Yesterday, the FAMU Board of Trustees approved the creation of a campus memorial and scholarship fund dedicated to the memory of Marching 100 drum major Robert D. Champion, who died from injuries he sustained during a hazing incident.Trustees also gave the green light for an independent blue-ribbon committee that will make recommendations on how the university band should be supervised. It will examine how other institutions of higher education have addressed hazing.
Belinda Shannon, a board member, will lead the process of selecting a group of experts to serve on the committee.
"This is a first step of getting independent, best practice expert perspective and advice,” she said. “I do not think it would be a mistake for us to begin with that sort of information."
According CNN, Shannon plans to seek individuals “with backgrounds in law, academia, public policy, psychology and band organizations.” She will report back before the full board during its meeting on February 9th.
FAMU President James H. Ammons told trustees that the university will still convene the independent task force he appointed to “review issues related to” Champion’s death and “recommend any appropriate disciplinary action, policies and procedures to put FAMU on a stronger path to its future.”
Ammons placed the task force on hold at the request of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is still conducting a homicide investigation for the Champion case.