FAMU hazing death of DeKalb grad: 13 people charged
In a family photo, Robert Champion demonstrates the flair that earned him the prestigious drum major role in the famous FAMU band.
The AJC is reporting that 13 people have been charged in the death of Robert Champion, a Florida A&M University drum major from DeKalb.
The beating death of the Southwest DeKalb High grad in November brought attention to the dangerous culture of hazing on campuses, but particularly in the famed Marching 100 of FAMU.
When Champion was killed, I spoke to Hank Nuwer, the author of four books on hazing. Among his books are “Wrongs of Passage: Fraternities, Sororities, Hazing, and Binge Drinking” and “Broken Pledges: the Deadly Rite of Hazing.”
A journalism professor at Franklin College in Indiana, Nuwer explained in a telephone interview why college students and band members endure hazing that turns vicious and sometimes deadly. “We cannot get enough of wanting to be wanted. Students think that joining this fraternity or this band constitutes whether or not they have a happy college experience, ” he said.
Students also are drawn by the appeal of being part of an outlaw culture, “this exhilaration of doing things together that are outside the norm, ” Nuwer said.
Whatever the appeal, the consequences were catastrophic at FAMU. One life was lost, and 13 others are about to be changed forever, regardless of the outcome of the case.
Florida State Attorney Lawson Lamar said he would not immediately release the names of those charged since they are still at large. He called the beating death of 26-year-old Robert Champion “nothing short of an American tragedy.”
He said Champion’s death was not the result of a single blow but was “attributable to multiple blows.”
Lamar said 11 of the suspects would be charged with hazing with death, a felony which carries a maximum sentence of six years. He said the evidence in the case would not support a charge of murder. “Hazing is a term for bullying,” Lamar said. “It is a tradition we cannot tolerate in America.”
He said 20 other people would be charged with hazing in unrelated incidents in which there were not serious injuries.
The charges will bring more scrutiny to a culture of hazing at FAMU and other schools. The death of Champion, a graduate of Southwest DeKalb High, was ruled a homicide by medical examiners, and the case has jeopardized the future of FAMU’s legendary marching band and shaken the school’s Tallahassee campus.
“The family’s position is if indeed there are charges tomorrow, it’s been a long time in coming,” Christopher Chestnut, an attorney for Champion’s parents, said Tuesday evening. “It is bittersweet. Obviously it’s comforting to know that someone will be held accountable for Robert’s murder, but it’s also disconcerting to think of the impact of the future of these students. This is just unfortunate all the way around.”
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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74 comments Add your comment
catlady
May 2nd, 2012
3:07 pm
Stupid, stupid, stupid! And anyone who would allow thenselves to be treated that way in order to be popular needs counseling. I cannot imagine anyone, unless vying for the last breath of air, the last sip of water, the last morsel of food, sacrificing themsleves–their dignity– in pursuit of this!
chillywilly
May 2nd, 2012
3:31 pm
I’m happy to hear that they have charged and plan to arrest some folks. Hazing is senseless and unfortunately, is a part of every university’s culture in America. That doesn’t make it right, but it is what it is. The State of Florida’s hazing laws are much stronger now as a result of a hazing related death at the University of Miami in 2005.
what the!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 2nd, 2012
3:43 pm
Just join The Marines, Army etc. Does this Hazing make you a better person, rich & famous, give you POWER. Please explain? Some of you young men & ladies will put yourself through this and want even join the Arm Forces. I don’t get it all.
carlosgvv
May 2nd, 2012
3:53 pm
When I entered college at age 18, my hazing occured during the first few days.
Robert Champion was a 26 year old college senior. This was not hazing. This appears to be a deliberate killing. Why are the authorities still calling it hazing?
NBCT
May 2nd, 2012
4:02 pm
What a shame, I couldn’t imagine what his parents are going through. I can only pray that my own kids dont have this problem. Peer pressure is lethal.
