FAMU hazing death declared homicide

The medical examiner has ruled the death of Florida A&M student Robert Champion a homicide, raising the punitive stakes for who is ultimately found responsible for his death.

Champion, a drum major for the FAMU Marching 100 band, died shortly after the band's performance at the Orlando Classic football game between the Rattlers and Bethune Cookman University. The medical examiner said Champion, 26, suffered multiple blunt trauma blows, resulting in his death. It wasn't long before his death was linked to a hazing incident, setting the stage for a blame game that has put the university in the national spotlight.

As a recent graduate of FAMU's School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, it's sad to see the university thrust in the limelight for negative reasons. But more importantly, it's worse to observe how poorly FAMU has handled the aftermath of Champion's death.

That the actions leading to his death even happened is condemnable, which is exactly what just about everyone who's weighed in on the issue has done. Hazing has never been the right thing to do, but it has remained the unspoken rite of passage in many organizations.

Four drum majors were dismissed by the university for their alleged involvement in Champion's death. The Famuan, the school newspaper has identified three of the four. Band director Julian White was also fired, although his termination was scheduled to become effective at the end of the band's season. Following Florida governor Rick Scott's announcement of a task force to investigate the death, White's termination and the students dismissal were rescinded.

Last year, I covered the Marching 100 for a package story that ran in FAMU's Homecoming Special. I met, though never interviewed or talked directly with, two of the drum majors dismissed: Jonathan Boyce, now the head drum major, and Shawn Turner. I don't recall seeing Ricki Willis, the third identified student. Neither Boyce, nor Turner, struck me as killers, which is exactly what whoever's found guilty could be branded.

Amid the PR circus enveloping this case– the students and White's dismissal, the revelation of more hazing incidents within the band, alleged financial misappropriation of band-related funds, Gov. Scott's call for FAMU President James Ammons resignation, students' protests in front of Scott's residence and the Board of Trustees division over Ammons future as president– very little has been done to address this problem of hazing.

Hazing has been a cultural staple in organizations for decades, and despite a Florida law making it a felony, fraternities continue to engage in the act. That is the scary part. That Champion, who as a drum major was one of the band's leaders, submitted to the physical torture speaks volumes on how deep-rooted the culture is. The fact that the Marching 100, and I suspect other organizations on the campus, continued this tradition after a similar incident involving a fraternity pledge garnered national attention and led to the conviction and expulsion of several students in 2005, is a testament that it will take more than the loss of lives to end this practice.

Ammons announced a zero tolerance for hazing in the wake of Champion's death, yet White said when he dismissed 26 students for hazing two weeks before the Orlando Classic, and supported a recommendation for their dismissal from the school, the university ignored it. Considering the 2005 hazing of Marcus Jones, a Kappa Alpha Psi pledge, which led to expulsion and conviction of several students within the fraternity, it's hard pressed to not point a finger at the FAMU administration for its terrible handling of White's decision, and even poorer handling of Champion's death.

It's not enough for Ammons and the BOT to fire everyone of authority within the band and suspend the band's activities. That means nothing to the Champion family and to the general public watching to see what the university would do to address the problem. FAMU needs to establish itself as a symbol of anti-hazing. And so far it's failing to do so. Students marching in support of Ammons when they should be marching against anti-hazing is disgraceful. But when you think about the fact that many of those students could likely be victims of hazing through their various organizations, it speaks volumes about the lack of sensitivity for the Champion family.

It could be months before this case is settled and charges are brought against anyone. Normal life will eventually resume on FAMU's campus, but not for the Champions. They entrusted their son to the care of FAMU and it's world renowned marching band. In return, they got his corpse and now have to contend with the fact that their son was bludgeoned to death by members of his other family: the FAMU community.

Back from hiatus

Judging from my last post, it's certainly been a while since I've been here. It wasn't intentional. I have been working on my graduate project, which is a documentary on the lack of blacks in soccer in the United States. I've gotten a lot of positive feedback about the subject matter and will share it with you once my defense is officially over.

Just because I haven't recorded an entry in a long time doesn't mean I haven't been keeping up with what's been going on in sports, and a lot has happened. Another major college sports program (Syracuse basketball) has been hit with sexual abuse allegations. The NBA player reshuffle is in major frenzy as teams hustle to lock up key players before the Christmas Day start of the shortened season.

But one major story that hits close to home is the ongoing investigation over the death of a Florida A&M University Marching 100 band player. Robert Champion III, a 26-year-old drum major died hours after the band had performed at the Orlando Classic. The apparent cause has been linked to hazing, which has set off a firestorm of who bears the responsibility for his death. In the next few days, I'll share my thoughts on the issue as a graduate of FAMU.

It was my birthday on Dec. 8, and as a gift to myself I finally got to attend a Robin Thicke concert on Dec. 7. I'll share some of the videos and pictures I shot at the concert. The end of the year is fast approaching, but I still have a few things to share before the end of the year.

Stay tuned.