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Champion Case Leaves FAMU in Limbo

April 19th, 2012 by Mike Vasilinda

Five months ago today, a Florida A&M University Drum Major was beaten to death during a hazing incident on a band bus in Orlando. The FAMU Marching 100, along with it’s director, remain suspended.

Applications for fall admission at the school are down eight percent over last year. Students like Richard Ray say the mood on campus is much more somber. “I know a lot everyone, a lot of people, are still mourning, and still very hurtful about the death” says the Miami Sopomore.

Five months after Robert Champions death, two active investigations are unresolved. One is criminal, the other involves financial irregularities surrounding the bands trips. Attorney Chuck Hobbs says the delay in filing charges has left his client, Band Director Julian White and the University in Limbo.

“In order of importance, we want to find out the truth and make sure that those who committed the acts that killed Robert Champion are brought to justice.” Hobbs says justice for his client is second to finding out what happened to Champion.

We called the State Attorneys office to ask about progress in the CHampion case. They did not return our call.

Five months to the day after Champion’s death, a more recent high profile case prompted Governor Rick Scott to name a task force to study the Stand Your Ground law. We asked the Governor what he would say to the Champion family about the lack of progress in their son’s death. He responded “To Robert Champions family, our heart goes out. I mean, we don’t, none of us want to see any more hazing in this state.”

We also asked the Governor what the Department of Law Enforcement has told him regarding charges in the Champion case. He said “As soon as they are ready, it will come out.”

FAMU Administrators have said the band and it’s director will remain suspended until all investigations are complete. FAMU students are in their final week of class for the fall semester. Final Exams begin next week.

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