Jukebox band director out

[Theolodius_Black]

After series of WBRZ reports on payment demands, SU band director fired

After series of WBRZ reports on payment demands, SU band director fired

The WBRZ News 2 Investigative Unit learned Nathan Haymer was fired. Haymer's abrupt departure comes amid a series of reports by WBRZ over questionable demands related to how he asked Mardi Gras krewes to pay him directly for part of the fee associated with having the Southern band perform at events or in parades.

A Southern official said Haymer had been "terminated."

Hundreds of emails tied to Haymer's Southern University email account and obtained by the WBRZ Investigative Unit show Haymer demanded around $3,000 from Mardi Gras krewes - including Zulu, Bacchus, Femme Fatale, Poseidon and Nyx.

Specifics about Haymer's departure were not immediately available, but WBRZ reported Monday, board members making up the Southern University personnel committee appeared to have held a meeting at the administrative building on campus. Dr. Leon Tarver, Patrick Magee, Tony Clayton and Ann Smith were seen attending.

"I can tell you at no point did any board member give Dr. Belton instruction on what to do, except for to be honest, ethical and do what's appropriate," Magee said.

Following WBRZ's reports, Haymer's brother, Niles, who is also the band director's attorney, attempted to start a social media campaign – claiming the band director at Florida A&M has received payments for that school's band to perform.

“Someone tell me what's the difference?” Niles Haymer posted, using hashtags – a social media technique to link conversations - #TelltheTruth and #MarchingforMrHaymer.

But, FAMU disputed Haymer's argument

“[The post does not include the] full document which states all payments must be paid and written to Florida A&M University.... Once the funds are received they are distributed to the band's university account. All fees must be paid to the university...not to an individual."

“It was my goal to uphold the prestigious legacy of the Human Jukebox by taking the band to greater heights of unprecedented success,” Nathan Haymer said in a statement about his termination. “I always took pride in being an ambassador for Southern University and at no time did I ever act in a nefarious manner by accepting 'kickbacks' as falsely reported by the media.”

Southern said Lawrence Jackson will provide interim leadership of the band. Jackson was a previous Human Jukebox director. He retired in 2014.

 

[skeetsinternal]

fukk!

 

[Theolodius_Black]

Ironically, long time director Dr. Greggs was forced to retire for a similar incident



Famed Southern University marching band leader Isaac Greggs gets one more season at the helm of the "Human Jukebox" despite an audit report alleging he stole nearly $17,000 from the school over four years, the chancellor says.

Greggs also will dodge criminal prosecution, according to his lawyer, who said he doesn't expect the district attorney to bring charges against the 76-year-old band director.

Meanwhile, the man in charge of the legislative auditor's inquiry said Greggs likely has taken more money than investigators discovered because the university could only provide records for the most recent four years.

"I would doubt it (the $17,000) is everything, but I couldn't say for sure," said Daryl Purpera, a director in the office that released the report Monday.

"After the university caught it, he seemed to slow down a little bit," Purpera said.

Auditors allege Greggs, who has led the acclaimed marching band since 1969, submitted phony receipts for meals his students never ate and pocketed the money himself.

Between fall 2000 and fall 2004, 15 bogus receipts totaling $16,781 were submitted in expense reports bearing Greggs' signature, the report states.

Greggs did not return calls.

Greggs announced through his lawyer Friday that he has relinquished control of the band's finances and will step down at the end of the year.

Southern leaders seem amicable to his proposal.

"Dr. Greggs is really an icon in this community," Chancellor Ed Jackson said. "To be able to spend a semester saying goodbye to a community he's been serving for more than 40 years, I think that's appropriate."

The university does not dispute the auditor's report, Jackson said.

System President Leon Tarver, who oversees Southern's five campuses throughout the state, said he would defer to Jackson on the matter.

Greggs will retire at his full $90,304 annual salary.

Hillar C. Moore III, Greggs' lawyer and spokesman, said he doesn't foresee further consequences for his client.

"I don't see any criminality now," Moore said. "In 40 years, there were 15 receipts … I just don't see it."

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Doug Moreau said he's not looked at the report and would have to examine the evidence before deciding whether to make a case against Greggs.

The bandleader maintains he never intentionally submitted made-up receipts, though he told auditors that his students did not eat most of the meals in question, Moore said.

Greggs, who believes someone in his department is responsible, repaid the missing money because the abuse happened "on his watch," according to Moore.

Purpera, the director of the legislative auditor's compliance audit division, said it's "pretty obvious" Greggs gamed a system that gave the band director thousands of dollars in cash advances to feed about 170 students while the troupe was out of town.

He was supposed to return unspent funds and a stack of receipts accounting for money spent.

