The forum, “National Task Force on Anti-Hazing,” took place at the 14th annual National HBCU Student News Media Conference. During the forum, representatives from Florida A&M University’s The Famuan and Southern University’s The Southern Digest joined The Gramblinite’s Jessieca Gafford.
“Our students wanted nothing to do with us [after reporting on the hazing incident],” said Jorge Rodriguez-Jimenez, editor-in-chief for The Famuan. Robert Champion, a 26-year-old drum major of FAMU’s “Marching 100,” Champion, was reportedly beaten by an organization associated with the band as an initiation process. He died within the hour.
When The Famuan published the story, the staff received a massive amount of backlash. “People aren’t going to like what you’re saying even if it’s the truth,” Rodriguez-Jimenez continued. “People are failing to realize that we have a job,” said Kristin Broner, a writer for The Famuan.
“The role of the media is to tell the truth. We’re not here to make people look good.” Broner continued, saying that people are more concerned with the negative things their newspaper prints, rather than the positive. “If we turn a blind eye to something just because it portrays our school in a negative light, we’re no longer credible,” Broner said.
Although Champion’s death was publicized, FAMU isn’t the only school associated with the hazing process.
“[Students] weren’t surprised,” said Evan Taylor, editor-in-chief of The Southern Digest, when speaking on their previous hazing incident. The incident left three students hospitalized with two landing in intensive care. Seven students were arrested and kicked out of school because of the incident. Because of this, the Southern Jukebox has implemented an anti-hazing contract.
“The band culture can be more powerful than the Greek culture,” said Erica Taylor. “Some schools are centered around the band. If LSU’s band is dismantled, they’ll be fine. If Southern’s band is dismantled, they’re closing their doors.”
Gafford talked about another problem associated with hazing. “At Grambling State, we take ‘no snitching’ to a new level,” she said. Gafford noted that students are more concerned with staying on the good side of the Greek-letter organizations than being willing to speak out against something they know is wrong.
Some students think if they speak on others, or themselves getting hazed, they won’t have a chance to join any Greek-letter organization. Despite the fact that people have died as a result of hazing, she doesn’t believe that it would stop it from occurring. “We know something else is going to happen,” said Gafford.
The panelists delivered this message (and most in the audience agreed): If you are hazed, or know of someone getting hazed, speak out. It won’t stop if nothing is done.
