Email Article

Printable Page

4 in Southern Marching Band Arrested

Photo credit: humanjukebox.com "I let them know that in order to be a part of the Southern University Marching Band, they don't have to take certain physical or mental abuse to be a part of the band," said the university's director of student life.

By James Turner
Black College Wire

Four members of the Southern University Marching Band were arrested by sheriff�s deputies in East Baton Rouge Parish, La., after a former band member accused them of robbing and beating him, said Robert Bennett, the university's dean of student life.

According to an appearance bond issued by the 19th Judicial District Court, Charles Williams II, 19, of Mobile, Ala., was released on bond from the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Aug. 24 after he was arrested on a charge of simple burglary. The bond said he was released later that day.

Appearance bonds for Benjamin S. Chapelle, 19, of Beaumont, Texas, Terrell L. Dupard, 20, of Baton Rouge, and Ronnie Le Duff, 18, of Baker, La., said they were arrested on charges of simple burglary in an inhabited dwelling and simple battery. They were also booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison and released on bond the same day, said the bonds.

A court date had not been scheduled for the four men and they had not attended a hearing before the university's Judicial Committee.

�Deputies from the Sheriff�s Office responded to Jones Hall between 9:30 and 10 p.m. after the four students allegedly forced their way into the victim�s room to rob and beat the victim,� said university Police Department Chief Dale Flowers.

According to Bennett, assistant band director Lawrence Jackson contacted him on the night of Aug. 23 and informed Bennett that the victim had been beaten and robbed because the four students wanted to seize the victim�s band paraphernalia since he was no longer a member.

�Each year, I take it upon myself as dean of students to go and talk to the freshman band members by themselves,� Bennett said. �I let them know that in order to be a part of the Southern University Marching Band, they don�t have to take certain physical or mental abuse to be a part of the band.�

According to Bennett, this is not the first incident concerning band members and alleged derogatory behavior.

�I had a talk with freshman band members on one Sunday and I received a call that following Monday from a parent saying that her son was being hazed that (previous) Sunday night,� Bennett said. �I went over to the band room and talked to the entire upperclassmen and I told them, 'anyone caught hazing could possibly be charged in a criminal act and they�re also violating the Code of Conduct� � for Southern University students.

Bennett said students should know what is considered hazing. �I tell them the different things considered to be hazing,� he said. �I also told them if hazing were to occur to contact me. I gave them my cell number. I gave them my home number.

�In fact, I even talked to the parents,� Bennett said. �They were there at the same time.�

Band members and any other students who become defendants after hazing or other criminal charges not only have to deal with legal proceedings by the state, they have to answer to violating the university�s Code of Conduct.

�You can be faced with possibly going to jail, possibly being suspended from school and even from the band,� Bennett said.

James Turner, a student at Southern University, writes for the Southern Digest.

Posted Sept. 12, 2005