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Subscribe to RSSThe longtime band director at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee was fired on Wednesday after the suspected hazing death of a drum major.
University president James Ammons sent band director Julian White a termination letter, citing White's inability to stop the suspected hazing in the band and music department.
"We are serious, this has to stop," Ammons told the Orlando Sentinel. "The highest priority we have as a university is protecting the health, safety and well-being of our students."
Officials say 26-year-old Robert Champion was found unresponsive on a bus parked outside an Orlando hotel on Saturday night after the school's football team lost to rival Bethune-Cookman. Champion was vomiting and had complained he couldn't breathe before he collapsed.
A telephone message left at White's home by the Associated Press wasn't immediately returned. White has been placed on paid administrative leave and has 10 days to respond to his firing.
The exact cause and manner of Champion's death are pending the autopsy results, said Sheri Blanton, a forensic coordinator for the medical examiner. There is no timetable for getting the results back, but most cases take 10 to 12 weeks, she said.
FAMU officials acknowledged that 30 students have been kicked off the band this semester due to hazing incidents. There are currently three investigations.
On Tuesday, officials at the Tallahassee school suspended the famed Marching 100 band and any other ensemble that performs under the supervision of the FAMU music department. The move affects more than 400 students.
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This one time....at band camp......
There has to be grounds for firing a coach/teacher. What are they? And how can hazing be the total responsibility of one person? They have not even concluded an autopsy yet!
As I understand it from some other reports, hazing within the band at this university has been an issue for for a long time, with several other pending investigations of previous incidents that are currently in progress. There has been ongoing disciplinary action against the students involved as well as faculty who failed to prevent it in the previous instances. This particular incident was simply the latest in a series, and apparently was the last straw.
I agree! There is only so much one person can do. If 30 students were already trounced from Band because of hazing, then the Director is probably on top of the situation as much as he can be; he is the one that removed these students. Under conditions like that, the Administration should have become far more involved a long time ago. This firing is probably a scapegoating!
Many employment relationships are "at will", where either the employer or employee is free to terminate the relationship for any reason (or no reason at all). There is no need to show cause and no threshold for proof. Firing supervisors when scandals occur at the workplace is common practice.
Ah, hazing. When I was in college, to join the outdoor club (Called "Forest People") the hazing ritual was to pick a job and do it. All year. And then you were accepted and got seniority the next year- which usually meant more responsibility for your job. I became the "Director of Espionage" (Student Senate Representative).
Then there were the fraternities. Ah, nothing states your dedication to the clan and to your chosen profession than drinking until you passed out.
We were warned about hazing in High school. Basically use your brain and if a "club" expects you to do ridiculous things to join, likely they aren't worth it. There's a difference between dedication and stupidity.
Black people when will they get it together? Obama is the president.
Dubu............ why dont you get the *()&^*((&*(_&*9 outta my country and take your racist bigotry with you. You dont deserve what America has to offer!
Hehehe LOL - Were they black?
when it comes to hazing, (at least in Greek life), if someone is seriously injured/killed, it is considered fault of the pledgemaster and president of the fraternity, so the band director is a sensible scapegoat
"The highest priority we have as a university is protecting the health, safety and well-being of our students."
Huh. News to me. I thought the highest priority of a university was to educate students. Hazing, as awful as it is, is voluntary on both parties part.
30 people kicked out of the band for hazing in one semester?!
When the heck do they ever find time to actually practice their tunes?
That's not a band, it's a 24/7 brawl!
K-man 629118, and you others that sound as if you couldn't blow a whistle, whatever happened, and none of us know because we weren't there, have forgotten the basic principles of law this country was founded on. Innocent until proven guilty. My son has participated in that band since he was in the 8th grade. His first year on the percussion line he stood proudly as number 75 on the line. Until his last two years of participation, he served as section leader for band camp. He is a proud member of the Marching 100, and he's in alot of pain, he is afraid for his classmates and the administrators that made him strong and desirous of the opportunity to continue the traditions that made not only that band but the school a success against all the financial odds that traditionally black colleges and universities face in this struggle economy. Remember, your mother told you if you can't say something nice........
100 Mom,
It would appear there's enough going that the school found 30 innocent people guilty enough of hazing to kick them out of the band.
I've been involved in organizations that had confused hazing with tradition simply because "that's the way things have been done for years...it's part of making the group stronger." BS! After those "traditions" were stopped, guess what? The groups managed to survive and continue on same as before only without all the intimidation and abuse.
100 Mom,
Your son will also be able to come home when it's all said and done, unlike his bandmate.
Wromg. The most important thing in College is winning football games.
Umm no education is the most important thing, without education there would be no football.
Hazing is such bs, if anyone tries to haze me ill break their noses.
