The Cavalier Daily
Serving the University Community Since 1890

A universal issue

Hazing prevention efforts must reach all student organizations

Florida A&M University Marching 100 band percussionist Dante Martin was recently found guilty of manslaughter and three counts of hazing for the death of drum major Robert Champion. Martin was prosecuted for manslaughter because he was the main orchestrator of a ritual which took place on a bus, during which Champion attempted to move from the front of the bus to the back while being beaten by his fellow band members. He died soon after from hemorrhagic shock.

Nine other former band members have been sentenced to probation and community service, and one to a year in jail for their participation in hazing Champion. Three other former band members are currently awaiting trial.

It is important we take away from this case the lesson that hazing is not only an issue in Greek life, as we typically see it framed. There is no doubt many Greek organizations are plagued with hazing problems. We can see that at our own University with Dean of Students Allen Groves’ order to initiate pledges early in 2013, and the termination of PiKA’s and Sigma Nu’s Fraternal Organization Agreements in 2014. But focusing only on hazing in Greek life can create dangerous tunnel vision that could allow hazing in other organizations to go unnoticed.

Hazing is not just characteristic of Greek culture; it is a consequence of group dynamics and peer pressure. The FAMU case, as well as the recent investigation of a New Jersey high school football team, reveals how hazing can occur in many different types of organizations.

The desire to be accepted by a group — no matter if that group is a fraternity, a band, a sports team or any other club — can powerfully affect an individual’s behavior. Martin’s defense attorney Richard Escobar argued Champion voluntarily participated in the ritual, which Escobar called a “competition,” not hazing. But when a group pressures an individual into an activity, the individual’s consent becomes questionable. And when that activity is potentially dangerous, the group must assume responsibility for any harm that results.

The FAMU marching band’s hazing activities escalated as far as the death of a student before they received any attention. But hazing can cause damage to students while staying undetected. It can be difficult to police hazing because college clubs are often run by students with little or no supervision from faculty. Any activities that result in hospital visits — or death, in severe cases — will bring illegal or unethical behavior to the attention of college officials, but hazing that inflicts psychological damage can fly under the radar if students are too ashamed to seek help for their afflictions or tell anyone about their experiences.

To prevent future incidents like the one at FAMU, college administrations should require workshops on hazing for all student groups, not just fraternities, so students understand the dangers of hazing and know what resources are available to them if they need to seek help. The New Jersey high school case indicates this educational effort may have to begin even earlier.

The case at FAMU serves as a good example to inform students that facilitating hazing activities can have serious consequences outside of their universities. Hopefully college officials and peer educators can turn this tragedy into a valuable lesson for all students, not just a specific population.

Comments

Latest Podcast

The University’s Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment and Undergraduate Admission, Greg Roberts, provides listeners with an insight into how the University conducts admissions and the legal subtleties regarding the possible end to the consideration of legacy status.



https://open.spotify.com/episode/02ZWcF1RlqBj7CXLfA49xt