Father: ‘Hazing has been covered up’

[that damnYOGI....]

http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/family-of-famu-drum-1243488.html

Family of FAMU drum major calls for culture change after son's death
By Ernie Suggs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The family of the Florida A&M University drum major who died last week after a performance is calling for change in the culture they say killed their son.

"We want to call attention to a culture that cost the life" of Robert Champion, said the family's attorney, Christopher Chestnut. He called it "a culture of cover-up. ... Hazing has been covered up at FAMU for generations."

The parents, Pam and Robert Champion Sr., gathered Monday at a DeKalb County funeral home while preparing for a Wednesday service.

Champion, 26, who grew up in DeKalb, died Nov. 19.

Champion was found unresponsive in the back of a parked band bus in Orlando, after FAMU's football team lost the Florida Classic to archrival Bethune-Cookman University.

He was vomiting and complaining of shortness of breath. The clarinet player turned drum major collapsed and was pronounced dead after being taken to a nearby hospital.

Authorities and university officials said he was hazed, but no official cause of death has been released. The Orange County medical examiner's office has said it could take months before an official cause of death is determined. Hazing is a third-degree felony in Florida, but no one has been charged or arrested in connection with the case.

"Hazing needs to stop. We need to put it out there and let people know," Pam Champion said. "No one wants to be standing in my shoes."

Chestnut, the lawyer, said the family is filing a civil lawsuit in Florida. They did not announce a monetary figure.

"Everything points to hazing," Chestnut said.

Julian White, the longtime FAMU band director, was dismissed last week, and has hired an attorney to try and win his job back.

Although commonly considered a fraternity and sorority problem, hazing has seeped into band culture. A turning point came around 1990, when the nine black Greek organizations formally banned pledging as a form of joining an organization and installed a milder intake program.

that's all...

[The Prophet]

 

[Cholly]

Wonder what he will say if it turns out his son was hazed as part of an initiation into an organization that had NOTHING to do with FAMU or the marching band? 

[QueHBCUFan]

Cholly, how likely is it that the results will turn out as you suggest?  Contrary to what you believe, I wonder what you will say if it turns out that he was indeed hazed as part of an initiation process into an organization that HAD EVERYTHING TO DO WITH FAMU AND THE MARCHING BAND

[Capler]

Wonder what he will say if it turns out his son was hazed as part of an initiation into an organization that had NOTHING to do with FAMU or the marching band?  

What are you saying Cholly? A band of gypsies slipped onto FAMU's bus and decided to hold it's initiation right then and there?  

[The Prophet]

Denial

[Jaggrad]

Denial

My My My
 

[Platinum_Sound]

Cholly, how likely is it that the results will turn out as you suggest?  Contrary to what you believe, I wonder what you will say if it turns out that he was indeed hazed as part of an initiation process into an organization that HAD EVERYTHING TO DO WITH FAMU AND THE MARCHING BAND

  Well.........

[DRUMMA1]

Wonder what he will say if it turns out his son was hazed as part of an initiation into an organization that had NOTHING to do with FAMU or the marching band? 

What are you saying Cholly? A band of gypsies slipped onto FAMU's bus and decided to hold it's initiation right then and there? 

I think that Cholly is making reference to RDO (Red Dawg Organization), which is an organization for Georgia bandsmen who are members of out-of-state HBCU bands programs.

[soflorattler]

How many here knew that there is video evidence of a group of people going back out to bus at the hotel AFTER the band members had all disembarked and gone into the hotel? Hotel security cam evidence, AND interior bus cam evidence?

 

[DRUMMA1]

How many here knew that there is video evidence of a group of people going back out to bus at the hotel AFTER the band members had all disembarked and gone into the hotel? Hotel security cam evidence, AND interior bus cam evidence?

 

Are you saying that the band members got off the bus, went back to the bus, and Robert Champion was killed at that time?  I'm sure said video will show the faces of the band members.  These band members were still the responsibility of Florida A&M University.

[soflorattler]

How many here knew that there is video evidence of a group of people going back out to bus at the hotel AFTER the band members had all disembarked and gone into the hotel? Hotel security cam evidence, AND interior bus cam evidence?

 

Are you saying that the band members got off the bus, went back to the bus, and Robert Champion was killed at that time?  I'm sure said video will show the faces of the band members. 

Warrant were issued and they began picking them up today...

These band members were still the responsibility of Florida A&M University.

There is no band, football team, university group in the world that has 24 hr guards on their students during trips at away function, who BTW, are ADULTS! But you can continue your sick crusade against FAMU. You reveal much about you pathological makeup to many here...

[DRUMMA1]

There is no band, football team, university group in the world that has 24 hr guards on their students during trips at away function, who BTW, are ADULTS! But you can continue your sick crusade against FAMU. You reveal much about you pathological makeup to many here...

1.  Those students were still under the supervision of Florida A&M University.

2.  I hope that I have revealed my zeal against dumbassness and niggadom at every level.  Thanks, sir.

[soflorattler]

2.  I hope that I have revealed my zeal against dumbassness and niggadom at every level.  Thanks, sir.

Then I submit that you reveal yourself....sir...

Carry on...

[DRUMMA1]

2.  I hope that I have revealed my zeal against dumbassness and niggadom at every level.  Thanks, sir.

Then I submit that you reveal yourself....sir...

Carry on...

And I submit that you stop enabling FAMU...sir.