TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A bid by Florida A&M University to stamp out hazing after the death of a marching band drum major is coming under fire from some students who maintain they have been treated unfairly.
A handful of students, as well as the father of a FAMU student, pleaded last week with the university board of trustees to help them.
“The efforts put forth to eradicate the culture of hazing has gone overboard,” Inita Knox told trustees during a meeting held Thursday on FAMU’s campus.
FAMU made sweeping changes in how it responds to hazing after the November 2011 death of drum major Robert Champion. The family has sued the university, contending it did not do enough to stop the ritual.
A FAMU sorority was investigated for hazing this past February after someone posted a complaint on the university anti-hazing website.
The Tallahassee Democrat reported late last month that the Leon County Sheriff’s Office decided against pursuing criminal charges in the case.
But a report said pledges were forced to do exercise squats and memorize information about sorority members during the gathering, which occurred from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
