What is hazing? In order to understand the story on how after being found culpable by an Orange County jury, Martin was sentenced to 77 months ' imprisonment for murder, assault and two counts of crime hazing it is first needed to understand the origin of hazing. “hazing consists of a set of initiation rituals in which a vast number of students participate in. It involves the exertion of power by senior students over newcomers, in an asymmetric logic that imposes a seniority-based hierarchy.” (Analise Social 2019). Furthermore hazing has been common in many places, such as when you get a new job or even in the army. “A ritual of harassment and humiliation used to initiate a person into a group, hazing is especially associated with college fraternities, but similar behavior is evinced by other close-knit and particularly male groups, including sports teams, private schools, gangs, and military units.”(Hazing 2015)
There are always going to be those evaluations given by others to prove yourself in a certain place. Things start to get hectic when these challenges suddenly become lethal and no longer determine actual dedication or pride for something. What I mean by this is that hazing goes along the acts or circumstances that, with or without participant's consent, endanger a student's psychological, physical, or educational health or safety knowingly, purposely or unwittingly. Why is it that people haze? Persons and groups, for many reasons, participate in dangerous practices. Many individuals can participate in harmful activities because they have the power to exercise over younger members. Others may pursue positive results for hazing, for example team building and group growth. Hazing can include involuntary or other alcohol use, but are not limited to beating, paddling, marking certain forms of attack, Coerced intakes of disgusting substances, water poisoning, and planned violence. Hazing is highly illegal in Florida and only days before the vacation time, the FAMU(Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University) family learned that death had formerly been pronounced homicidal. A few band members allegedly committed the hazing incident kill Champion from a series of blows on his body.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was doing two separate investigations on FAMU. A sample comes from the accident of the marching band. The second focuses on the management of some school funds, including a marching band, relating to its music program.
In connection with the hazing incident causing Champion's death, Florida's law enforcement authorities allegedly concentrated on thirty four FAMU band members. Many students may face arrest with possible charges, including dangerous activities, murder, and second degree killings, depending on the performance of the investigation. “During the ritual, members of Florida A&M’s renowned “Marching 100” band were struck repeatedly as they crossed from the front of the bus to the back, and Martin was 'president' of Bus C, according to court records. Champion passed out after finishing the crossing and later was pronounced dead at a hospital.” (Tallahassee Democrat, 13 Dec. 2018). There are no limits when it comes to hazing and clearly Martin thought he would know Champion’s limit but unfortunately he arrived to the hospital and was pronounced dead at arrival. When you become a bystander around hazing you are at fault of it all. “A few weeks after the hazing death, Ammons, a FAMU alum, relieved White of his duties and notified White he would be fired in December over his handling of the incident.”(Stuart R, 2012) I believed this situation was handled well by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. No form of hazing should be overlooked, especially if a death was involved. It is unfortunate that students in the marching that were innocent will face the same consequences as the students involved in the hazing ritual but I believe that is where justice comes in and takes place for the death of Champion. The alumni of FAMU believe that there should and there will be consequences for the death of Champion as well as precautions so this does not happen again.
Dangerous national events are difficult to quantify since traditional rituals, particularly drinking and beating rituals, occur outside the public eye. “Studies show that hazing, although prohibited by most states and many schools, remains pervasive across the country — and not just at college fraternities and sororities.”(Hosansky, D. 2013) I agree with challenges to a certain extent. I believe being tested with having certain knowledge or having the drive to remain part of something really determines the ones who want it most. Notwithstanding this, in many universities many lines are crossed when it comes to certain rituals. Another example of this happened at Penn State when a fraternity waited too long to call an ambulance for one of their members, Tim Piazza, who had fallen down the stairs during a hazing event. “Now he had a lacerated spleen, an abdomen full of blood, and multiple traumatic brain injuries. He had fallen down a flight of stairs during a hazing event at his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, but the members had waited nearly 12 hours before calling 911” I think it is futile and immature to be embarrassed or forced to do anything you know is dangerous to you. Youth is sometimes to engaged to understand the consequences but I believe youth is not too oblivious to understand certain things can actually kill someone. To conclude, had Champion's surroundings not acted like bystanders, he could have been alive today same goes for Tim Piazza’s life. It's important to shine a light on hazing for many universities. Most schools go in the right direction with hazing courses, but when they do, students must also learn to 'see something, say something.'