late September.
Band Director Michael Leckrone said Sunday's trip is the last planned road trip of the regular season and a chance for the group's senior leaders to "set a new tone" for those who will come back next year.
"We're going down a new path, and I believe this trip is a chance to start to live the changes that we've agreed on," he said in a statement. "But I'm not naïve. I've made it clear to the band that I'm prepared to take immediate additional action if, somehow, my message hasn't gotten through."
The university said new travel policies would be in place for the first time to deter rowdy behavior. They include random seating assignments that will break up a tradition of sitting by instrument sections and class levels, a quiet bus for those who wish to study and a prohibition on all initiation activities.
Band members will not stay the night in Green Bay, where the Packers are hosting the Indianapolis Colts.
In a pre-emptive strike, the school warned that members who violate the band's code of conduct could be suspended or kicked off and face additional university discipline.
University leaders suspended the band and launched an investigation earlier this month after receiving allegations of hazing during and before the Michigan trip. Dean of Students Lori Berquam said last week her investigation confirmed a "broad pattern of inappropriate and humiliating behavior" that often involved upperclassmen bullying freshmen.
The band was forced to sit out Wisconsin's Oct. 4 game against Ohio State, the first time in 40 years it did not play during a home football game. The suspension was lifted last week so the band could return for the Penn State game, but university leaders promised to change its troubling culture.
University spokesman John Lucas said Berquam's investigation remains open. He would not comment on whether band members have faced any school sanctions yet. He said some hazing victims have quit the band but did not know how many.
Berquam said the investigation confirmed students were held for hours in bathrooms during a bus trip, members were forced to have "odd and unbecoming haircuts" and underage drinking was prevalent. She uncovered other rituals involving members being forced to take bites of a summer sausage and to remove lingerie from male band members.
