FAMU Marching 100 Sidelined Until 2013
Monday, May 14, 2012
By: Matthew Peddie

Florida A-and-M University president James Ammons says the Marching 100 band will not be performing at all this year. FAMU's board of trustees held a special meeting Monday to discuss the fate of the band at the center of a hazing controversy.

The announcement that the marching 100 will remain suspended until 2013 follows the sudden resignation last week of the band's director Julian White.

It was also revealed last week that more than 100 people on the band's roster were not enrolled as students at Florida A & M University.

White, who had been the band's director for 40 years, had been fighting to keep his job in the wake of an alleged hazing ritual after the Florida Classic football game in Orlando last fall.

Investigators say drum major Robert Champion was beaten to death during the incident.

The Marching 100 was suspended soon after, and 11 band members are facing felony hazing charges.

State officials including governor Rick Scott say the Marching 100 should stay suspended until investigations into the band are completed.