Jesse Thomas

Question 1

What is your job?

Answer 1

I have been the Great Falls band director since 1987. They are the best marching band in the state and probably the nation. I am also a major fundraiser for the school

Question 2

What does the school do for hazing?

Answer 2

The school enforces strict rules. It sends a letter to each club and organization to warn them. The majority of students respect these rules

Question 3

Has the band had any reports of hazing or injuries?

Answer 3

Every group has its mishap from different pranks that misfire. This is no different from sports team injuries. There has not been any sustained reports of hazing in the last five years. The school has had to discipline other groups, like the Latin and debate club, for physical abuse of the students.

Question 4

How has your reputation impacted Great Falls?

Answer 4

I have personally received several awards for excellence in band directing. As a result of my reputation, the school has received several donations and has increased my extra-duty pay.

Question 5

How have members of the band given back to the community?

Answer 5

Chris and other percussionist often volunteer at the local battered women’s shelter and tutor elementary school students. Also, Chris publically denounced hazing of any kind at a school-wide meeting a couple of years back. He even helped me organize an anti-hazing rally after hazing incidents at other schools

Question 6

What have you and the school done to prevent hazing and underage drinking?

Answer 6

I wrote a memo to every band member explaining the law and school policy on hazing. The school has also cracked down on underage drinking. It is a persistent problem, but short of babysitting the students 24/7, we cannot avoid the cases of underage drinking