Mother of Deceased FAMU Drum Major Says Son Was Murdered, Not ‘Just Hazed’
Robert Champion
Just days before 12 former members of FAMU’s famed Marching 100 band go on trial in connection with the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion, two of them sent a message to Champion’s parents during a taping of the TV talk show “Katie.” Keon Hollis, 22, and Rikki Wills, 24, each expressed regret for not stopping the hazing rituals and asked Champion’s parents to forgive them.
“I really ask for your forgiveness for what happened,” Hollis said. “And if there’s anything I can do, anything my family can do, please let me know.” Wills assured Champion’s parents that he tried to save their son’s life. ”If there’s anything else that I could’ve possibly done, I would’ve done it,” he said. “ I loved your son like a brother.” Champion’s mother, Pamela Champion, responded simply, “I have no hate.”
“You’ve got to wonder about the mentality of those people, because they’re not kids. … Then to justify it, they put the word hazing on top of it. Now it becomes, it’s just hazing. It’s murder. It actually is murder,” Pamela Champion said. “If you take away that word hazing off of it, what is it? That’s what needs to be looked at.” When asked if he regretted not doing anything to stop the incident, Champion’s roommate Wills – was also undergoing the hazing ritual that night – said, “I want to say yes, I regret not stopping it, but I can’t say that because if the band staff couldn’t stop it, if the university couldn’t stop it, or any officials, what is one student goin’ to do?” Hollis also commented saying, “It’s hard to lose somebody. Especially when you feel like you could’ve done something to stop it.” Hollis and Wills said they believe Champion wanted to earn his band mates’ respect, but his parents have a hard time believing that is the real reason. His mother said Champion never mentioned anything about possibly subjecting himself to the Marching 100′s hazing rituals.
The university, as well as the FAMU student newspaper, recently declared that Champion was at fault in his death, because he entered the bus willingly; however since the incident has gotten national exposure, the school’s band director and the university president have been fired, and the Marching 100 has been suspended. Some reports speculated that Champion might have been targeted for a more intense beating because he openly opposed hazing — which has long existed in the band — or because he was gay and a candidate for chief drum major. Champion’s parents dismiss the idea about their son’s s****l orientation as nonsense, but did acknowledge his opposition to hazing.
Champion, 26, a drum major for FAMU’s highly respected band, was killed in a band-hazing incident. The ritual, referred to as “Crossing Bus C,” required Champion to make it from the front to the back of a coach bus while battling an onslaught of physical beatings by his band mates. Champion was pulled into seats, as he took hits from fists, belts, and an orange parking cone. He was given a “hot seat” — in which members placed a blanket over him while continuing the beating. A bass drum mallet flying though the air hit Champion, while also fracturing his roommate’s finger caught in the cross fire, according to Willis.
After about 10 minutes, when Champion made it to the back of the bus, he complained he felt dizzy and hot, and had trouble breathing. “He kept saying ‘I’m hot, I’m hot, I’m hot,’” Wills said. Champion was jumping up and down saying, “can’t hear you” as his band mates tried to make sure we was ok, the two said during the taping. Champion began to vomit, then passed out. By the time an emergency call was placed, tenor drum section leader Henry Nesbitt told dispatchers Champion’s body was cold. Less than an hour later, at 10:36 p.m., he was pronounced dead.
The coroner in Orlando, Fla., ruled Champion’s death a homicide in December 2011, the result of “hemorrhagic shock due to soft tissue hemorrhage, incurred by blunt force trauma” and “extensive contusions and swelling over the upper chest and breast area & extensive contusions of the back and left flank.”
Champion’s parents are suing FAMU, in addition to the bus owner. “Everyone should be held accountable for what you did or did not do,” Pamela Champion said.
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Is this what we pay for when we send our kids off to get higher education? Sad
THE TRUTH ABOUT “SLAVING” AKA HAZING
When those so-called frat brothers or sorority sisters, HARM and BEAT their own kind, to become a member of a greek organization, it’s called HAZING! During our forced enslavement, the practice was called PROFESSIONAL SLAVE BEATING!
There were hundreds of professional slave beaters, that were hired by the slavemaker, who would pay them to beat another slave! The slavemaker would have them beat other slaves, who were “out of order” or if they were too fearful, or if they were too caring for one another! The enslaved brothers and sisters, were only allowed to show love and compassion, ONLY FOR THE SLAVE MAKER!
