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
Pompano
May 3rd, 2012
3:16 pm
Frankie – so if a Gay guy gets beaten up it’s OK as long as the attackers remain quiet? Don’t think you quite understand how hate crimes work. However, based on your comment regarding how things would work out if the situation took place at Duke, you’re obviously not up much on current events either.
Baffled
May 3rd, 2012
3:17 pm
Frankie. The is no hate crime charge because Mr. Champion was not hazed because he is gay. Mr. Champion was hazed because he decided to change his clothes, leave his hotel room, walk to an unsupervised location in a parking lot, get on a bus and let a bunch of testosterone driven shallow thinkers pummel him. If the statement of the other drum major involved is accurate, Mr. Champion watched two other band members get hazed immediately before he stepped forward and voluntarily submitted to the same procedure. If the story as reported by ESPN’s Outside The Line is true, Mr. Champion, a 27 year old man, watched a young woman whose safety he was compensated to ensure, submit to a similar beating and did not do his duty and stop that felony. He stood by and watched grown men batter a woman and did nothing. He was a drum major and could have stopped the felony. He chose not to and instead stood by and watched a woman get pummeled, then submitted himself to similar abuse.
The bigger question, of course, is how to eradicate barbaric practices from society. But certainly an interesting question is why did Champion stand around and watch a group of men assault a woman and do absolutely nothing to stop it.
If someone who knew Mr. Champion would explain why he chose to participate in a felony and chose to watch a female be brutalized by a group on men and chose not to intervene, we might be able to understand the mindset of people who submit to hazing. And, we might gain valuable information into what is necessary to stop it. There were over 400 band members in Orlando for that game. After the game, 384 of them went out and had a good time with family and friends. Why did Mr. Champion choose to go find the 13 future felons? Why didn’t he do as the 384 band members who were no where near that bus?
Sad Story Indeed
May 3rd, 2012
3:27 pm
I agree @Amy. There is hazing that happens in many arenas at all age levels. Hazing has been a part of American culture sense its inception. I definitely don’t agree with overly abusing anyone and my heart goes out to his family. This is more indicative of our culture in America as many of us have experienced at least one side of this type of tradition. One of those charged is a former student of mine and I can say that he is not a thug, or a goon or anything like that. He put himself in a position that he knew he should not have involved himself in, and has accepted the consequences that he has to face.
Sometimes when we are involved in organizations, we go along with traditions and practices that have long been deemed acceptable without thinking about the extreme consequences. I believe this story is somewhat of an American tragedy as no one was forced to participate. Such a sad story all-around.
Gonzalez
May 3rd, 2012
3:39 pm
You can’t cure stupid! You know sooner or later the crap would hit the fan! Everyone involved is dumb as a rock! But what do I know I pledged!!
Tag
May 3rd, 2012
3:39 pm
YES!
You know the college administrators of the band were aware of what was going on.
A MAN DIED!!!
Frankie
May 3rd, 2012
3:41 pm
@baffled …tell that to Pompano…see earlier blog
Pompano…know exactly what a hate crime is…apparently you don’t. and you rreading skills are questionable too…As far as a hate crime, you have to prove they knew he was gay or perceive bias against that group.
Did they attack any other gay members of the band, did they know he was gay… if the answer to either one of thes questions is no…then no hate crime…who do yu think is going to tell the prosecutor that they knew he was gay that is why they beat him…champion…NO, the perpatrators…after all this time…NOT..
SO know a little about what your subject before you swallow more of your foot……
Gonzalez
May 3rd, 2012
3:42 pm
A Frat I can understand! Who pledges to play a f’en tuba or trumpet?
Question?
May 3rd, 2012
3:42 pm
Where are Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and the reat of the Rainbow Coalition acolytes? Surely they can keep on making themselves relevant by condemning the beating death of a young Black man at the hands of other Black men, can’t they?
Oh, wait, I forgot…….They are only interested when it’s a case of White on Black crime.
Karma
May 3rd, 2012
3:44 pm
Shut ‘em down! Nothing but a bunch of hip-thrusting crotch-grabbing antics set to poorly performed riffs on the field and reprehensible acts off the field. Yep, shut ‘em down for good.
Former MLK Band Mom
May 3rd, 2012
3:45 pm
This band should not be disband … I would; however, suggest that band directors withdraw scholarships from ANY student caught hazing or being hazed (approximately 80-85% of the band members received some type of scholarship) and I guarantee this action will cease immediately.
If the Band Directors refuses to withdraw the scholarship and remove student from band then the school’s administration need to WITHDRAW EMPLOYEMENT from the Band Director … this I know for certain will ensure hazing activities will cease UNLESS the Band Director is a straight up idiot.
Former MLK Band Mom
May 3rd, 2012
3:47 pm
@Baffled … great comment!
j bullyq
May 3rd, 2012
3:48 pm
I know, every Rattler re-applies and gets chosen based on musical TALENT (got to play at least one instrument well) and, GASP, academic achievement. Set the standards high, the thugs will fall by the wayside where they belong. Long as there is a FAMU and a Univ of Miami, for that matter, there are going to be hate crime incidents, can’t stop em.
Frankie
May 3rd, 2012
3:50 pm
I am sure the band director knew of the sub-groups to the band. What surprises me but not really is that the band fraternity (kappa kappa psi) has not spoken out about this which leads me to believe they knew about it or suspected something was going on.
The band director was possibly a member of the group? But agree that the stronger regulations (enforceable)needs to occur.
