Rice Releases Statement on Marching Band's IX Formation in Baylor Game

Rice University issued a statement Saturday after its Marching Owl Band appeared to mock Baylor University's sexual assault scandal by forming the Roman numeral IX—in reference to Title IX—at midfield during a halftime performance Friday night. 

Adam Coleman of the Houston Chronicle relayed the school's official statement: 

In May, Baylor released a statement and revealed the findings of an investigation regarding the school's lack of compliance with Title IX policies following alleged cover-ups of sexual assault involving members of the football team. 

According to Pepper Hamilton LLP's findings, there were "specific failings within both the football program and athletics department leadership, including a failure to identify and respond to a pattern of sexual violence by a football player and to a report of dating violence."

The report also stated that "there are significant concerns about the tone and culture within Baylor's football program as it relates to accountability for all forms of student-athlete misconduct."

As a result of the investigation, Baylor fired head football coach Art Briles. School chancellor Ken Starr also stepped down, while athletic director Ian McCaw resigned once the results of the investigation were made public.