ABC News: U.S.: Hazing Probed in Drum Major's Death

ABC News: U.S. // via fulltextrssfeed.com

Hazing Probed in Drum Major's Death Nov 23rd 2011, 13:39 Florida A&M University has suspended all performances of its famed marching band as police and the school investigate allegations that hazing contributed to the death of drum major Robert Champion this past weekend. Champion, 26, died shortly after performing with the band during halftime of the school's football game last Saturday night. He was found dead on the band's bus. Ginette Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the Orange County, Fla., sheriff's office, told ABC News that investigators are conducting interviews with members of the school band, football team, and others who were at the Florida Classic football game that night. Dr. James Ammons, president of the school officially known as Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, suspended the band's performances while the university creates a task force to look into reports of "unauthorized and questionable" activities within the 375-member marching band. Joseph Brown III/The Tampa Tribune/AP Photo Robert Champion, a drum major in Florida A&M... View Full Size Fraternity Branding: Ritual or Assault? Watch Video Sorority Girls Turn Suspects in Hazing Incident Watch Video Student Badly Burned in Hazing Incident Watch Video Ammons said the task force would "determine if there are patterns of inappropriate behavior within the culture of the band." Champion was found unresponsive on the bus in Orlando Saturday night, and later declared dead at Dr. Phillips Hospital in Orlando. Initial results from the medical examiner were inconclusive, Rodriguez said. The sheriff's department and school are awaiting autopsy results. Friends of Champion told investigators the drum major had trouble breathing before he lost consciousness. Champion was one of six drum majors for the band, which had been selected to march during President Obama's inauguration. FAMU Band Director Julian White was quoted in the school's newspaper saying, "He was a very fine drum major who was of excellent character and very trustworthy. I had not told him yet, but he was slated to be the head drum major next year." Champion's father, also named Robert, said his son was in good shape, WSBTV.com reported. "I think he was in pretty good condition. He ate and he trained and had no medical condition that I know of," Champion said of his son. Pamela Champion, Robert's mother, said she is waiting to hear back from the medical examiner before speaking publicly about her son. on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions