A former member of the Florida A&M University marching band accused in the hazing of a female clarinet player last year has completed a diversion program offered by the State Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors dismissed the misdemeanor hazing charge against James R. Harris III, 23, on Aug. 1, according to court records in Tallahassee.
He was one of three band members charged in the hazing of Bria Hunter, a first-year band member treated at a hospital after being beaten during a meeting of the “Red Dawg Order,” a FAMU band subgroup from Georgia. Read about the other two defendants.
Here is more on the KFIR Brigade incident
Excerpt:
One of the combatants from the victim’s company revealed there is a bond of silence surrounding hazing cases. “Veteran soldiers don’t have many privileges so they set seniority rules,” he said. “In this case, they definitely went too far.”
The victim’s mother said she never dreamed her son would be beaten by his fellow soldiers. “These guys need to be put away for a long time. I would even say they should be expelled from the army and serve their time in a civilian prison, military prison is a picnic for them,” she said. “My son could have died there. This could have ended much worse and they must be held accountable.”
An initial investigation revealed this was not the first time the suspects were involved in a hazing. Some of the suspects claimed that even commanders took beatings from them and that everything “was done in good spirit and with no one complaining.”
The suspects refused to comment on the allegations but claimed they have evidence proving hazing is a common practice in the company and accepted by the commanders. Some said that hazing was done when soldiers wanted to showcase their physical strength. “We would tell those soldiers to show their six-pack or muscles and then punch them. Nothing was coerced, everything was voluntary.”
The mother of one suspect said, “I won’t let my son, who spent two and a half years of his life in the most elite combat unit, to be turned into a scapegoat. Everyone knows these things are in jest and there is no intent to harm. This is definitely not a one-time incident. It happened over and over again.”
Shai Roda, one of the suspects’ attorneys claimed the exact opposite. “This is a single case that went out of proportion. My client’s name was mistakenly linked to the case.”
Add Israelto the long list of nations with brutal hazing incidents reported over the years. Canada, Russia, Philippines, United States, Germany, former East Germany….On and on. Moderator Excerpt: Ten combat soldiers suspected of beating and injuring a comrade were charged with aggravated assault and conduct unbecoming on Thursday.
The victim, a rookie soldier, was attacked for daring to touch the “seniority stick” – a bar with special markings which indicate the seniority of combatants who are soon to be discharged.
According to the indictment, one of the defendants threatened the victim days prior to the attack. “I love you, but you’ll pay for this,” the defendant was quoted as telling the victim after the latter made the so-called misstep……The rookie managed to get up and reach his room, but failed to climb up to his top bunk. The following morning, when he got up to report for patrol duty, he fell unconscious. He was taken to the Haemek Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with a ruptured spleen.
Moderator: As I work on the new book on hazing, I am struck how the preventable deaths at this all-day festival remind me of the inability of bystanders to step in (hazing or any party situation) when potential “victims” are too far gone to help themselves. If the alcohol and drug culture is so rampant, why aren’t pundits doing more to question presidential candidates why they aren’t more involved in these seemingly overwhelming issues involving national deaths due to alcohol and drugs? Not BLAMING the candidates, mind you. Just asking them to come up with solutions. That should be part of their mission, don’t you think? Moderator
Excerpt follows:
MANSFIELD — Officials tonight said the rise in heavy drinking and drug use at the Comcast Center, where two men died last month of apparent overdoses, reflects a broader cultural problem and said the arena’s security staff has worked well with the local police force to try to mitigate the effects of reckless behavior.
“It’s an alcohol-soaked society,” said Mansfield Police Chief Arthur O’Neill during a public meeting of the Board of Selectmen at Town Hall.
O’Neill said police and security staff at the center are working closely together to limit the repercussions of substance abuse at center events.
“We have a well oiled machine down there between our police officers” and the security staff, he said.
O’Neill also expressed skepticism that drug-sniffing dogs could be effective at the center, since they are only able to work for about 20 minutes at a time.
“It would take dozens of dogs,” O’Neill said, adding that drug dogs can sometimes attack people.
Tonight’s discussion came after Connor Brandon, a 19-year-old from Acton, and Dominic Impelizzieri, 27, of Syracuse, N.Y., both died of drugs and alcohol in their systems at an all-day festival at the center on July 26.
Authorities said drug and alcohol use was rampant at the show, and 19 other people were hospitalized for drug-related problems. Some patrons took powerful combinations of ecstasy, PCP, and marijuana, officials said.
Less than a week later, police arrested 35 people at a hip-hop show and took scores more into protective custody for drunkenness at the center, which has a capacity of about 20,000.