Florida A&M Band Hazing: FAMU's famed marching band suspended for another year

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

FAMU marching band peformance

/ CBS

(CBS/AP) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Due to recent discoveries surrounding the hazing ritual that led to a student's death, President James Ammons told the school's board of trustees on Monday that he will suspend Florida A&M University's famed marching band until 2013.

Pictures: Florida A&M hazing case

Ammons suspended "The Marching 100" soon after Robert Champion's death in November, and will keep the band off the field for the upcoming school year. Eleven FAMU band members now face felony hazing charges stemming from Champion's death while two others face misdemeanor courts.

The announcement was made shortly after it was revealed last week that 101 band members - out of more than 400 - were not FAMU students at the time of the incident. Longtime band director Julian White, who had been fighting to keep his job throughout the ordeal, abruptly decided to retire last Thursday.

Meanwhile, top state officials including Gov. Rick Scott and the university system chancellor say the Marching 100 should remain sidelined until other ongoing investigations into the band are completed.

Complete coverage of the Florida A&M hazing case on Crimesider

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