WTF is wrong with Florida A&M?

[ichy]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/13/us-florida-band-hazing-idUSTRE7BC1II20111213

They murder one band member and break another one's femur in a hazing incident? What kind of criminals are in the marching band and what the hell kind of culture exists there that no one would do anything about it until someone died?

 

[shortylickens]

Hazing does not a criminal make.
Though I will admit it can get out of hand, but thats nothing new. And it doesnt mean our children are doomed.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Unfortunately this is a well-established tradition in the marching bands of the traditionally black colleges. HBO's Real Sports did a story about this a couple of years ago, in which they specifically expressed concern that someone might get killed, and their concerns were obviously well-placed. As for why this goes on in the first place, I really can't say I understand it, other than that, well, it's tradition.

 

[ichy]

Hazing does not a criminal make.

Beating someone to the point where you fracture their femur certainly makes you a criminal!

 

[Genx87]

It never ceases to amaze me what these people do to others under the guise of "hazing".
Honestly I am surprised this happens in a marching band. Seriously, the hell?

We had hazing in football but most of it was making us do stupid things or making us run after practice. It was designed to break us and bring the class together. It never approached anything like this and coaches would observe to make sure it was within reason.

This is just insane. The coaches obviosuly lost control of the situation. People need to be fired and these students expelled and prosecuted.

 

[ichy]

Unfortunately this is a well-established tradition in the marching bands of the traditionally black colleges. HBO's Real Sports did a story about this a couple of years ago, in which they specifically expressed concern that someone might get killed, and their concerns were obviously well-placed. As for why this goes on in the first place, I really can't say I understand it, other than that, well, it's tradition.

I'd heard that a lot of black fraternities & sororities had pretty brutal hazing but I always wondered how true it was. I figured there might be a bit of a racist element to those claims, but it sounds like they have at least some credibility.

 

[sactoking]

It sounds like FA&M is just fucked up. There are not many other bands in which a 26 year old drum major (meaning s/he had been there for several years and was respected) would be the victim of hazing. 26 year old juniors/seniors in leadership positions should be the ones doing the hazing.

 

[Macamus Prime]

In before the "Ah-mur-ica is further bein pussi-fied!!!" comment(s).

 

[mattpegher]

"One time at band camp"

Seriously though, WTF.
Hazing is total BS it is nothing short of bullying. You need to do some shit to be part of my club. Its just a legacy of abuse.

 

[momeNt]

Hazing does not a criminal make.
Though I will admit it can get out of hand, but thats nothing new. And it doesnt mean our children are doomed.

Whew, for a second I thought committing criminal acts while hazing would land me in jail, glad to know I'm safe.

 

[sactoking]

Whew, for a second I thought committing criminal acts while hazing would land me in jail, glad to know I'm safe.

You've missed the original point of what you quoted: "hazing" can occur in such a manner as to not violate any criminal statutes. We hear somewhat often of wrestlers being sodomized with plungers, drum majors being punched for dropping the mace, etc. as incidents of hazing and these are crimes. But something like wearing clothes that were vomited upon, "eating the cracker", or running wind sprints could be classified as hazing but are not criminal offenses.

 

[momeNt]

You've missed the original point of what you quoted: "hazing" can occur in such a manner as to not violate any criminal statutes. We hear somewhat often of wrestlers being sodomized with plungers, drum majors being punched for dropping the mace, etc. as incidents of hazing and these are crimes. But something like wearing clothes that were vomited upon, "eating the cracker", or running wind sprints could be classified as hazing but are not criminal offenses.

My point is that the response I quoted was useless to the discussion at hand.

Why take a discussion of criminal acts and turn it into a defense of hazing in general?

 

[ichy]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57355802/parents-famu-hazing-case-was-retaliation/

There's a new twist to the story. People are starting to suggest that Robert Champion was beaten to death because he was gay.

 

[momeNt]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57355802/parents-famu-hazing-case-was-retaliation/

There's a new twist to the story. People are starting to suggest that Robert Champion was beaten to death because he was gay.

Poor kid just wanted a better view of the athletes on the field, but the straighties wanted a better view of the cheerleaders.

 

[Texashiker]

Hazing does not a criminal make.

Causing bodily injury to another person is assault.

 

[ichy]

Strange that this isn't causing as big of a hoopla as Penn State.

 

[shortylickens]

Causing bodily injury to another person is assault.

Which is assault, which is not necessarily hazing, and hazing is not necessarily assault.
Handle assault as assault, and leave it at that. The media needs to stop sensationalizing the news.

 

[Karl Agathon]

in before someone starts pulling the race card

 

[Texashiker]

The media needs to stop sensationalizing the news.

How is the news sensationalizing murder?