Jsmith
May 2nd, 2012
4:04 pm
So sad, to want to be a part of something so bad when each individually is talented, together they are beyond description! This earns you respect? Is this a hate crime? Why would adults and at 18 you are one, commit this senseless beating in the name of respect at a supposed place of higher learning? Pitiful and pathetic on all fronts! Obviously there are 100’s this has happened to, where are you men and women of courage to stand up and right a wrong. My prayers go out the families and the students.
RowdyD
May 2nd, 2012
4:52 pm
This is the reason that I did not pledge a sorority in college. The rituals one was required to endure was not worth being a part of a clique. What are those sorors, band members and frats doing now in life. Are these groups doing anything productive to assist high schoolers or the community? It’s a shame that Robert Champion had to lose his life in order to be part of a marching band…..smdh!
Glad to see those involved will be held accountable!
news?
May 2nd, 2012
5:01 pm
why is this on the main page of our main newspaper site? This is hardly newsworthy, but you say it’s tragic because 13 lives are going to be changed….ummm, they got caught committing a crime. Personal accountability? It’s sad that the criminals got caught? Seriously?
TJ
May 2nd, 2012
5:20 pm
Everything about what these young people did is ridiculous. I REALLY HOPE others learn from this tragedy. HAZING is crazy…. and every one of those participating should be made an example of. My heart goes out to the family who lost their son. While I am thankful for the charges, this won’t bring their son back. This type of grief is unimaginable.
Atlanta Mom
May 2nd, 2012
6:16 pm
I’m curious. Do you folks out there believe this will put a stop to hazing in Florida/ FMU/Univerisities in general?
Atlanta Mom
May 2nd, 2012
6:21 pm
“We cannot get enough of wanting to be wanted”.
We have to grow stronger children than that. Don’t we expect our children to withstand peer pressure in middle school and high school? They don’t always but that is our hope and expectation. I must admit, by the time mine went to college, peer pressure was not at the top of my list of worries.
Steve
May 2nd, 2012
8:52 pm
This was not hazing. This man was beaten to death, and no amount of trying to say otherwise will disguise it.
Pardon My Blog
May 2nd, 2012
8:55 pm
It is all in the culture, especially at FAMU. I hope that his sends a strong message to those at MLK, SW DeKalb and others that this is NOT acceptable.
WAR
May 3rd, 2012
8:12 am
so let me get this right… he was against hazing, but participated in it. ok, its clear now.
WAR
May 3rd, 2012
8:14 am
hazing is what teachers endure each day to educate rude, disrespectful children who are supported by rude, disrespectful parents.
T. Alexander
May 3rd, 2012
10:46 am
What is man that God is mindful of I!!!
JROLL1
May 3rd, 2012
10:48 am
SURELY…..AT LEAST A CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER COULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT….
@urethrafranklyn
May 3rd, 2012
10:51 am
How was he 26 yrs old and still in college? Was he in the military?
JerzeePeach
May 3rd, 2012
11:57 am
Thanks, T. Alexander.
Baffled
May 3rd, 2012
12:46 pm
I grieve the loss of this young man, however, he was not hazed to be a member of the band. He was not only a member, but as a drum major was compensated to be a chief safety officer. As drum major it was his job to prevent the very activity in which he participated. With all due respect to his family, he was not a boy. He was a 27 year old man, who voluntarily participated in a felony. He was a 27 year old man, who was chosen from 450 participants to be a drum major. I have to assume that his selection, in part, was due to a belief that at that age he possessed the emotional maturity to lead a group of 19, 20, 21 year old trumpet, clarinet, flute and tuba players.
I don’t understand what he hoped to accomplish by participating in that felony, but it was not membership into the band. He was already a member of the Marching 100rd and compensated to be one of its chief safety officers.
I have no idea what he was seeking, but it required participating in a felony with people who were five, six, maybe even seven years his junior. I wish someone who knew him well would explain why a 27 year old man would choose to do this. I am baffled.
