13 People Charged For Beating FAMU Band Member to Death in Hazing Case

May 2nd, 2012 - By Victoria Uwumarogie

Robert Champion and family - Source: wsbtv.com

Not really sure when those with positions of authority in these organizations and bands will get the memo that hazing is wrong on so many levels and needs to stop. But maybe, just maybe, after the death of Robert Champion and the charges brought against 13 members of FAMU’s legendary band, people will learn.

Champion, a 26-year-old drum major at FAMU, was beaten to death aboard a chartered bus after a performance last fall. Band members beat Champion severely, leaving large bruises on his chest, arms, shoulders and back, according to the AP. Witnesses to the beating say Champion might have been targeted not only because he was against members partaking in hazing, but also because he was gay, and was a candidate for the role of chief drum major.

The 13 individuals had the charges brought against them today, five months after the incident happened, and 11 out of the 13 people will face a hazing resulting in death charge, which can carry up to six years. The other two individuals will face misdemeanor charges for their role in Champion’s death. While the parents of the young man were pleased that charges were being filed, they were disappointed that the charges were not more severe. The mother of Champion, Pam, told the AP, “I thought there would be more serious charges. I thought it should send a harsher message.” It seems the possibility of manslaughter and second-degree murder charges were shut down. But State Attorney Lawson Lamar said these charges weren’t sought because murder didn’t seem to be the motive, plus, there’s no evidence to support that thought:

“The testimony obtained to date does not support a charge of murder, in that it does not contain the elements of murder. We can prove participation in hazing and a death. We do not have a blow or a shot or a knife thrust that killed Mr. Champion. It is an aggregation of things which exactly fit the Florida statute as written by the Legislature.”

Because of the incident, the school has suspended the band, and Champion’s parents are even trying to sue the bus company for standing by and allowing the beating to happen–on the bus. But representatives of the company said the driver was not near the bus during the beating, and if he was, he wouldn’t have let it happen.

This is definitely a sad situation, and I hope the family can get some justice for Robert. Unfortunately, this has become far too common of a thing on college campuses. People hoping to get the shine of being a member of a prestigious band or having the chance to wear certain letters have been getting beat, run like mules, forced to drink to the point of alcohol poisoning and more for years now, and sometimes death is the result. Well a lot of the time actually. Look up names like Carson Starkey, Michael Starks, Kenitha Saafir and Kristin High, Vann L. Watts, Michael Davis, Joseph Green–just to name a few names. While this might change the way FAMU and their band happen to do things, what’s it really going to take for students in these organizations and groups elsewhere to get the memo? If the death of someone innocent isn’t the glaring sign these students need, then what’s really left to get them to wake up?

How can schools step in more to stop hazing? Is it possible?

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  • Mystique

    When is this Hazing going to stop?  Maybe students should just fill out paperwork to join sororities instead of being hazed or going through some ritual. 

    • Bamablackdiamond

      They do fill out paper work now and bc of that u have a split in the organization. U r consider paper if u do not go underground and u do not received the same respect as the ones who went underground. They have been trying to get rid of hazing for a while and that was 95 when I was in college.

  • harlemQueen

    I wish somebody would put their hands on me.  I never was the type of person who felt the need to fit in or needed validation from anyone or anything.  If I was on that bus, it wouldn’t have went down like that. I can’t understand why they would beat this man to death.  They knew what they were doing.  They deserve 25 to life for using the college campus as an excuse to murder another black man.  Ignorant bastards deserve to have their teeth kicked in.  Unscrupulous motherfuckers didn’t even apologize to his family.  Somebody is going to wear their asses out in prison.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/RFTGIITFORQJU2DNAF6ANDYHYY ret2010

    bullying, hazing and excessive teasing happens in so many enivronments now days, to the young person and to any age person; jobs, schools, military, and in social organizations, neighborhoods. It is like a gang mentality and can sometimes not be a physical beat down but a mental or psychological beat down or attempted one anyway…stronger minds and body prevail and also the law prevails too. STOP IT PEOPLE OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES. It is wrong, makes no sense and anybody with low self esteem that feels they should beat down the esteem or body of another person is a coward with the behavior of a savage animal who needs taming. The law can definitely handle that I believe. Step up people and teach your family members, co-workers and fellow classmates to step up and out against this type of behavior. RIP Mr. Champion and may his family stay blessed. 

  • Tagirl

    Those 13 people just ruined their entire lives behind nonsense. Had I stayed in band in high school, FAM would’ve been at the top of my list. I grew up going to Florida Classic every year. I never thought about band hazing until reports started coming out. They act just like fraternities.  SMH.

    • Truth0312

      Correction, some of these bands, sororities, and fraternities act like gangs.  I thought you were in college to expand your horizons beyond the street mentality.  I remember a popular Black sorority on our campus was kicked off for a few years for hazing.  Also, my roommate pledged another a while later and I was dumbfounded as to some of the stuff they were putting her through.  I wasn’t willing to pay out of the nose for social validation, network connections, or live parties; just not my thing.  I’m not condemning them all but, clearly, this culture of abuse has got to be rooted out.  Our young people are in college to better themselves, not debase themselves and other folks.  Rest in peace to Robert and I’ll continue to pray for his family.  

  • L-Boogie

    Can’t change the world.  Let that utopian ideal go.

  • Mls2698

    Hazing is a form of bullying, and people need to think about what they are sacrificing to be a part of something. Life is precious, and if people have to beat you to become a part of their organization, they are nothing more than an organized gang. Also, college is supposed to be an uplifting learning experience. Why would anyone subject themselves to others as if they are slaves?