Karsceal Turner – I Got Next
Special to West Orlando News Online
It’s been a year and a half since there was any hum of music in the Foster-Tanner Music Building located on the campus of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). The building once boasted the largest band room in the southeastern U.S., but the hazing death of 26-year-old Robert Champion after the 2011 Florida Classic left the institution, its alumni and the HBCU Marching band culture reeling in the aftermath of the incident which was ruled a homicide, and 14 band members have been charged with felonies. Several have entered pleas of no contest, while the others have pleaded not guilty.
The first of gavels levied against the University came in the form of the indefinite suspension of the storied marching band, followed by the firing of then band director Julian White, and subsequently the resignation of then president James Ammons. Champion’s parents later filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the university and felt a $300,000 settlement offer was an insult and rejected it according to the family attorney Christopher Chestnut, who did not say what amount might be acceptable. The offer, was the maximum the university could offer without special approval from the state Legislature.
As tragic as the death was because of the accepted hazing culture uncovered at FAMU, there were lobbyists who insisted on the immediate return of the marching band. After all, the band brings notoriety, prospective students, and revenue in terms of paid appearances and sponsorships.
Return of the “Marching 100”
After a great deal of soul-searching and prayer, the university’s interim president, Larry Robinson, has lifting the band’s suspension. Robinson said he is confident that the university had taken precautions to avoid repeating the circumstances surrounding the death of Robert Champion in 2011.
Pamela and Robert Champion Sr. remain grounded in their belief that FAMU is not taking the incident as seriously as it should. Only a parent can truly appreciate their feelings. No parent should endure such pain. In the midst of their continued pain, thousands hail and will revel in the return of the famed HBCU Marching band. The excitement in the air goes without mentioning. The trash-talk has already begun on the social networks. FAMU will feel the need to prove they’re back and B-CU will feel the need to prove they still got it! In the midst of all this let us not lose perspective on the fact that Robert won’t take the field because he’s on duty in the band above.
New Director knows what he’s getting into
FAMU named Dr. Sylvester Young its new director of marching and pep bands in May. Dr. Young graduated from FAMU in 1969 and is the former band director of Ohio University. As a former band member, Young knows of the Marching 100’s deep traditions first-hand. Young is determined to bring the band back stronger than ever and move the music program forward.
The good doctor has emphasized zero tolerance for hazing. “A lot of those situations are states of minds of the students. We are somewhat changing that already just through plain conversation with the students, getting to know them and putting them on the spot as to why they’re here. The word is out,” he said.
B-CU welcomes “100” back with open arms
Since the tragedy over a year and a half ago, Bethune-Cookman University director of bands Donovan Wells has focused intently on the family of Robert Champion and also empathized the losses FAMU suffered as an institution.
“We as band directors are all great friends, we actually get along extremely well,” he remarked. “When one member of our extended family is hurt, we all hurt.”
As a band director with decades of experience, Wells also identified the incident as a “Black eye” on HBCU bands as a whole. “Champion’s death was tough to swallow and put a black eye on HBCUs and a blacker eye on HBCU marching bands.”
“Each time something unfolded, it made the national news on most media outlets – from the president’s resignation to the band director retiring. Those were tough blows for everyone, but the toughest blow was to the Champion family and to the institution of FAMU – not just the band, but the school,” Wells said. “No band director can sit up here and say they will never have a hazing problem. Just as no mayor or police chief can say they will eradicate crime – so I will never do that.”
“In 17 years, we’ve had one complaint of an alleged hazing complaint filed with campus security. Other cities with bands have files upon files on incidents with the marching band,” he said
Wells also said he is quick to hand out fines to enforce the non-hazing policy adopted nationwide.
“In times when any wrongdoing was even suspected, we levied heavy financial fines and it hits home like nothing else. Students really get the message. I will sacrifice one student to save the entire band if it comes to that. I will not hesitate to put out anyone who disrupts the chemistry of this band,” he added.
We pray that everyone has a safe fun-filled football season free of any incidents. Extended prayers go out to the Champion family.
FAMU takes the field September 1 against the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State University in the SWAC/MEAC Challenge in Orlando.
B-CU begins play the same date with a rematch against Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN.