Yes, but chances are..... that you're NOT 18 yrs of age [or there 'bouts], and riddled with low self esteem, which is typically of many young freshman who are in a new, and in an unfamiliar environment...away from home, and their support. This is something they really want to join, and are willing to do just about anything to be accepted.
Knowledge is power. Read the article again. Robert, the deceased drum major was 26 years old. These are not a bunch of virgin nerds on their first field trip away from home. Sorry duuug, no freshmen involved. These were grown a-- men, who according to past traditions, encourage, strength, honor, courage, unity and a brotherhood. But, again, none of us were there. So opinion and speculations should be curtailed. People are hurting because of Roberts death. Hell, my job is hazing me, my co-workers and I have received paycuts and furlough days, but are told to smile and answer "excellent".
@Morlack - LOL
Condolences to the friends and family of the young man that died.Such a tragedy.Did he really die due to hazing?Maybe it's me but why was the band director fired? We just had a similar case in my area.One of our best teachers/coach was dismissed,almost got fired,tenure and all.Two football players horsing around after practice,it got out of hand.One students jaw was broken.The coach didn't see it he found out later but didn't report it in a timely matter.The community came together,the two students,broken jaw and all testified together,admitting it was their fault.He was reinstated but I'm sure he'll pay much closer attention to the students if possible.I love FAMU's band.
I am a Famu Alumni, and had a few friends in the band, as well as other fraternities. I can say without a doubt, that hazing took place when I attended, and the campus injuries and deaths resulting from the hazing was one of the reasons I decided not to join Omega Psi Phi (Q -dogs). Anyone who says hazing doesn't happen, is lying, or not part of the frat system.
It is obviously that the naivity and ignorance are blamed for the death of a young person. Do they have any idea that how much it costs parents to raise a kid to go to college and to be musically capable to join the band?
They have owed the parents a big time.
Children of the Corn, no respect for self or others, Lord of the Flies, What a flippin' mess
As a former student of Florida A&M, who had a number of friends in the band, I can say that hazing most definitely does happen, for the band, and practically every other fraternity on campus. In fact, when I attended FAMU, the Kappa's were banned from campus because of the hazing death of a student, so this is nothing new. Most people accept that they will have to endure some form of hazing to be part of the exclusive groups on campus, but I changed my mind, and decided not to pledge Omega Psi Phi (Q-dogs) when I saw how much abuse you needed to endure. Anyone who says hazing doesn't happen, is either lying, or not part of these groups.
I am a proud Snake(1982 FAMU Journalism/Finance) and a 27-yr member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Happy 100th to all the Bruhs! First, Shareef I have a fundamental issue with your calling out only my Fraternity as if we are the Standard Bearers of hazing when there are others who have more documented incidents with both pending and settled litigation against them. Secondly, if the reason you decided not to assimilate into Omega Psi Phi due to your fear of being hazed then personally, as a Que, I feel that you failed the first test of Manhhood and would probably not meet the high standards and ideals of the Organization in the first place. I ain't mad at you Brother; just keeping it real....The incident with the Band is unfortunate and We all love FAMU. It hurts me to see any negative publicity about the University that helped to forge me and countless others. I do agree that firing Doc white may be a bit of a rush to judgement in that disciplinary actions had been exacted and some 30 members either expelled or disciplined. Obviously, he had a policy that spoke to hazing and his intolerance of it. What we we have to consider is the legacy of the University, the 100, and draw a conclusion based on the fact that losing Doc
White could jeopardize the legacy of band in light of the recent passing of Doc Foster. Doc White earned and very much deserves to be able to continue in his job. He has dedicated much of his life to his love for this Band and University. This is not Penn State; let's not get it twisted. Peace and Blessings be upon the Family of the Deceased. May His Soul Rest In Peace.......
eezzee10 - Shareef didn't single out your fraternity, he was speaking specifically to his first hand experience which happened to be with your fraternity. Secondly, your assumption that Shareef was "afraid" of hazing, as opposed to the possibility of it just being his choosing not to subject himself to immature rituals, is a very self-aggrandinzing assumption. Anyone who thinks hazing is a test of manhood isn't anyone I'd be interested in calling a friend. Hazing as a test of manhood? That's so ridiculous as to be frustratingly stupid.