The slave maker would hire professional slave beaters, to beat the ‘unruly’ slaves; quickly and well, and when helladays, such as xmess, and thanksTAKING (thanksgiving) came around, the slavemaker would pass out fruits and veggies to the slaves, to make him look good! Since, he was not seen beating the ‘unruly’ slaves, he would be looked upon, by the other slaves, as a ‘good massa.’ A perfect example of this modern day slavery, are negroid athletes, who claim their caucasoid coaches, are their ‘good father role models.’
The “Overseerers or Bosses” [house negroes/snitches], who were normally, picked by the slavemaker would punish the field slaves, when they were out of place. But, he would bring in these professional slave beaters, who knew how to break down an ‘unruly’ slave because THEY ENJOYED BEATING THEM! {Sounds like these modern day “HAZERS”} Today, an Overseer or Boss, is called a foreman or superviser. This word ‘boss’ is used by arabs toward Black men when they enter their stores.
They always greet you with; ‘what’s up boss,’ which is a code word for Stupid Son-Of-a b***h, and is the mirror image of the word: BOSS! I ALWAYS put them in their place, especially when they enslaved us FIRST, and still are enslaving us in the uNUTed snakes of a******s, and in Afrika. Those pale Sudanese arabs, who have turned the Black Arabs against their own kind in Afrika. Doesn’t this sounds like, how these bootlicking negroids, here in the usa, have turned against BLACK PEOPLE?
Let’s get back to hazing and these professional slave beaters. The slavemaker would have a CONTRACT with the professional slave beater, and would tell him how many slashes, he wanted an enslaver to have, and what other forms of punishment to administer on him because, [he] also enjoyed watching it! This is why I always say; sports is slavery! The professional athlete is just like the professional slave beater…he has a CONTRACT with the owners of the team, and they they enjoy WATCHING negroid ball players ATTACK each other!!!
Think about the sports of boxing, football, basketball, track [NEWSFUN article where a modern day slave tried to sell himself over the internet to play sports]. Look at the other slave-like entertainment, that caucasoids control, then compare them, to a professional slave beater. The modern day football athlete, who beats, [code word for block], his Black opponent, while he protects a white boy, who happens to be the QB. This is also a prime example of a professional slave beater.
The same 'thinking' pattern of these 'owners', which are [modern day enslavers, who still control their Black ball player slaves], to fight, beat and maim one another, for his economic advantage. {MY SLAVE CAN BEAT YOUR SLAVE} is their slave-like mentality. These 'coaches' and 'trainers' are the 'bosses' and 'overseers' today.
NEGROIDS ARE STILL SLAVES, IN THE YEAR 2012 BECAUSE THEY ENJOY, BEATING, KILLING, LYING AND "HAZING" AKA "KILLING" ONE ANOTHER!
Don't HATE the Truth!
I am just going to say what folks have been thinking but have been skirting around. If this young man had been murdered in any other manner, the parents would be grieving but moving on with their lives. They have an opportunity to benefit from their gay son’s death and they are looking at banking. Pathetic. This young man knew the risks of being in this band and he knew of their rituals. So sad. The parents no longer have to live with the shame of having a gay son and are looking to bank and readjust their lives wealthier now that their shame is in the grave.
Umm… This is a problem all across America. I went to an HBCU. It’s a Huge problem. He isn’t the only person to die! Lolo you’ve obviously got a problem. What I’d like for you to do is put your kids in an HBCU band, have him or her hazed, and let’s just see what happens… Then we’ll come back a few years later.
This is a comment from a dyed in the wool, full fanged Rattler and FAMU alumni. I sincerely and truly regret what happened to Robert Champiion. I have the greatest simpathy for his family. In all due respect to them and Robert Champion, FAMU is not responsible for Champion’s death. Champion a grown man, allowed himself to be placed in a dangerous situation which resulted in his demise due to hazing by a group of irresponsible college students. Until a law is passed clearly outlawing the act of hazing or participating in hazing anywhere in the USA, it shall continue. The guilty parties in hazing are people who do it and people who willingly participate in it. An institution or organization is guilty and responsible for the results of hazing only if it condones or authories hazing.
