Showing posts with label Robert Champion Jr. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robert Champion Jr. Show all posts

Monday, March 31, 2014

Former Student sentenced in the Robert Champion Jr. Death Case


Some news on the Robert Champion Jr. case.

Quick recap: Robert Champion was a gay student that was hazed to death by members of the FAMU marching band. This case has been going on for a few years and now, we have some movement.

Jessie Baskin was sentenced to 51 weeks in the county jail, five years of probation, and 300 hours of community service for participating in Robert's death. This is the first case to come, others will possibly follow.

Fifteen others were charged with manslaughter. Seven have been sentenced with a mix of probation and community service. One of the former band members, Caleb Jackson is awaiting sentencing.

source

Monday, April 15, 2013

Parents and Students think FAMU's Anti-Hazing rules are Too Harsh... Child Please


After the death of Robert Champion Jr. and complains of other hazing incidents, Florida A&M University created stricter rules and penalties to end hazing. Which is good, most universities do that in order to avoid lawsuits and prevent student deaths. However, some silly students and their parents think it's too harsh.

Really, they think it's too harsh.
A handful of students, as well as the father of a FAMU student, pleaded Thursday with the university board of trustees to help them.
"The efforts put forth to eradicate the culture of hazing has gone overboard," Inita Knox told trustees during a meeting held on FAMU's campus. 
A FAMU sorority was investigated for hazing this past February after someone posted a complaint on the university anti-hazing website. The Tallahassee Democrat reported late last month that the Leon County Sheriff's Office decided against pursuing criminal charges in the case. But a report said pledges were forced to do exercise squats and memorize information about sorority members during the gathering, which occurred from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. That led to the university decision to dismiss several students from school - some for periods up to five years. 
Interim President Larry Robinson, who would not discuss any individual students, said that university officials discovered that the hazing allegations had "some merit."Robinson said the university had an obligation to look into what happened even though no criminal charges were filed. While the university would not provide exact details, the school's new anti-hazing administrator said that 15 students have been dismissed this year so far over hazing allegations. 
Knox, a pledge of Delta Sigma Theta, passed out during the session and was eventually interviewed by police. She told trustees that she had a heart condition and that she had tried to hand over that information to university officials but that she and other pledges had been given the "runaround." Reggie Sylvain drove from Atlanta to also complain to trustees. He told them that his daughter had been dismissed from school even though she was scheduled to graduate in a few weeks. Sylvain refused to talk to reporters after he addressed the university board. Another student said the experience has been a nightmare"
Maybe I'm crazy to think it's a great idea for a university to have strict rules on hazing. I guess since I'm an administrator at USC, I totally get that. But what I don't get are these folks whining about the issue. People have died from hazing. Lost their lives for pledging in a fraternity or a sorority, and in some cases a marching band. It's ridiculous to stand there and try to debate this. Lives, the university's integrity and the image of these groups are at stake here. I don't get why they are whining about this?

Hazing is a foolish, archaic act. When lives are lost over it; stop it, eradicate it immediately  Why risk your life or any lives for 3 Greek letters? It's not worth it. And to the parents and students who are complaining, sit your silly asses down and think about someone else for a change. In fact, think about Robert Champion Jr's family and all the other families that lost their children over hazing.

Just think about that.

source

Monday, April 8, 2013

FAMU Band Members pleading Not Guilty to the Manslaughter Charges in Robert Champion Jr.'s Death


The former FAMU band members are pleading not guilty to the manslaughter charges in the death of gay student Robert Champion Jr. They sent in written pleas against the charges that were increased from a third degree felonies to manslaughter. This has a long process since November 2011.

In a quick recap, Robert was killed during a hazing incident in a FAMU band bus in Orlando. Several students claim that Robert received the worst of the hazing due to his sexuality.

source

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Twelve Charged with Manslaughter for Robert Champion Jr.'s Death


Finally, some movement in the Robert Champion Jr. case. 12 FAMU band members were charged with manslaughter for Robert's death.

Here's more:
Twelve former band members originally faced felony charges in the brutal hazing case, but two of the defendants settled their cases by pleading no contest last year.

All of the remaining defendants, who still face felony hazing charges, will now be hit additionally with the more serious charge of manslaughter, said lawyer Craig Wellington.

"We were certainly not expecting that firework," Wellington said of the decision, adding that defense lawyers were alerted via email to the manslaughter charges minutes before stepping into an Orlando courtroom for the start of a status hearing in the case.
Quick recap: Robert died in a hazing ritual from his band members. Witness and students said that Robert received the worst of the hazing due to him being gay.

source

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Viktor is a small town southern boy living in Los Angeles. You can find him on Twitter, writing about pop culture, politics, and comics. He’s the creator of the graphic novel StrangeLore and currently getting back into screenwriting.