Eddie
May 3rd, 2012
12:46 pm
So, if the “victim” was a Drum Major which I assume that is some type of leadership position. I also assume he knew about and participated in previous hazing incidents. It is a tragedy, but it does seem a stretch to call him a victim when he was apparently a willing participant in this behavior.
chillywilly
May 3rd, 2012
1:00 pm
@ Baffled & Eddie – You both are right on point. According to ESPN Outside The Lines report, Champion openly expressed a desire to “run Bus C” to be hazed so that he would be respected as a drum major. After the game in Orlando, all of the FAMU Drum Majors rode back to the hotel in a limo with Band Director Julian White. Upon arriving at the hotel, Champion, Drum Major Hollis and a young lady changed out of their band uniforms into a hazing outfit. All three voluntarily walked out to the bus and entered to be hazed. The young lady was hazed first, followed by Hollis. Champion was the last to be hazed and he actually made it to the back of the bus. Upon making it to the back of the bus, he asked Hollis for something to drink. Hollis gave him some water. Hollis exited the bus and went back to his room, leaving Champion sitting up on the bus. According to Hollis, several minutes later, he heard that Champion had collapsed & was rushed to the hospital. Champion’s death is tragic & I disagree with hazing, but based on what I’ve heard, he clearly volunteered to be hazed.
blkshepherd
May 3rd, 2012
1:14 pm
I am so happy for this man’s family I could just scream! I went to college after military and was in my early 40s when I get my degree so to the post that said he’s 26 and still in college, uhh Everyone do not go into college right after HS. Some folks like myself Join the military and use that benefit and they are in their 30s and 40s. college does NOT have a age limit unless of course your in your 70s 80s or 90s.
Fact is this WAS DUMB DUMB DUMB and I have NO sympathy for those that will be arrested. I hope they are thrown in prison and given time to think how stupid the whold damn thing is. Why BEAT some one? what on Earth has that ever proved? I hope they charge all that was involved and the bus driver who had to have seen what went down. It is what is. Now all of them need to pay.
blkshepherd
May 3rd, 2012
1:17 pm
for the Spell Police..should have read Got not get my degree, and joined the military and whole damn thing not whold..well I am sneaking blogging at work so have to type fast before anyone sees me..dont tell my boss!
Frankie
May 3rd, 2012
1:18 pm
SO they have 13 people charged in this incident, they have suspended the band.
I also heard that they had anticipated a charge of hate crimes, because Champion was gay. I have not hear any other report except that one, and no more discussion about the hate crime charge….
Frankie
May 3rd, 2012
1:22 pm
@blkshep….I think the blog was saying at 26 years old he ought to know better than to allow someone to beat him up, haze him, or whatever terminology you want to use…
One of my frat brothers was freshout of the military when he started college and pledged on my line, and we learned a lot about what to accept and what not to accept from our fraternity…
Kim
May 3rd, 2012
1:42 pm
The more important question is why a 26 year old is STILL in the band and is slated to be head drum major NEXT year. At close to 30, shouldn’t your priorities be getting the hell out of undergrad? I was in the college marching band and who allows people to beat you? Yes, I was at an HBCU. When does commn sense come into play– especially at that age.
band mom
May 3rd, 2012
1:45 pm
@pardon my blog… Get your facts right before you start naming schools!! stop starting trouble!
it all comes down to what parents are teaching their kids. there is nothing in this world is worth loosing your life! meaning if you have to loose your band scholarship because you refuse to be hazed well dammit loose the scholarship! smh
NameRequired
May 3rd, 2012
1:46 pm
This was not hazing, this was a felony and these band members are no better than common street thugs. The only way to stop this behavior is to disband the band for several years. The victims of hazing become the perpetrators (I had to suffer, so now I am entitled to make others suffer). FAMU needs to shut down the band program until everyone who was ever a member is gone from FAMU. Only then can they start to rebuild. My heart goes out to his parents – my daughter is a musican and was a band member in high school and college. Most band programs are a safe, supporting environment where students can flourish, not be tortured.
chillywilly
May 3rd, 2012
1:48 pm
Thank you, Kim. If a grown man volunteers to participate in an illegal activity (hazing), he runs the risk of injuring or killing someone or being injured or killed. Every member of FAMU’s Band knows that hazing is AGAINST THE LAW and they all signed documents acknowledging such.