"He would get the advance; he would cash the check, hold the cash, return the cash," Purpera said. "In effect, he kept cash that he did not have a documented expense to keep."

Chancellor Jackson said Southern will follow the auditor's suggestion by doing away with cash advances and providing credit cards to keep better track of travel expenses.

"This thing about cash in advance, that will come to a screeching halt by July 1," Jackson said. "This was an antiquated procedure."

The university will also only accept original receipts that include the date, restaurant location and the number of meals served.

Many of the bogus bills were handwritten and lacked that information, according to the report.

In about a third of the cases, Greggs submitted phony charges for breakfasts band members actually received for free at the school cafeteria or the hotels where students stayed.

Two of the made-up receipts came from restaurants that were closed when the band supposedly visited, the report states.

Greggs' sympathizers have expressed sorrow that the longtime Southern superstar will end his career amid scandal. "No university would be happy to see one of its outstanding citizens to leave under any circumstance, let alone these circumstances," Jackson said.


Came from the advocate around 2004

 

[Theolodius_Black]

For the record, i'm a Sonic Boom alum but I love the jukebox. Bitter rivals, but i love em to death and was living the direction they were headed in and the heights haymer was pushing them too. They've done Super Bowls and have never been this popular. Hate to hear all of this and I know those kids hearts are broken over losing him

 

[get these nets]

I don't watch the Quad....on BET, but in some of the commercials they seemed to have a plotline like this.

 

[AceAge]

For the record, i'm a Sonic Boom alum but I love the jukebox. Bitter rivals, but i love em to death and was living the direction they were headed in and the heights haymer was pushing them too. They've done Super Bowls and have never been this popular. Hate to hear all of this and I know those kids hearts are broken over losing him

They finally get some decent tubas and then this happens. Should have stayed on fiberglass and been low key.

 

[Theolodius_Black]

They finally get some decent tubas and then this happens. Should have stayed on fiberglass and been low key.

Them boys was wolfin on them shyts though

 

[staticshock]

Watch this nikka go to Valley or UAPB and turn them into monsters

 

[Theolodius_Black]

Watch this nikka go to Valley or UAPB and turn them into monsters

Valley need some damn body bad. AAMU the same size and got a fuller sound than they do


No excuses

 

[AceAge]

Them boys was wolfin on them shyts though

Su always had the WOAT percussion and tubas section in the SWAC to me. Laziest drummers ever, 12 snares and 5 bass drums and can't hear none of them, playing scared on those paper thin heads. Cymbals act like they think they'll shatter if they crash too hard. The trumpet section has been amazing for the last two years or so.

 

[staticshock]

Valley need some damn body bad. AAMU the same size and got a fuller sound than they do


No excuses

if Valley admin was smart they would do whatever it takes to get Haymer..Valley already in trouble and on the verge of shutting down or reducing students, imagine what Haymer can do for that school.

He can build the band up and in turn it'll bring more attention and students to the school and their money issues wont be solved but they'll be doing way better.

 

[staticshock]

Su always had the WOAT percussion and tubas section in the SWAC to me. Laziest drummers ever, 12 snares and 5 bass drums and can't hear none of them, playing scared on those paper thin heads. Cymbals act like they think they'll shatter if they crash too hard. The trumpet section has been amazing for the last two years or so.

'Trumpet section been amazing since the 60s

did you ever hear them fiberglass tubas they had in person? when my band went against them in 06 them whitehorses were loud as fukk..shyt surprised me cause before I got to college everyone would say their tubas were slaw but i'd say they were still the loudest tubas I ever sat across from while marching in the SWAC

 

[Theolodius_Black]

Su always had the WOAT percussion and tubas section in the SWAC to me. Laziest drummers ever, 12 snares and 5 bass drums and can't hear none of them, playing scared on those paper thin heads. Cymbals act like they think they'll shatter if they crash too hard. The trumpet section has been amazing for the last two years or so.

I was trying to think of a worse percussion section in the SWAC and I legit can't


Let them tell it everybody steal from them though

 

[Theolodius_Black]

if Valley admin was smart they would do whatever it takes to get Haymer..Valley already in trouble and on the verge of shutting down or reducing students, imagine what Haymer can do for that school.

He can build the band up and in turn it'll bring more attention and students to the school and their money issues wont be solved but they'll be doing way better.

If the band becomes a draw, it'll help the money issue. I don't think they can afford Haymer though

 

[staticshock]

I was trying to think of a worse percussion section in the SWAC and I legit can't


Let them tell it everybody steal from them though

ive always heard their drum section wasnt made to stick out like JSU, Bama State and FAMU, but they were made to groove with the band and sound like a drum set