But given the history of hazing, this has to be a nationwide event to squash it…not just at FAMU.
Former MLK Band Mom
May 3rd, 2012
4:01 pm
To those of you who is stating that this was a ‘hate crime’ … apparently, you have received erroneous information. Mr. Champion, along with the others, voluntarily walked that hazing line. Unfortunately, he, Mr. Champion, sustained internal injuries due to his own regrettable decision.
Yes, those involved need to be punished for their participation; however, WE PARENTS need to teach our children better so that they will have a high self-esteem and will KNOW when, and what type of activities, they should participate in order to become a member of any organization. If Mr. Champion had a better understanding of who he was he NEVER would have walked that line; in fact, he would have insisted on showing the other members of that organization how a TRUE LEADER respond to such foolishness and stayed true to his beliefs, if he did in fact believe hazing was wrong.
Just saying…..
Former MLK Band Mom
May 3rd, 2012
4:03 pm
Sorry ‘grammar police’ … “who are” …
Jeez
May 3rd, 2012
4:36 pm
Band? These guys should’ve been on the football team.
Archie@Arkham Asylum
May 3rd, 2012
10:13 pm
“The University has said that it is working ‘vigorously’ to eradicate hazing!” Where have we heard that one before?
catlady blames the victim
May 4th, 2012
10:50 pm
catlady, you are blaming the victim. you have no idea whether he “allowed” himself to be murdered. For all you know, he called out for help and mercy and was ignored. One man cannot defend himself against a gang of thugs in a bus with a so-called adult driver who did nothing to stop it.
This school has a CULTURE of violence.
BAN the band. Get rid of this “legendary” mob of thugs.
The kids are there to get an education, not not strut around and kill each other over something meaningless.
This young man needed help and all he got was a beat down and criticism from you. it figures.
Former MLK Band Mom
May 4th, 2012
10:52 pm
You’re wrong. We don’t need to teach our kids how to defend themselves against a gang of thugs. That’s not what we need to teach our kids. what we need to do is PUNISH the adults who created the culture and allowed it to happen.
No one makes a “regrettable decision” that leads to a murder.”
NO ONE would in his right mind know that he was about to be murdered.
You just want to defend your “legendary” band. Legendary indeed. Robin Hood is a legend. FAMU is a bunch of thugs.
chillywilly
May 5th, 2012
12:26 pm
@ Former MLK Band Mom – You may want to get your facts straight before you start rambling off at the mouth. According to U.S. News & World Reports, FAMU is “The No. 1 Most Popular University in The State of Florida & The No. 1 Most Popular University in America”. New admission applications are at an all time high. FAMU’s Accounting Students just won the Deloitt Touche Case Competition in Texas, beating Notre Dame & other universities. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound like “a bunch of thugs” to me. For your convenience & education, here is a link to FAMU’s website. http://www.famu.edu. A couple of years ago, a Virginia Tech student shot & killed more than 30 students on campus, but that doesn’t define VT. Every other day, a UGA student is arrested for some crime. Would you describe UGA as a bunch of thugs? According to the Robert Champion investigation, only 13 people participated in the hazing that caused his death. The other 387 FAMU band members had absolutely nothing to do with his death. We all want justice for Robert Champion, but to indict the entire university for the bad behavior of a few is just wrong. Based on testimony, Robert Champion voluntarily entered the bus on his own free will to be hazed. As a drum major, he was a leader of the band and knew that hazing was wrong. I heard that he had already signed an Anti-Hazing Agreement along with the other band members. The question becomes, “why did Robert Champion participate in an activity (hazing) that he knew was illegal in the State of Florida”? At some point, adult students should know the difference between right and wrong and accept responsibility for their own bad behavior. Two other band members were hazed with Champion that night, but survived. We’re all hurting for the Champion Family, but if I jump into a pit of rattlesnakes, I expect to be bitten. When adult students volunteer to participate in an illegal activity such as hazing, they run the risk of injuring or killing someone or being injured or killed themselves. FAMU is a very prestigious university with a very rich history. Many of FAMU’s Alumni are very successful and have NEVER participated in hazing. For those of you who think otherwise, you are sadly misinformed. We hurt for the Champion, but we think holding press conferences every other day is counterproductive and are causing people to question their motives. The university has taken very serious steps to eradicate hazing and to strengthen its hazing policy. We all agree that the hazing must stop…but the music shouldn’t. The band suspension should be lifted immediately. Lastly, I’ve just learned that the young lady, Brea Hunter, who claimed that her thigh was broken in a hazing incident, wasn’t broken at all. In my opinion, Brea Hunter has no credibility. Besides, she also volunteered to be hazed and as a result, she was injured. Indict the guilty students, but not the entire university. Put the Marching 100 back on the field immediately!
chillywilly
May 5th, 2012
1:48 pm
Typo Correction : “The No. 15 Most Popular University in America”. I’d say this is pretty good, wouldn’t you?
AJC is not Credible
May 5th, 2012
8:12 pm
He brought it upon himself…he was on the downside of 30.
Former MLK Band Mom
May 8th, 2012
11:05 am
@Former MLK Band Mom, who wrote “You’re wrong. We don’t need to teach our kids how to defend themselves against a gang of thugs.”….
When you respond to a blog …. FIRST AND FOREMOST, you need to create a UNIQUE name so that your responses are not mistakenly take for those of the blogger with the ORIGINAL name … idiot!
Former MLK Band Mom
May 8th, 2012
11:09 am
“mistakenly taken…”