RAMZAD
May 3rd, 2012
1:53 pm
Is it not amazing that as a people there is a creeping redundancy that black people are only relevant when somebody dies?
Every other ethnic group seem to get on the world stage for their nuclear weapons or their new scientific discoveries or their technological power or their financial acumen, or their removal of a tyrant government- black people get on when someone dies.
vicki
May 3rd, 2012
1:56 pm
I am sorry for their loss. I know nothing can bring him back. Hazing will stop when hazers stop and also when hazees, unfortunately like Robert, stop submitting to this nonsense as well.
1911A1
May 3rd, 2012
1:57 pm
From the article: “Pam Champion, the mother of Robert Champion, said Thursday that the only way to halt hazing in the program is to disband the marching band until further notice. Pam Champion says ‘You’ve got to clean house. That’s the only thing.’”
I agree. Shut it down. Not forever, but until the last of this year’s freshmen have graduated. Then reload the entire organization, from faculty to students. And have some dang leadership to hold them all accountable.
Frankie
May 3rd, 2012
2:10 pm
SOrry but disbanding the band will not eliminate hazing….YOu would have to disband every organization on college campuses. You can disband the band until every member graduates or leaves school, and then start up the band again and i gusrantee that some form of hazing will take place within the first week or two of the band being back totgethr again.
Hazing is BIGGER THAN FAMU,,they did not invent it and they willnot end it….
Frankie
May 3rd, 2012
2:12 pm
hey RAMZAD….read somethng other than AJC….i go to several websites that credit blacks with all sorts of discoveries, inventions, career advancement,….etc.
Lynn
May 3rd, 2012
2:12 pm
Ok, folks, hazing has two faces- The participant and they ones who deal out the hazing. It looks like these hazers may get off with simple assault. Why because Mr. Champion was an active and willing participant. He knew exactly what the death march entailed. So yes the hazers should be held accountable but Mr. Champion had knowledge of what would happen during this activity.
lisa
May 3rd, 2012
2:13 pm
No the band should not be disbanded. There was an unfortunate incident that happened, the school and the offenders are paying the price; let’s move on from here. There are many fine students who benefit from the scholarship monies who would not have an opportunity otherwise.
Frankie
May 3rd, 2012
2:16 pm
You also have to have some sympathy for the young adults that got caught up in this mess, their lives are ruined to a degree….yes I know that Robert Champion lost his life…Champion got caught up in this life also ad paid the ultimate price.
You only hope that the “organizations”, gangs and Fraternities and sororities learn from this and seek a better way to induct members to their organization that is productive to all involved….
THat should be the lesson learned…at least part of it anyway.
Mary
May 3rd, 2012
2:19 pm
No it should NOT be disbanded. Don’t let a few bad apples spoil the entire bunch.
Frankie
May 3rd, 2012
2:21 pm
THe schools across the country should strive to eliminate hazing by coming up with a better induction “ritual” if you will for inducting members into their organization. That really should be the charge to every orgaization, black white etc.
No fraternity, sorority, or organization should be allowed to induct another member until a new procedure is determined….a big task but a necessary task…
Small Guy
May 3rd, 2012
2:25 pm
Why shut down the band? Punish the guilty. Dont punish 300 young people who did the right thing. Clean out the guilty. Maybe new leadershio but no way they should end the Marching 100
Frankie
May 3rd, 2012
2:28 pm
you know the sad part of this, I do not thnk disbanding the band is the answer. do you disband the football team when your QB, RB and WR steal computers and sell them or get caught raping someone or murder someone.
