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Day of Reckoning: Accused in Robert Champion Band hazing death at FAMU could get record sentencing in a hazing death

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.

By 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. Read his musings in his blog at Real Alaska Daily--http://realalaskadaily.com

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