As I had predicted, based on all other hazing deaths, the top perpetrator in the death of Robert Champion received but one year’s sentence today from Judge Lebut, ignoring the State’s recommendation of imposing a nine-year penalty.
Author: Hank Nuwer
Journalist Hank Nuwer tracks hazing deaths in fraternities and schools. Nuwer is the Alaska author of Hazing: Destroying Young Lives; Broken Pledges: The Deadly Rite of Hazing, High School Hazing, Wrongs of Passage and The Hazing Reader. In April of 2024 and April 2025 , the Alaska Press Club awarded him first place in the Best Columnist division.
He has written articles or columns on hazing for the Sunday Times of India, Toronto Globe & Mail, Harper's Magazine, Orlando Sentinel, The Chronicle of Higher Education and the New York Times Sunday Magazine. His current book is Hazing: Destroying Young Lives from Indiana University Press. He is married to Malgorzata Wroblewska Nuwer of Fairbanks, Alaska. Nuwer is a former columnist for the Greenville (Ohio)Early Bird and former managing editor of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner in Alaska.
Nuwer was named the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists columnist of the year in 2021 for his “After Darke” column in the Early Bird. He also won third place for the column in 2022 from the Indiana chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He and his wife Gosia, recently of Union City, Ind., have owned 20 acres in Alaska for many years. “The move is a sort-of coming home for us,” said Nuwer. As a journalist, he’s written about the Alaskan Iditarod sled-dog race and other Alaska topics. Read his musings in his blog at Real Alaska Daily--http://realalaskadaily.com
Jessie Baskin, 22, faces a judge’s sentencing today in the death of Robert Champion. Historically, judges have threatened long sentences during pre-sentencing meetings, but no sentence in a college hazing death has ever resulted in more than a two-year felony conviction. The judge in this case has said nine years is possible. My guess is that the actual sentence will be between a year and a day for manslaughter and three years. Five years would send a harsh message. With all the other defendants in the FAMU hazing death getting light punishments, I’m expecting more in the way of a lighter punishment for Baskin. –Hank Nuwer, Moderator.
High Point University (North Carolina)
Delta Sigma Phi
Concussion leading to aspiration of stomach contents, then death.
The parents of Robert Eugene Tipton, Jr. have sued the pledge-master of Delta Sigma Phi, son of school president Nido Qubein, alleging that an alleged attack on their son was during a 2012 hazing session gone violent, mainly by a single additional member who allegedly attacked Tipton in a rage. Alsoinvolved in the suit is a university security officer. The parents allege a coverup and destruction of evidence.
The parents of Robert Eugene Tipton, Jr. have sued the pledge-master of Delta Sigma Phi, son of school president Nido Qubein, alleging that an alleged attack on their son was during a hazing session gone violent, mainly by a single member who allegedly attacked Tipton in a rage. Also involved in the suit is a university security officer. The parents allege a coverup and destruction of evidence. Tipton suffered a concussion and died from aspiration of contents in his stomach.