What has to happen to prevent hazing deaths? Author Ricky Jones tells the Orlando Sentinel

Here is the link to the opinion column by Dr. Jones

 

We must engage it because lives are at stake, but talking about the culture of hazing among Greek-letter organizations and groups (such as the FAMU band) that mimic them is distasteful. This is so because Greeks, members of hazing bands and their advocates are so immersed in self-importance and group narcissism that they seem to believe the world revolves around them and their organizations.

When challenged, they rarely intelligently argue facts. Contrarily, they quickly sink to ad hominem attacks that do not merit the attention of sensible people. They usually don’t do so in person, but through the anonymity of the Internet, they puff their chests, blame injured and dead victims for choosing to be beaten, and brand anyone who opposes them and the cultures of their organizations as uninformed, not “real” members, haters or sellouts. Even death does not stop them.

FAMU is a sad case study of this toxic reality. This is the same school that had members of Kappa Alpha Psi jailed for hazing in 2007. Less than a month before Champion’s death, fellow FAMU band member Bria Hunter was hazed so badly that she suffered severe bruising, blood clots, and a broken thigh. This incident was reported to the university. Weeks before Champion was killed, 26 band members were suspended because of hazing by now-retired band director Julian White. Others at the university obviously knew about the suspensions.

With this and hazing incidents in the band spanning over a decade under consideration, how in the world is it possible that band activities were not shut down before Champion’s death? This is administrative neglect of the highest order.