Hazing at FAMU exposes culture of silence

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Next year was supposed to be a big year for Florida A&M University. The nation’s largest historically black university is scheduled to celebrate 125 years since its founding in 1887.

Unfortunately, instead of talking about the many contributions its faculty and alumae have made to this country, the FAMU community will be consumed by the H and I words. Not high academic scores, not healthcare solutions for the underserved, but hazing and investigations.

As if to emphasize this sad fact, Tallahassee police on Monday arrested three band members and charged them with hazing for allegedly breaking the thigh of a female band member being initiated into the Red Dawg Order, a band club for Georgia natives.

And on Wednesday, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced that its investigation into the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion has led to the opening of another investigation — into fraud at the university.

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