2 of FAMU Hazing Suspects were not Students at School

Students were traveling with band despite not being part of school.

At least two of the people charged with felony hazing in connection with the beating death of Florida A&M drum major Robert Champion in November should not have been traveling with the band because they were not enrolled in FAMU or one of the nearby schools that would allow participation in the band, according to FAMU records obtained by the Orlando Sentinel.

In addition, nearly 100 others who were allowed to travel with the band also may have been ineligible at the time of Champion's death after the Florida Classic on Nov. 19 in Orlando.

FAMU's board of trustees was made aware of these potential violations of school policy Tuesday in documents sent to board members by school President James Ammons and his chief of staff.

FAMU trustees still do not know why percussionists Caleb Jackson and Brian Jones, both charged with felony hazing in Champion's death, would have been allowed to participate in the band and be on the parked charter bus where Champion was beaten after the Classic.

To participate in the band, a musician must be a FAMU student or attend either Tallahassee Community College or Florida State University, as well as be enrolled in a FAMU band course.

Trustees Chairman Solomon Badger said it is unclear why some students who apparently did not meet that criteria were still allowed to perform at the Classic. Band members, he said, are required to show their course schedule to music department staff before they are issued a uniform.

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