Will there ever be an ending to harsh student hazing or is it something that will become a staple in college life?
On Sept. 2, allegations surfaced that the Clark Atlanta University band had been suspended amid hazing suspicions. Instead of the university's band performing at its home opener football game, Mays' band was called on to perform instead. Mays band director William Earvin is both a Mays and Clark Atlanta graduate.
Clark Atlanta officials released a statement stating: “While there is no immediate evidence of hazing or any other foul play, the university of its own volition chooses to take a thorough, comprehensive look into this serious matter.”
The university has also said it is “prepared to take whatever actions are necessary to ensure a safe, healthy, non-threatening experience for our student musicians. The integrity of our university, our band program and the honor of the musicians therein warrants no less.”
With the hazing allegations against the CAU band, there is a scar on the reputation of the marching band and the university. But what is shocking is that the allegations against CAU's band, come 10 months after the death of Florida A&M marching band drum major, Robert Champion, a graduate of Southwest DeKalb High School. Champion died last November after several Famous FAMU “ Marching 100” members allegedly beat him during a traditional hazing ``ritual” on one of the band’s charter buses.
With tragic news involving famous marching band at colleges such as Clark Atlanta and Florida A&M, a once hidden issue has come to light.
Band hazing has drawn so much attention that it has led many local high schools, including Mays, to take the initiative to help end hazing.
Just a few months ago, Earvin required all marching band students to sign a “hazing” contract, which forbids any student from making another student (commonly called ‘rookies’) perform any tasks that would benefit the person requesting the task. If that contract is violated, that would result in suspension from the band, or, if it went to a higher degree of hazing, prosecution.
Patience Phillips, the mother of a 2008 Mays graduate, agrees with the contract.
“I’m glad that the students had to sign a contract,” Phillips said. “ Now, I’m reassured that any student who wants to participate in band, any activity for that matter, won’t have to worry about the stereotypes of being ‘initiated’ into the marching band by any other child.”
Derrius Jones, a junior in the Mays marching band said, ``It’s cool that we have a hazing contract because you never really know how students treat one another when no one's looking. It’s smart to initiate the contract, just to be on the safe side. We don’t want any type of foolish activity that may jeopardize our band as a whole.”
Freshman Brian Nwanze, also a band member, said the contract makes him more at ease being new to the band.
``I’m in marching band to have fun,'' he said. ``As a ninth-grader, at times, I would feel worried about whether I would be getting ‘hazed’ or not, but now with the contract, I’m definite that I will not have to worry about anything.”