The fallout of Penn St’s Sandusky Pederasty Scandal. College football legend Joe [Pa] Paterno image is being removed from many/most public places @ Penn St, the Penn St Football team has been penalized [I think they may even have forfeited some championship trophies], the ex-Penn St Pres was fired & faces prosecution. Yet Paterno nor the ex-Pres were directly implicated in Sandusky’s devious behavior, & the Kids currently on Penn St’s football team weren’t even @ Penn St when Sandusky was sexually assaulting under-age boys in Penn St’s lock-room showers. Penn St, Paterno & the ex-Pres are paying the price for what they FAILED TO DO Yet was They’re DUTY To STOP or At-Least REPORT- NOT for a crime they actually committed!
I don’t know if Champion knew what was up & agreed to it or if the ‘guys in the band’ sprung it on him by surprise, but even if he did reluctantly agree due to peer-pressure, that still doesn’t mean all the blame rests w him [IE: blame the victim]. There’s a s*x game where one partner [usually the woman] encourages her partner to choke her during s*x [supposedly it intensifies her o****m]. But obviously there’s a real risk that she could be strangled to death [DUHH! - like-wise for sadomasochistic s*x-games gone wrong using whips & chains]. SO- If that does occur do you think the cops & judge are going to let her partner walk by claiming ‘But She told me to choke her, but I didn’t mean to kill her, it was just a s*x-game that got out hand…’??? I DON’T THINK SO!!! YOU’RE GOING TO JAIL DUDE!!! For at-least negligent homicide or more likely man-slaughter!
IMO Every one that put a hand on Champion should face at-least aggravated assault & battery [up to man-slaughter] charges & the Band-leader(s) & staff should be fired if they knew this type of stuff went on regularly & didn’t make honest efforts to stop &/or report it. And if they knew [or should have known] that this particular [ultimately deadly] incident was going down & gave even their tacit approval, they should face assault & battery charges also. Time-out for this Hazing BS, in the hood it would be could GANG Initiation Rites!
When a person play in a band they are thinking of the music. They just might be a music major. Why would a college allow this type of thing to happen to a child. It is a school of higher learning. Yes it is a crime that was committed.
Why weren’t these young people reading a music book or doing something useful with their time. Legal business should be taken care of. This should be an example for all schools. Let student know they will be put off campus for this type of behavior. This could have been a younger person not a 26 year old. I had no idea that this type of thing happen at college.
Regardless to how we feel individually, it was an accident. No one meant for the young man to die. As for hazing, frats and sororitys and most college bands all over the nation have been doing it for generations. I don’t understand why so many people are attempting to make this appear as something unique to FAMU. No one is forced to join the band and unless you have been under a rock or from another country you know there is an initiation to become a member of the Marching 100.
Why do negroids ALWAYS come up with poor execuses when they act STUPID?
Do you see asians hazing? Do you see mexicans hazing, arabs or the people from india hazing? h**l NAW!!! They are there to learn, and you negroids wonder why they are so advanced.
Therefore, what is getting your a*s beaten or treated like an animal have to do with joining a band? You took that class to play an instrument, not to get your assed kicked!!!
This is some stupid shyt, and I don’t give a d**n, how many negroids disagree with my comment! You go to college to learn to become adults, and learn RESPONSIBILTY; not to become wangsters and ‘slave’ beaters, who KILL people! Does beating a student make them play better or march better?
THIS IS SOME STUPID SLAVE a*s SHYT (re-read my article on ‘slaving’)
WHEN WILL Y’ALL negroids WAKE UP?
THERE ARE PLENTY OF EDUCATED SLAVES AND FOOLS PRACTICING THIS BULLSHYT!!!
TEACH Brother Derrick…the reality of TRUTH hurts but needs to be said! Keep doing what you do because the only way out of this treachery is to know the realism of OURSTORY. I was thinking the other day…how many times do we have to start over, how many times do we have to defend ourselves, how many times do we have to convince our own that we are of greatness, how many times are we going to have to claim it?
You need to be INITIATED into reading some Black OURstory books, then perhaps, you’ll learn something, instead of the white boy’s LIES!!!
YOU ARE SICK!!!
Guess what Derrick, they do the same thing at white schools. I am not sure what’s done in other countries but they all do things that seem strange to outsiders. Some chop-off hands for stealing and be-headed each other for infidelity. They haze/initiate in the Military and even in sports. This is not a racial issue.
@harry:
READ THIS ARTICLE AND HOPE YOU LEARN SOMETHING FROM IT:
The ‘Educated’ Slave
By Kwaku Person-Lynn, Ph.D.
