( CNN ) -- Florida A & M University band director Julian White , who had been under pressure to step aside after the hazing-related death of a band member , is retiring , his attorney announced Thursday . White , 71 , is stepping down just days after 13 people were charged in connection with the November 2011 hazing death of FAMU Marching 100 drum major Robert Champion . White was placed on paid administrative leave shortly after Champion 's death . FAMU 's board of trustees is scheduled to meet on May 14 to discuss the future of the band . Champion , 26 , died within an hour of his being badly beaten during a hazing incident on a band bus following a football game in Orlando , Florida . The ritual , called `` Crossing Bus C , '' is an initiation process in which pledges attempt to run down the center aisle while being assaulted by senior members , according to some university band members . An autopsy found `` extensive contusions of his chest , arms , shoulder and back , '' and `` evidence of crushing of areas of subcutaneous fat , '' medical examiners reported . As recently as last week , White had asked for full reinstatement as director of the famed university band . White , who had been with FAMU for 40 years , had tried to root out hazing for the past 22 years , his attorney Chuck Hobbs said . `` Dr. White remains disappointed that barely 48 hours after meeting with band members , that Robert Champion was killed in an extreme , horrific and illegal act of bullying , '' Hobbs said in an earlier statement . The death prompted the university board of trustees to approve an anti-hazing plan that includes an independent panel of experts to investigate . Currently , 13 people are charged in Champion 's death , 11 are facing felony hazing charges and two others are charged with misdemeanor hazing . Champion 's death brought renewed public scrutiny to the practice of hazing , which has gone on for years despite what the Tallahassee university said were efforts to stop it . Champion 's mother , Pam , has called for the FAMU band to be disbanded . `` They need to clean out the filth to move forward . How can they allow the band out there ? '' she said last week . `` They have n't done anything to safeguard students -- certainly not my son . My son was murdered . ''
FAMU 's band director steps down after next week . Board of trustees plan to meet November to discuss band 's fate . FAMU drum major Pam died after a 40 years hazing incident . 13 people have been charged in his death .