FAMU Band to get one year death penalty?

SilverEagle · May 14, 2012

Who would have ever thought that a college Band would ever be suspended.....geezz.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/14/famu-hazing-investigation_n_1515076.html

cwb · May 14, 2012

Happened to the TSU Ocean of Soul in the early 90s. Shoplifting during trip in Japan. Don't know if any hotel towels were involved.

UNTflyer · May 14, 2012

The brutal band hazing that occurs at Florida A&M has been known for years. Chains, brass knuckles, 2x4s... things that would normally get you a felony assault charge or even attempted murder.

It actually took somone dying before anyone did a thing about it, and even then you have trustees who were worried about TICKET SALES!!!

Are you not worried about what type of human beings you are shaping into future leaders???

letsgiveacheer · May 14, 2012

This is awful and I understand it goes on in many bands. Unfortunately, unless the schools take charge and investigate, nothing will happen until the next time someone gets hurt. I hope people go to jail.

Quoner · May 15, 2012

Most egregious error by a band focused on packing in a crowd since Great White.

forevereagle · May 15, 2012

Ammons suspended the band soon after Champion's death. Last week it was revealed that 101 band members of over 400 on the roster were not FAMU students at the time of the incident.

This is an interesting discovery. They had to know that a quarter of the band weren't students.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7928327/florida-rattlers-marching-band-stay-suspended-2012

letsgiveacheer · May 15, 2012

I was in the Va Honor band and William Foster who was the long time director at FAMU was the guest conductor. This must have been 1968 or 69 before all the schools were integrated. Anyway, the band was almost all white but Dr. Foster quickly gained the respect of all the students. He was a great musician and I remember thinking what a kind and gentle man he was.

Now I learn that the hazing started under his watch and he at least turned a blind eye. This is very disappointing to me even now. He is dead now but the director who replaced him and just retired should never have been allowed that option. He should have been fired.