By the CNN Wire Staff updated 12:16 PM EST, Mon November 28, 2011
Florida A&M University student Robert Champion, 26, became ill and died November 20.
FAMU drum major's family to sue after suspected hazing death
(CNN) -- A lawyer for the family of Robert Champion, a Florida university drum major who died this month in what officials have called a hazing-related death, said Monday he will file a lawsuit against the school on behalf of the family.
"We are intending to file a lawsuit to get answers" about hazing at Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University, lawyer Chris Chestnut told reporters. "We are concerned about the culture of coverup, that hazing has been covered up at the Band FAMU for generations. So, it's time now that we expose the truth, eradicate this culture, and come up with creative remedies on how to continue the excellence of FAMU's band, but without hazing." Chestnut said he was not at liberty to discuss the facts of the case, and noted that the medical examiner has not issued a report on the cause of death of the 26-year-old drum major. But, he added, the facts that have emerged to date "point to the fact that hazing was a cause of Robert Champion's death, and it was under FAMU's watch." He said he could not address the scope of the lawsuit, but added, "I can tell you that FAMU will be named in it." Chestnut described hazing at the school as a don't-ask, don't-tell culture. "The family's message today is: Please, tell." Champion became ill at an Orlando hotel following a game on November 20. He reportedly threw up in the parking lot and started complaining of not being able to breathe, authorities said. Champion was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told CNN last week that hazing was involved, but added that authorities were trying to determine an official cause of death. Under Florida law, any death that occurs as the result of hazing is a third-degree felony.
Following the death, FAMU President James H. Ammons suspended all band performances and said he will convene a task force "to determine if there are any unauthorized and questionable activities associated with the culture of the Marching 100." In addition, FAMU moved to fire longtime band director Julian E. White. White had led the 420-member band since 1998 and has hired an attorney to fight for his job. On Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott sent a letter to Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey asking the department to join the investigation "to assure that the circumstances leading to Mr. Champion's death become fully known, and that if there are individuals directly or indirectly responsible for this death, they are appropriately brought to justice and held accountable." Ammons has acknowledged that at least 30 band members were let go this semester because of possible involvement in hazing.
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Today is
Hazing Is A Idiotic Behavior
We all are familiar with the groups on campus that require one to join, and be humiliated for weeks or months, in order to simply say, "I'm in that group".
My Cousin attempted to join the Q-Dogs when I attended Southern U, but, after weeks of humiliation, he wasn't allowed to walk, meaning, he wasn't good enough to be allowed to be "among" them. The way that I looked at it, "why in the hell did he want to join a group anyway?
I was actually asked to join the Q-Dogs by some of the frat brothers on the Southern baseball team, I guess because I was playing on the team, I qualified for the frat. I declined because, I didn't see any reason to try out for any group or organization that would maltreat me for weeks, and then at the end, I am simply allowed to be "a freaking member". That's a bunch of bullshit as far as I'm concerned.
Besides..., majoring in Architecture Engineering, I didn't have time to play childish team games. I had a full schedule, I worked part time, and I played on the baseball team. Nope, I'm no fool.
This specific story of hazing is an example of the ignorance thats associated with people who feel a need to be "among" or part of. So, you allow yourself to be mistreated, abused and even killed, just to feel that you are a part of.
I understand the desire to be on a team or in a group, human nature causes us all to feel the need to congregate, however, the ones that are leading the hazing, are often, playing out a role of some type of character that one might read about in a movie of some sort. These young people forget that they are actually hurting, humiliating or degrading the young trainee, and that's just wrong.
The bruises resulting from beatings, the degradation resulting from humiliation,,,, ain' t worth being on a team or part of a group of some any sort.
The Tragedy is that a young man died as a result of a out of control system, a system that goes unchecked or unsupervised by responsible adults.
I'm not going to preach "Individualism" in this instance, however, I will suggest that a definite system of controls are required to ensure that individuals who are interested in joining any specific group, some type of controls need to be in place and constantly evaluated.
In My Opinion
ASMFMB
11/28/11
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