1 true American...he indeed singled out Omega Psi Phi, out of all of the fraternities of the Divine 9, he singled out Omega. How do you know that it was first hand experience. He did not specifically say that! Another question: What immature rituals are you referring too? Are you a Que. Have you pledged any organization in the Divine 9? Maybe you are comparing Que Psi Phi to the liking of those that you see on TV or the movie screens i.e. "Animal House" or "Greek". Third and lastly, your statement " anyone who thinks hazing is a test of manhood isn't anyone I'd be interested in calling a friend" is invalid. Any fraternity (frat taken from the Greek origin has the meaning of brother, not friend) is NOT interested in calling each other friends, they are brothers! Brothers of high standards, service and manhood. Until you are affiliated with a fraternity (or sorority) of high standards such as the one listed in this tread, you have no room to speak. You are merely an outsider looking in, or someone who was not fortunate enough to be invited or accepted to be apart of such an elite group. Please the the INDIVIDUAL that you are, do your research, pledge, then come back and comment. Maybe someone would take you a little more seriously.
Clearly both my statements were in response to eezzee10’s reaction to Shareef, who made nothing more than an apparently sincere comment based on firsthand knowledge, which eezzee10 took issue with, and responded with some unnecessary, unflattering assumptions. Seems you chose not to address my second statement regarding eezzee10’s assumption about Shareef being “afraid”, pretty indefensible and petty, to be sure. Let’s cover the first one. 1 true American...he indeed singled out Omega Psi Phi, out of all of the fraternities of the Divine 9, he singled out Omega. How do you know that it was firsthand experience. A direct quote from Shareef_Rashada - “Most people accept that they will have to endure some form of hazing to be part of the exclusive groups on campus, but I changed my mind, and decided not to pledge Omega Psi Phi (Q-dogs) when I saw how much abuse you needed to endure.” Obviously he commented on Omega, and this comment also indicates it IS his firsthand experience. My point goes to his motivation for singling them out in response to eezzee10’s comment, quoted: “First, Shareef I have a fundamental issue with your calling out only my Fraternity as if we are the Standard Bearers of hazing when there are others who have more documented incidents with both pending and settled litigation against them.” My point was he was only discussing Omega due to his first hand experience with them, not because he was “picking” on them. Another question: What immature rituals are you referring too? Are you a Que. Have you pledged any organization in the Divine 9? Maybe you are comparing Que Psi Phi to the liking of those that you see on TV or the movie screens i.e. "Animal House" or "Greek". The immature rituals I refer to are the self same ones Shareef refers to, though he calls them abuse. I’m not making any comparisons to anything, just the facts as stated. Interestingly enough, I can see why a frat brother would so vehemently defend this practice, as well as his fraternity in situations like this. Who would want to have to endure the hazing process to be part of an organization, only to have the “value” of being part of that organization demeaned. Third and lastly, your statement " anyone who thinks hazing is a test of manhood isn't anyone I'd be interested in calling a friend" is invalid. Any fraternity (frat taken from the Greek origin has the meaning of brother, not friend) is NOT interested in calling each other friends, they are brothers! My statement is hardly invalid. I chose to use the word “friend”, because that is my feeling. Taking issue with my using the word “friend” instead of “brother” implies an assumption on your part, obviously an incorrect one in this instance, which I was characterizing the relationship between frat brothers. I’m not. Just making a simple statement that I wouldn’t be interested in being friends with someone who thought hazing was a test of manhood. That or you’re just trying to find fault where there is none, presumably to undermine my argument in some overall sense. My point stands, ANYONE who thinks fraternity hazing is a test of manhood isn’t someone I’d be interested in being friends with. Brothers of high standards, service and manhood. Until you are affiliated with a fraternity (or sorority) of high standards such as the one listed in this tread, you have no room to speak. You are merely an outsider looking in, or someone who was not fortunate enough to be invited or accepted to be apart of such an elite group. Please the the INDIVIDUAL that you are, do your research, pledge, then come back and comment. Maybe someone would take you a little more seriously. LOL, now this is amusing. If we’re discussing brothers of high standards, service and manhood, you can’t do any better than the organization I joined, and was very successful in, the U.S. military. It’s you who don’t have room to speak in this regard. It’s obviously an assumption on my part that you haven’t any experience in the armed forces, but one I feel safe in making. As far as pledging a fraternity myself, other than the fact I’ve done far more than that as I mentioned with my military experience, I have no need to do so. My friends and I had a tree house when we were 10. Hope to hear a response, but please do some proof reading before you post it, “apart” and “a part” are two very different things. Or have one of your frat brothers proof read it for you.
eezzee10: Your argument (Don't call out my frat. We don't deny the wrong-doing but others are equally or more guilty) is utter BS. You're not alone though - members of our failed political party system make similar childish arguments when called to account.
Am I the only one who finds it odd that a 26-year-old would be the victim of hazing? It's one thing for some kid, away from home for the first time, and trying to "fit in" with his new friends, might fall into this trap. But a 26-year-old?
For the those of you who don't recall there was an in-depth report on CBS's 60 Minutes about this very band, the hazing and the culture of this abuse. This has been suspected for years. I hope there are more firings. Adults at this University should have known all about this and they should pay with their jobs for not doing the right thing.
