Dance & Aux Forum

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - May 10, 2012 - 2pm - -

Florida A&M University will soon decide the fate of its famed Marching 100 band in the wake of a drum major's hazing death.

FAMU President James Ammons is expected to discuss the band at a special meeting of the university board of trustees on either Friday or Monday.

Eleven FAMU band members face felony hazing charges from Robert Champion's death in November. Two others face misdemeanor counts. Ammons suspended the band soon after Champion's death.

Champion died aboard a bus outside an Orlando hotel. His death revealed a culture of hazing within the band.

But according to information the university turned over to the board, three of those charged with Champion's death weren't FAMU students at the time.

University officials now also acknowledge that other band members were not students.

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May 10, 2012 - 11:20am -

FAMU President Ammons sends a memorandum to the FAMU Board of Trustees, updating them on the Champion hazing death case.

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May 10, 2012 --

From Chuck Hobbs, attorney for Dr. Julian White:

Music Department Verification of Student Enrollment:

"It is required that all students present a copy of their current class schedule indicating their enrollment at Florida A&M University, Florida State University or Tallahassee Community College at the beginning of the fall semester in order to receive a band uniform from the Department of Music. Students cannot march without a uniform. It is not under the auspices of the band staff or the Department of Music to make final determinations as to verification of enrollment".

Additional University Controls for Verification of Student Band Enrollment:

"Under previous administrations, additional controls were in place for band student enrollment verification via the Dean of the College of Arts& Sciences and the Registrar's Office. Additionally, student numbers are sent with band rosters for band travel per diem requests first to the Athletics Department. The Athletics Department then sends the roster and travel per diem requests to the University Controller's office as per university policy. When the allotments come back to the Department of Music from the Controller's Office, the band staff trusts that the ability to distribute funds disbursed for use by enrolled students have been verified by those with authority to