Susan ClaryPeople looked the other way for far too long – school administrators, professors, alumni and the students themselves. As they and others aware of the hazing watched over the years, the problem grew worse and worse.
They were voyeurs to what became a “rite of passage” for the Florida A&M University “Marching 100.” Most everyone affiliated with the band knew it was happening. But the band was nationally known for its strong sound and cutting edge dance. People bought football tickets just to see the Marching 100 perform.
There was so little oversight that students from Tallahassee Community College, Florida State University and elsewhere put on the green and orange uniforms for performances. Grades didn’t matter. When hazing complaints surfaced, they were quashed. Everyone looked the other way.
The hazing issue was downplayed until Nov. 19, 2011 when drum major Robert Champion, 26, was beaten to death in a bus after the Florida Classic in Orlando. The beating was part of an initiation ritual. Champion had avoided it until that night.
In the aftermath, many band members were charged with crimes related to his death. Fifteen were charged with manslaughter and felony hazing. Seven have accepted pleas and been sentenced to probation and community service. Another has pleaded, but hasn’t been sentenced, and the remaining are awaiting trial.
FAMU President James Ammons resigned. Band Director Julian White retired. Both fought to keep their jobs.
Larry Robinson, FAMU’s new president, said in late 2012 that he wanted to be known for “bringing hazing to its knees.” Sylvester Young, a 1969 FAMU graduate, was named band director. He vowed to change the culture of the band. Other sweeping changes followed.
Funding was provided to study hazing at FAMU and a website, StopHazingFAMU.com, makes it easier to report abuse. Two new positions were created – a special assistant to the president for anti-hazing and a music compliance officer. Titles such as “drum major” and “section leader” were retired to change the power structure within the band.
No longer can musicians from other schools perform with the “Marching 100.” Members must be enrolled fulltime, meet strict academic standards and can perform with the band no more than four fall semesters.
The band isn’t allowed to practice off-campus without supervision. As you can imagine, the numbers plummeted from more than 400 members to just 126.
When the FAMU “Marching 100” returned to the field Sunday after a nearly two-year absence, it was emotional for both the members and many in the audience. The performance itself, however, was underwhelming, which was to be expected since the band is so much smaller than it once was.
As the band marched into Orlando’s Citrus Bowl for the season opener, thousands of people stood and cheered. Many spectators had tears in their eyes as they bowed for a moment of silence to remember “all victims of hazing.”
FAMU’s band announcer said, “It’s a new day. Size does not matter. The sound is clear.”
It’s a shame it took a tragedy to bring people together for change – too little too late for Robert Champion.