One of the most miscalculated assumptions is that when a person receives a college degree, whether undergraduate or graduate, that individual is now educated. It is true that individual is qualified to apply for various positions or professions where a particular degree is required. However, if one were to evaluate being educated by the first requirement passed down from the ancient Nile Valley temples in northeast Afrika, the educational center for the world during its golden era, most would not be considered educated.
In ancient Kemet (Egypt), on the portals of several temples was the saying “Know Thyself.” The Greeks attributed this statement to the philosopher Socrates, without ever mentioning that Socrates was trained in Afrika, in the same temples previously mentioned. If the principle of Know Thyself alone was applied to today’s college graduates, most would be considered illiterate, especially those of Afrikan descent.
It is not difficult to find one of the culprits in this matter. William Bennett, who served as Secretary of Education under President Ronald Reagan represents one example of many. He tried to lay the foundation when he attempted to sway higher education towards a “classical and Jewish-Christian heritage, the facts of American and European history, the political organization of Western societies, the great works of Western art and literature and the major achievements of the scientific disciplines.” Under this operative, no non-Western or non-European history or culture was of any educational value. In other words, people of color were persona non grata under this educational dictate.
The unfortunate factor is, education has primarily been conducted this way, and under the philosophical premise in which Bennett aspired, and many like him, the greatest falsehoods, distortions and omissions concerning the history and culture of Afrikan people have been committed. Students of color who receive degrees under this cloak of academic ineptitude are bound to eventually reach a stage where they are struggling to “find themselves,” because they basically do not know who they are. This can cause great internal turmoil, even after reaching financial comfort. The mental and intellectual void can cause one to be an eternal slave to a system, culture or values that does not have their interest at heart and do not even like them as a people.
It can cause some people of Afrikan descent to believe in a Bennett-like premise so thoroughly they willingly betray their own people and expect to be rewarded for it. This includes embracing the values, customs, habits and looks of those holding them down. It is analogous to a Black person in the segregated South no longer being told to enter the back door, sit on the back of the bus or see themselves as inferior, for they will do these things voluntarily. They will consistently label themselves as ‘minority,’ though people of color represent 9/10ths of the world’s population.
When a person of Afrikan descent is never exposed that his/her ancient ancestors were the actual creators of civilization, built on the sciences they created, the advanced mathematics they brought to the world, the systems of technology they utilized, created the science of medicine for healing, the art of writing, even the educational system which they obtained their degrees, is just the beginning of mental deterioration and intellectual incompetence. This is further implemented when they are not even exposed to their recent ancestors who were part of the planning and built the capital in Washington D.C., allowed everyone to have light by creating the first light bulb filament, including the first stand alone clock, performed the first heart surgery, created refrigeration to preserve food, along with too many other creations to mention here.
Even today, in this present time, such great figures as Dr. Gabriel A. Oyibo, a physicist, of the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, who has worked out problems in the Unified Field Theory, which eluded Dr. Albert Einstein, the so-called genius, and solved the most difficult turbulence problems in aeronautics, or the late Dr. Ernest E. Just of Howard University, who introduced the world to the most intense research conducted in the field of biology, genetic engineering, and the innovation of DNA, are not being hailed for the magnificent contributions they have made to the world.
In light of all this, parents of Afrikan descent can prevent this mental slavery of the next generation by making sure their children are exposed to the subjects previously mentioned, having literature in the home addressing their history and culture, including relevant videos and DVD’s, making sure they are aware of Afrikan world scholars and their works, monitoring television usage, taking their children to events that expose them to their own culture, being actively involved in their children’s education, insisting the curriculum include their history, but at the same time not relying on public or private education to provide quality information related to Afrikan world history and culture. That should be done in the home, after school or weekend educational programs. The dinner table is a perfect venue for these discussions.
Slavery was the worst and longest evil system ever perpetuated on any group of people. But today, an educated slave is as dangerous as the slave masters of old. One must always be aware that any effort to correct the situation will be vigorously fought and opposed. Total liberation has not yet occurred, but with a collective consciousness, it is obtainable. It starts with the present reader.
Kwaku Person-Lynn is the author of On My Journey Now – The Narrative And Works Of Dr. John Henrik Clarke, The Knowledge Revolutionary.
