Durham, N.C. — Hazing allegations have prompted North Carolina Central University to suspend the drum line of its marching band.
According to a statement the university released Thursday morning, the Marching Sound Machine Band's drum line is not allowed to participate in any band-related activities while the allegations are being investigated.
The university took action Monday, it said.
"NCCU has a zero-tolerance policy on hazing," the statement read. "Hazing is a criminal behavior, as well as a direct violation of the university's Student Code of Conduct and North Carolina General Statutes."
It's unclear what the allegations entail and who might have been involved.
The suspension means the 36-member drum line won't be able to play this Saturday when the NCCU Eagles face off against Duke Blue Devils in the Bull City Gridiron Classic.
Students called the suspension a big loss.
"The drum line is, sort of, what makes up the backbone of the marching band in the first place," student Larry McGill said. "To hear that it's been suspended is almost like having the backbone of the band taken out."
In November, a drum major for Florida A&M University's Marching 100, died after he was beaten by bandmates during a hazing ritual.
The death prompted the band's director to resign and the university to suspend the band.
The university's president, James Ammons, also resigned. Ammons had been the chancellor at NCCU until 2007, when he left the post for Florida A&M.
Replies