FAMU says band’s suspension extended

ORLANDO, Fla. – The president of Florida A&M University on Monday announced that the school’s famous marching band, which has been suspended indefinitely since shortly after the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion last fall, will not perform at all through the 2012-’13 school year.

The fate of FAMU’s embattled Marching 100 band – a symbol of the historically black university that has been instrumental in recruitment and fundraising – has been up in the air. School leaders have debated for months whether to allow the group to perform at football games and other events this fall.

Earlier this month, 11 band members were charged with felony hazing in connection with Champion’s beating aboard a parked band bus after the Florida Classic football game in Orlando on Nov. 19. Since then, a string of other hazing allegations and other problems related to the band’s operations have surfaced.

The most recent revelation – that about 100 band members did not meet the requirements to be in the band last fall, including at least two of those charged with Champion’s death – prompted Monday’s meeting of university trustees.