Crusading by Moonlight

The moon came out at last week's football game between Yale and Holy Cross, but it was not a night game.

In fact, there were seven moons altogether, as seven members of the Yale Precision Marching Band dropped their pants in front of the Crusader bench at the Yale Bowl.

Although not technically "mooning," since they were wearing boxer shorts, the renegade tambourinists may find their asses in a sling for their actions. All seven were suspended for three games.

"I'm not sure why we did it," said Peter S. Lee '86, one of the stars. "In the name of wit and humor, I guess. We wouldn't do it again. It really wasn't funny, even though I believe the Holy Cross side seemed to cheer at the time."

The side show called even more attention to the Band, which had been in the limelight since being prevented from performing at Army the previous weekend.

Army Athletic Director Carl Ulrich reportedly called the Band "morally repugnant and indecent," and prevented the Elis from performing before the game.

Some Yalies would prefer not being in the spotlight, though. "I'm disgusted with them," said Adam S. Chodorow, a member of the band's script writing committee. "We get banned at Army because were lewd and obscene. We say we're tasteful and don't deserve the rap. Then, the next day, seven people drop their pants."

Outsiders were quicker to defend the band's actions, than band members themselves. "It's the instituted tastelessness we all prize and laud in our Band," said Miriam R. Pelikan '89. "That's what we love them for."

Even Yale parents took little offense at the shorts take. "They are the nicest bunch of kids. They are so sweet and kind and considerate," said Susan E. Feinberg, a Yale parent who was marching with her son as part of Parent's Weekend. "They aren't hooligans, just a bunch of kids which a terrific sense of humor who probably just got a little carried away."