26 years old and he's still in college? 26 years old and still a freshman being hazed by upperclassmen? Makes me wonder what's going on there. Hazing went on when I was in band because it was a tradition the band director(s) allowed, but it was harmless moments of annoyances and paying homage to seniors done at summer band camp, it involved no potential loss of life. My sympathies to the young man's family, but I think the administration made the right call here. It is apparent the Florida A & M director had no real control of this band. If the members respected him and he had told them to STOP all hazing, it would have stopped.
Detroit - you will be surprised how many people start college later what you consider to be traditional. Not everyone goes to college right out of high school. Come on - use your brain - so you don't appear to be out of touch. There is nothing abnormal about someone beng 26 and in college! it may even shock you to know that there are people in their 30's, 40's, 50's, and 60's in college!
Hazing is moronic. The presumed value of it is to create a sense of belonging and loyalty to the group, but the same techniques apply to kidnappers and their victims. The problem with hazing is that it cannot be controlled. Hazing seems to proliferate at institutions of education and religion as well as the military, the personnel of which seem to think and act as if they are not bound by the law that would apply to any other organization. It is their insular thinking that contributes to the perpetuation of hazing which would be called "bullying" by any other standard.
If schools in particular are really concerned about hazing and if students subjected to it are serious about stopping it, the surest way to end it would be to file a police report and to press for criminal prosecution. It only takes one or two people being convicted and sentenced to stop it in its tracks. To press for one's right to be free of intimidation and physical harm, however, would also end one's likelihood of being able to participate in academic extracurricular activities that wink at hazing. Schools don't welcome the police, and students don't seem to welcome them either. They want to have their rights protected, but they don't want "outsiders" such as the police holding them to society's standards for personal and institutional conduct.
The sexual abuse scandals in the Roman Catholic church and the military's separate legal system illustrate that they believe that the systems of jurisprudence do not apply to them, but schools harbor the same notions. They have their own codes of ethics that allow them to expel students from a program of study that seem to ignore any obligation to observe the requirements of the nation's body of contract law. In the name of academic freedom, they harbor persons who engage in what could only be described as sedition. Their campus police pass out parking citations which frequently can only be dismissed by paying a fine to the school and not to any traffic court. In essence, they act as if they are a separate country within our national boundaries much like native American tribes, with the exception that they have no treaties or agreements in effect that grant them such special immunity from ensuring that things like due process and provision of competent legal representation are done when persons are accused of breaking the "law" of the school.
If schools are serious about stopping hazing, they need to start acknowledging hazing for what it actually is - harassment and mayhem. In my days as a student, our little men's glee club compelled students to smoke cigars until they vomitted and drink until they passed out. It passively stood by while new members who were uncooperative with others' efforts to intimidate them were physically abused and publicly humiliated, defamed, and slandered. It even trashed the inside of a bus owned by an outside private company and expected that the transport company would eat the cost of refurbishing because the damage was done during a hazing ritual. Place those same actions - the slander, the intimidation, the damage to property, the physical abuse - in any other context, and the actors would have been tried and imprisoned and then dragged through civil court to recover monetary damages.
It is time for educational institutions to grow up a bit. Just because they educate people does not give them a pass from having to adhere to and to be subject to the laws that everyone else must follow. Students don't have a special right to break the law with impunity just because it is done on a college campus. Schools need to reiterate that hazing is a criminal activity, that it won't be tolerated, that it will be reported to the police, that it will be prosecuted in criminal court, and that if convicted, a student will not be graudated from a school but will instead emerge from a different institution many years later as an ex-felon.
I don't follow the rationale of firing the band director because some students decided to haze another student! I guess if the fox stole one of your chickns, you'd kill the dog! Then you investigate and find that the fence fell down! Makes no sense whatsoever. I guess they aree feeling the heat from this tragic incident already and they feel the need to chop off a few heads before gathering any facts! Sort of like firing a rifle, then after its fired, aim i at the target!
I am certain that they needed to get the autopsy results to find out if the cause is some undiagnosed underlying problem. It seems like these days people jump to conclusions without having complete information. I think the university should reconsider their actin until after the results come back! red
Why was a 26 year old in a college marching band?
Hazing has been outlawed for a few decades now. If that group of college men and women did haze then they should be suspended at the least and dismissed from the college all together with no chance of returning. You attend college to learn and grow not to become a victim of violence and intimidation. Even the band leader was responsible for the actions of those he leads so his dismissal was not out of the ordinary. At least the school had the courage to rid themselves of all of those involved which is what should have happened. I have known colleges to close ranks and protect professors who were guilty of a lot more such as fraud. I applaud the actions of FAMU. No one is above the law.