The parents of Robert Champion, a murdered drum major at Florida A&M University, said their son may have been hazed more severely than the other members of the band due to his opposition of the hazing ritual. Champion, 26, who was a member of FAMU’s “Marching 100” died on November 19, 2011 after suffering from internal bleeding caused by blunt force trauma, according to the Associated Press.
The students of FAMU reportedly have a 50 year history and culture of hazing, but Champion wanted to defy the odds, according to his parents, without surrendering to the culture of hazing at the college. Christopher Chestnut, the Champion family’s lawyer said, “Robert Champion was the poster child of anti-hazing. He threatened the very institution of hazing in this band.” Champion’s mother, Pat Champion said, “My son, he loved his music. He loved the band.”