IF YOU EDUCATED SLAVES START TREATING THESE CRACKERS LIKE THEY TREAT YOU NEGROIDS, MAYBE YOU’LL OVERstand THAT A PIECE OF PAPER DON’T MEAN SHYT, IF YOU DON’T USE YOUR MIND!!!!
This BS Hazing culture is often associated w Frats & Sororities. So why do folks go thru the humiliation of hazing, even occasionally to the point of death as the tragic case of Mr Champion illustrates.
Looking at the stats RE: Frats & Sororities it seems that THE FIX IS IN- although only 3% of the US population belongs to Frats & Sororities: Since 1900 85% of SCOTUS members belonged to a Frat or sorority, 85% of top fortune 500 company execs including the 50 largest corps belong to frats & sororities, all but 2 US Pres since 1825 belonged to frats, 70 of POTUS cabinet members, 76% of US senators & congressional reps, 85% of college campus leaders… belong to frats & sororities.
Thus we can conclude that the US’ colleges, legal & political system, & top corp Businesses & economy are basically controlled by people dedicated to the Greco-Roman = Euro-centric Mind [Frats & Sororities say they're all about promoting the 'Greek' Way of Life']. Its an exclusive club that’s obviously a career booster, that’s why folks are willing to go thru dark & humiliating ritualistic initiation rites [sometimes even risking death] to get in this exclusive club.
But where does that leave one if you’re not willing to sell your Dignity, Honor & Soul in order to get into this exclusive club??? And / Or What if one is African-Centered [or Native American, or Asian, etc]??? IMO one can’t be Afro-centric & dedicated to the Greco-Roman mind-set at the same time.
PS: You might find this web site on the ancient Black World interesting @ http://realhistoryww.com/index.htm
That’s the point…just because it’s done in white schools, in the white man’s military or on a plantation doesn’t make it a practice for Black people. I know I didn’t send mine (and one to go) to college to get beaten. WTF is that? These barbaric practices have absolutely NOTHING to do with learning. My father graduated from an HBCU in the mid fifties and is a member of a fraternity. When I was little, he told us how they got “paddled” while pledging. As a child, I didn’t understand why anyone would allow someone to use a paddle on them and today I’m still trying to figure that dumb s**t out. There is something depraved to deliberately inflict pain on someone and for no apparent rationale, other than it was done to them during the ritual. NOBODY should die going to college, unless it is accidental, nobody.
@Miss T:
TEACH him! That’s these negroids problems; they always do what crackers and other people do, but can’t THINK for themselves.
This is why I call these dumb jackasses, negroids…they are chocolate covered caucasoids!!! They LOVE to imitate their enemies! This is really sickening, and I can’t believe these stupid a*s negroids think this shyt is, okay, and got the nerve to be college educated!
What have these crackers done to these stupid educated fools…p**s on them? You know an ‘animal’ always p****s on his terrority!!!
g*****n! THIS SHYT MAKES ME MAD!!!!
You all missed my point entirely. Personally, I never made any attempt to condone the behavior. My position was simply that this problem was not unique to FAMU. But there really is a simple to solution if one only wants an education. Just don’t pledge anything. No one is forced to pledge or join any organization in collge.
Derrick, you are only hurting yourself with your hostile and indignant attitude Son.
@harry: “Derrick, you are only hurting yourself with your hostile and indignant attitude Son.”
====================================
We didn’t ‘miss’ your point; you’re just trying to clean up your dumb comment.
I ain’t your son, boy! I got a son, who’s more mature than you, and he pledged in a fraternity, but didn’t get his a*s kicked!
You timid negroids need to stop telling me, what I’m doing to myself because, if you negroids aren’t hip to your True OURstory, then blame yourselves…not me! You sound just like a white boy…which is NIGorant!!!
If you want to call the Truth, ‘hostile and indignant’; than, thats your weak thinking! Your caucasoid counterparts ‘love’ lil negroids like you!
REMEMBER, MY SON, A NEGROID is simply a ‘n****r’ dressed up in the vestiges and trappings of a caucasoid, to whom everything is not xtian. The un-color of ‘white’ is particularly DISTASTEFUL and VULGAR!!!
vestiges = a trace, mark, or sign of something, which has once existed, but has passed away or disappeared
YOU ARE ‘DISAPPEARING’ just like caucasoids from the face of this planet!
You are very DISTASTEFUL and VULGAR, just like your caucasoid buddies…BOY!!!!
Amen