TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida A&M University wants to try to settle a family’s lawsuit against the school over the hazing death of a band member.
FAMU trustees on Thursday voted to enter a voluntary mediation session with attorneys for the parents of Robert Champion, who authorities said died last November after Marching 100 members beat him during a hazing ritual.
Eleven FAMU band members face felony hazing charges, while two others face misdemeanor counts. They have pleaded not guilty.
The Champions, who live in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur, Ga., claim university officials did not take action to stop hazing even though a school dean proposed suspending the band because of hazing three days before their son died.
School officials also fell short in enforcing anti-hazing policies and did not keep a close eye on band members to prevent hazing, the lawsuit said.
Chris Chestnut, an attorney for the Champions, said the drum major’s parents are still committed to going to trial, but that a judge would require that mediation be attempted.
“We are engaged in and committed to aggressively litigating this case in the memory of Robert Champion and to protect other students,” Chestnut said.
