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4 FAMU Band Members Booked on Hazing Charges

By Nicole Bardo-Colon
Black College Wire

Four members of Florida A&M University's Marching 100 marching band have been arrested on charges of misdemeanor hazing after an investigation by the university police department.

The investigation began after the band's trip to Detroit with the football team Sept. 1. The team played Delaware State University at the Detroit Football Classic at Ford Field, losing 34-14.

Dontay Douglas

"Some of the property was recovered and immediately given back," Marching 100 Band Director Julian White said then.

James Wheeler

Lt. Angela Kirkland of the FAMU Police Department said White brought the case to the attention of police.

Kirkland said the Detroit hotel incident was not the first that occurred, but that it initiated the investigation.

Kenneth Sparks

"There were other incidents that occurred here in Tallahassee that we also investigated," Kirkland said.

On Oct. 17, Douglas and Sparks, a civil construction engineering student from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., were each charged with seven counts of misdemeanor hazing and Wheeler, business administration student from Atlanta, was charged with six counts of misdemeanor hazing, said LeNedra Carroll, director of university public relations.

The next day, Busby, of Atlanta, was arrested and charged with one count of misdemeanor hazing.

The students cooperated with police and turned themselves in, Carroll said.

They were later taken to the Leon County Jail.

"The university will not tolerate hazing; it's a crime," Carroll said.

If the students are found guilty, they could face up to one year in jail.

Nicole Bardo-Colon, a student at Florida A&M University, writes for the Famuan.

Posted Oct. 23, 2006