You get rid of those kids…
I know the knee-jerk reaction and the political answer is to disband the band but will that really resolve the issue….
NO…disbanding with out education and accountability will result in the same thnig happening when then band gets back together again.
Look at the fraternities, how many of them have been put off the yard for years and what happens when they get back on…they pick up right where they left off.
You have to not only cut off the head but retrain the rest of the body.
Create a manadatory Freshman class whether it be for a week or month on the responsibilities each student has to the organization oand school it represents….
Elizabeth Hughes
May 3rd, 2012
2:30 pm
I don’t think the whole band has to be punished or have no more band. Band is a wonderful thing. Seems there needs to be more control on behavior within the band and peers. We should all learn from our mistakes and go forward. His life will mean something forever because he was good in the band. Don’t dishonor them all because of a few that need to grow up in their attitudes to life and more positive things in life. It’s about them all, not just them. The few that participated in his death should have some punishment. You do the crime, you pay the time. I’m sure his parents would’nt want the whole band to never play again. Elizabeth
chillywilly
May 3rd, 2012
2:34 pm
Long live The Marching 100. I reject any calls to disband FAMU’s Marching 100. The suspension of the band should be lifted immediately! More people have been killed by guns than by members of FAMU’s Band. Hell, if we’re serious about saving lives, let’s ban guns.
Tucker
May 3rd, 2012
2:35 pm
Hazing is a problem at historically black colleges and universities and in African-American student organizations at other colleges and universities, but hazing is not limited to students of any particular race at any kind of institution. Unfortunately longstanding traditions for some organizations include demeaning behaviors that can easily slip into the realm of hazing in the enthusiasm of the moment. The hope that some generation of students will be willing to be the last generation subjected to such treatment is unfulfilled.
Amy
May 3rd, 2012
2:38 pm
I feel for the victims family, but I do not believe that the whole band should be punished. I am not sure how he was 26years old and still in the band, but I am sure at that age and him being a senior, that was not the first incident of hazing, and he never reported it in the past which would leave one to assume he was a willing participant. I feel that there should be a punishment since there was a loss of life, but that the band itself should remain in tact, just with new guidelines and regulations. Just a sad situation all around.
Pompano
May 3rd, 2012
3:04 pm
Carlosgvv – you are correct. OK… so eleven guys beat the crap out of a gay student and we call that hazing.
If this had been the Duke U. Lacrosse team instead of the FAMU band, how quickly do you think people would be screaming for Hate crime charges to be filed? I guarantee you good old Eric Holder would have already held his press conference by now.
Frankie
May 3rd, 2012
3:09 pm
pompano….you have to prove the students knew he was gay AND if they were yelling racial or homophobic slurs at him…If this had been DUKE U Lacrosse team …Mom and dad would have already donated a building to DUKE U. for the whole thing to go away….
HERE COMES THE JUDGE
May 3rd, 2012
3:12 pm
The emotions of the family are easily to understand…but the comment by the family to disband the famed band is not the way to go…you’re saying to punish the entire band now and FOREVER for the foolish actions made by a few. I understand that the band also holds a summer band camp for high schoolers…that in itself should send a message to the Champion Family that there a lot of kids who were counting on being in that band for years to come!! I’m equally sure that Robert was dreaming for years to get a tryout and eventually became the DRUM MAJOR…his dedication to many grueling hours of hard work made that dream come true. Maybe when the emotions of the family subside a bit, I hope they will rethink their position of disbanding the group.
Furious Styles
May 3rd, 2012
3:14 pm
Na its not necessary, just:
1. Get rid of the sub-groups within the different band sections and return to the core focus of the band
2. The band directer, going forward can only assign section leaders (students who can be trusted)
3. Discipline should be handed out by school administrators or board and or student union
4. Reporting of hazing and other violations should be accepted anonymously
5. If your dismissed from the band and don’t have the grades to remain in school, you should not be able to participate in school or band activities on or off-campus period. Stay away, stay away!