The family of the Florida A&M University drum major who died in a hazing incident says the school sh

Описание: (8 May 2012) HEADLINE: Family: Disband FAMU marching band
CAPTION: The family of the Florida A&M University drum major who died in a hazing incident says the school should disband the marching band. Pam Champion, the mother of Robert Champion, said "You've got to clean house. That's the only thing." (May 3)
SOT Chris Chestnut, Attorney: "WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A CALCULATED CONSPIRACY TO COVER UP ROBERT CHAMPIONS MURDER."
SOT Chris Chestnut, Attorney: THIS HAS BEEN BOTCHED FORM DAY ONE. THAT BUS SHOULD HAVE NEVER LEFT ORLANDO. IT DID. IT GOT BACK TO TALLAHASSEE, IT DROPPED OFF THE STUDENTS, IT WAS THEN CLEANED AND CHARTERED TO SOMEONE ELSE. THE STUDENTS WHO WERE ON THE BUS NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO LEAVE ORLANDO. THEY DID. THEY WENT BACK TO TALLAHASSEE, THEY WENT BACK TO THE BAND ROOM, THEY WENT BACK TO CLASS AND MOREOVER THEY WERE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE NOT ONLY WITH EACH OTHER BUT WITH PEOPLE MORE VERSED, MORE EXPERIENCED IN HAZING AND HOW TO COVER IT UP. SO ARE WE SURPRISED AT THE FINDING? NO. ARE WE DISAPPOINTED. ABSOLUTELY. WE'VE GOT TO STOP THIS AND IT'S GOT TO BE STOPPED NOW.
SOT Pam Champion: MY SON WAS MURDERED. AND TO THINK THAT THE CHARGES THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE _ OF COURSE IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME _ WHY THEY HAD TO GO WITH THESE PARTICULAR CHARGES. BUT HERE WHILE ALL EYES IS ON FLORIDA WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SET THE STAGE TO SAY NO THIS IS TOTALLY WON'T BE ACCEPTED. HERE IS THIS CHANCE TO LET THE SCHOOL KNOW, THE STUDENTS KNOW, THIS NOT ACCEPTABLE. SO NO I DID NOT GET WHAT I ANTICIPATED FOR MY SON'S MURDER. I DID NOT AT ALL.
SOT Chestnut: THERE IS A LONG HISTORY OF HAZING IN THE BAND AT FAMU AND OBVIOUSLY THROUGH THE DECADES OF THIS TRADITION THERE HAS NOT BEEN SUFFICIENT ACCOUNTABILITY OR CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE IT CONTINUES. UNFORTUNATELY, IT APPEARS THAT TODAY THAT TRADITION CONTINUES BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN NO APPROPRIATE SANCTIONING FOR THE MURDER OF ROBERT CHAMPION.
SOT Pam Champion: FAMU CANNOT GO ON WITH BUSINESS AS USUAL. THEY NEED TO CLEAN HOUSE, SERIOUSLY NEED TO CLEAN HOUSE BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T CLEAN THE FILTH OUT IT JUST STAYS THERE.

STORYLINE:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ Now that 13 people have been charged in the hazing death of a Florida A&M University drum major, the future is murky for a famed marching band that has performed at the Grammys, presidential inaugurations and Super Bowls.
The band was suspended immediately after Robert Champion's death in November, and even the governor says it's far too soon for the Marching 100 to take the field again. Champion's mother, Pam, took that even a step further: She said the band should be disbanded so the university can "clean house." She and the family's attorney contend there is a vast effort among students and others to cover up who is responsible for her son's death.
"If you don't clean the filth out it just stays there," she said Thursday. "You can't move forward as business as usual."
Eleven people _ all band members _ have been charged with felony hazing resulting in death, said Gretl Plessinger, a Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokeswoman. Eight of them had been arrested by Thursday. Two others face misdemeanor charges.
Much like its renowned band, questions remain about the future of the school in Florida's capital city. There is still an ongoing criminal investigation into the finances of the band, as well as a probe by the state university system into whether top officials at the university ignored past warnings about hazing.
Several members of the board that oversees FAMU have also declined comment this week, deferring questions to the chairman of the board.

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