FAMU Marching Band Returns

Florida A&M University's marching band will be making its first appearance since its 19-month suspension at the college's first football game of the season on Sept. 1 in Orlando. The band will be performing in the same place as it performed before its suspension.

The band last performed in Orlando, Nov. 19, 2011. Drum major Robert Champion died later that night after a hazing incident where he was beaten by bandmateswho used their fists, feet, straps and sticks to pound him into unconsciousness. Champion's death shed light on hazing at FAMU and eventually led tothe resignation of university President James Ammons, the arrest of over a dozen band members and the ultimate suspension of the band.

The Marching 100 currently has 126 members. There were over 400 before the band's suspension.

"We are going to publicly state that we are bringing this band back and we are going to take the field in Orlando," band director Sylvester Young said Thursday morning. "And without any reservation, knowing that when we take the field we will not be stepping back in time but we will be cutting a new path."

FAMU Interim President Larry Robinson vowed that the marching band's return would be a model for the eradication of hazing. According to the Tampa Bay Times, he went on to say theband has refocused on its core principals this year, including character, leadership, academics and service.

"We are fairly confident that we are about to launch a new era, a new understanding and appreciation as to why hazing is not necessary to advance these principles that I just mentioned for this marching band, as well as any other organization on this campus," Robinson said.