“
...It
takes more than one year to“ change over a century of tradition.
I
WORDS BY ITOPIA MILLS
DESIGN BY ADAM HARDY
One year later, the death of drum major Robert Champion is still changing the “culture” of Florida A&M University’s campus.
t is fall 2010. The rhythm of the drums, trombones and other instruments fill the stadium. Students, faculty and alumni dance in sync to the familiar tunes of “Mr. Ice Cream,” “S.O.S.” and other recognizable tunes performed to perfection by the incomparable Marching 100. The school spirit is indescribable. Fast-forward two years and the same stadium is filled with students, faculty and alumni dancing and clapping along to the songs of the DJ. The absence of the Marching 100 is like the awkward elephant in the room. The area where the band used to stand and play in unison is now filled with band members playing imaginary instruments to familiar melodies. Since the death of 26-year-old drum major Robert Champion, the campus has entered a restructuring phase. Administrators searched for creative ways to reiterate the zero-tolerance policy against hazing. Mandatory anti-hazing workshops, ceremonies, leadership academies, town hall meetings and other events were hosted throughout the semester to create an anti-hazing pledge for the university. Committing to end the culture of hazing on campus may create an authentic and promising look for the media but some say it is hurting student life. The Office of Student Activities has implemented necessary changes, requirements and training courses to promote the antihazing pledge, which remind students that life is more precious than the pressures of your peers, bullying, intimidation and other acts of hazing. Champion was a drum major in the Marching 100 who was allegedly killed from acts of a hazing ritual while the band was in Orlando for the Florida Classic. Champion’s death uncovered the controversial topic of hazing and changed the course of the university to an unimaginable extent. Months later, administration took the necessary steps to work towards positive digression from the tragic death and trauma by reconstructing what many people believe to be the root of hazing – the intake process. In August, OSA released a revised version of “The Fang,” also known as the Florida A&M University Student Handbook. The changes will apply to the students until at least 2014.
“The Fang” explains the changes that apply to student life. Beginning in the fall of 2012, students must “earn 12 or more semester credit hours, maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA, earn at least 30 hours of community service, and attend an eight-week Personal and Professional Development Training course or workshop. The training courses and workshops are offered through the Office of Student Activities.” For social and service Greek letter organizations, the membership intake process has also changed. A student must earn at least 30 hours of community service, maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA and have no record of disciplinary action. The start and end period of each intake process has been left for the university to decide with designation of how the 28-day process will take place. With all of these rules and regulations governing these organizations, how much individualization and power do they have left? Banning organizations from conducting traditional membership intake rituals is an attempt to break any activity that may involve hazing but it is also reshaping their identities and traditions. Jazmine Harris, a third-year business administration student from Chicago, Ill., is a member of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity Inc. The fraternity has a membership intake process because they’re looking for the cream of the crop. “It helps our organization grow,” says Harris. “The people [in AKPsi] are leaders in other organizations on campus as well as in the classroom. Every member has to have at least a 3.0 GPA.” The changes to membership intake are a direct result of the hazing incident that occurred this past year. But, will these changes actually end hazing? Studies show that hazing is a result of a “victim’s” lack of self-esteem, troubled past life or need of acceptance. “Hazing does not end over night,” says Jasmine Louis, a fourth-year English education student from Orlando. “What happened to Champion is a tragedy, and I commend the school for trying to make a change. But, it takes more than one year to change over a century of tradition. Hazing is something that has been present on the campus for so long. It’ll take more than workshops or administration changes to end it.”