Author: Hank Nuwer

Today’s fast fact.  Since 2004, 16 of 20 collegiate hazing deaths or 80 percent have had alcohol as a factor or leading factor in the tragedies. Source: Hank Nuwer

Here is a breakdown on hazing incidents–Moderator Hank Nuwer

First 100 years: 1838-1938

Total Deaths: 26

PRIMARY CAUSE

Alcohol-related 0

Abandoned in country 1

Drowned 2

Details unknown, mysterious circumstances, perhaps a coverup 3

Vehicle Accident 2

Blindfolded and killed in accident 1

Post-hazing fatal illness 6

Non-affiliated bystander killed  1

Electrocuted 1

Heart Failure 1

Beaten or crushed 5

Throat slit by broken bottle 1

Revenge or self-defense killing during a hazing 1

Longest Period without a hazing death prior to 1939: 1847 death (none in 1848) to 1872 (death in 1873)

1940 – 2012

PRIMARY CAUSE of death listed below. In many cases it is unknown if alcohol had been a factor. Where known, I have indicated same. First alcohol-related hazing death: 1940 (more than 100 years since hazing death). Seventy of 137 deaths by hazing had alcohol as a contributing factor; in the other 67 alcohol either was unreported or not involved.

40 Primarily an alcohol overdose:

1 Scavenger hunt

1 Buried alive

1 Burned to death

2 Water torture (heavy alcohol use reported in both pledge periods)

11 Falls  (nine had alcohol as factor)

6 beatings

10 killed during dropoffs (alcohol factor in four deaths)

2 stabbings

15 drownings (nine had alcohol as known factor)

3 post-hazing illnesses

2 choked to death on forced food substances

3 suicides post-hazing

24 auto accidents (5 with alcohol known to be a factor; alcohol in fatalities wasn’t reported as much in earlier years)

10 heat stroke or heart failure related to unusual exertion

3 shot

1 misfired cannon during an otherwise benign initiation

1 electrocution

1 unknown cause (coroner could not determine cause of death)

Breaking news: sworn statement released giving chilling decision on Robert Champion’s choice to go through deadly gauntlet on FAMU Bus C http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-09-04/features/os-famu-hazing-robert-champion-friend-20120904_1_band-members-keon-hollis-robert-champion

Excerpt: Hollis’ version of events leading to the tragic scene aboard Bus C on Nov. 19 is contained in a three-page, typewritten statement that the Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s Office made public Tuesday. It’s the most detailed accounting of the thought process that went into Champion’s decision to put himself through the ritual beating.

Given under oath, Hollis’ statement also describes in troubling detail the beating that he and Champion took that night. It is part of a 104-page probable-cause document that outlines the state’s criminal case against Dante Martin, the unofficial “president” or leader of Bus C.

Martin recently became the 12th member of the band to be charged with felony hazing in connection with Champion’s death.

The 11 others charged with felonies in Champion’s death were arrested in May. Two other former band members are charged with misdemeanor hazing.

In his statement, Hollis, 22, describes how his friendship with Champion, 26, evolved and why they felt compelled to submit to the hazing ritual together after the Florida Classic football game.

“We were ‘Squad Dogs,’ a term used to define the people who made drum major together. So that meant we were our brother’s keeper,” wrote Hollis, who was Champion’s roommate during the weekend in Orlando.
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Hollis also explained the various reasons why he thought some band members disrespected them.

“Many people in the band were already in Bus C so those individuals would give us the hardest time and disrespect simply because we did not cross yet,” he wrote.

Hollis said he did not want to be involved in the hazing after the football game because he and some other band members were going out that night. But Martin reminded Hollis that the Classic, FAMU’s final football game of the year, was a last chance. If they didn’t cross Bus C then, they would have to wait until next year.

After performing at the Classic, the two men changed clothes in their hotel room and reluctantly agreed to cross Bus C.

“I asked him if he was sure he wanted to do it and he stated, ‘Yea I just want to get it over with,’ ” Hollis wrote. “So then I took a shot of vodka and I and Robert went downstairs …”

Hollis explained how he boarded a bus that was “very cold” from the air conditioning and “very dark” because it was parked in a dimly lit lot behind the Rosen Plaza hotel.

He described how he was instructed by Martin to sit with his head down on the left side of the bus and Champion was told to sit on the right as a young woman began taking her punishment in the Bus C ritual before them.

As the young woman made her way from the front of the bus to the back through a gauntlet of fists, feet, drum sticks, drum mallets and other items, Martin announced that Champion had not yet completed a different hazing ritual called the “hot seat.”

Typically, band members have to complete one or more rounds of the “hot seat” — being beaten while sitting — before they can cross Bus C.

Champion withstood that beating before Hollis was directed to start crossing. He described the difficulty of moving through a crowd of fellow band members who were trying to beat him, hold him back and force him to the floor.

He described Champion’s struggle to make it to the back. At one point, Champion fell down and the crowd dragged him back to the front of the bus to start over. As Champion moved toward the back, two other drum majors started pulling Champion to help him along.

After the hazing, many band members returned to the hotel. After repeatedly vomiting in the parking lot, Hollis went to lie down in one of the hotel rooms.

That is where he learned Champion was rushed to the hospital and later died.

Opinion by Hank Nuwer, Moderator

The Sacramento Bee article on how Fresno police are investigating the death of Philip Dhanens, 18, has me alternately applauding and critical.  On the one hand, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer has assigned a large number of investigators to the case. He’s also trying to figure how man under 21-year-olds were served, including the possibility of teens under 18 being given alcohol. That’s great.

But he’s waited an awful long time to start investigating. Deaths like this as shown by the badly botched Joe Bisanz death at Indiana University need to be addressed before fraternity members get crafted stories get straight, Theta Chi officials and lawyers advise, and evidence gets tossed.

Dyer said it is too early to determine if hazing occurred at the party. “We’ll be looking at whether or not there was any type of forced consumption of alcohol or whether it was strictly voluntary,” he said.

Nyet. While it may be “voluntary” drinking that pledges did, that does not alter the fact that hazing could have occurred. One of the reasons hazing cases so frequently slip through the cracks is that police chiefs and prosecutors are inadequately informed about hazing education.  In other words, like many coaches and fraternity members, it isn’t hazing if it doesn’t meet Chief Dyer’s personal definition of hazing.

The chief seems a dedicated personal servant in his actions so far. I’m confident he’ll go the extra mile to educate himself on conducting a hazing investigation based on the facts of the case, not his opinion. Here’s a starting point, Chief:

Myth #5: If someone agrees to participate in an activity, it can’t be considered hazing.

Fact: In states that have laws against hazing consent of the victim can’t be used as a defense in a civil suit. This is because even if someone agrees to participate in a potentially hazardous action it may not be true consent when considering the peer pressure and desire to belong to the group.

This death of Lambda Chi Alpha new member appears to be an accident.   This is such a sad tragedy if it were just a fun outing. I did write today to investigator Deitrick with a list of questions I respectfully submitted.  I know this reservoir well from my travel days. Condolences to family. http://www.ktvb.com/news/UI-student-drowns-in-Idaho-reservoir-168322726.html