Tagged: hazing

The University of Louisville’s Center on Race and Inequality is holding a public forum on hazing injuries and deaths among student organizations.

In 2011, hazing gained national headlines after Florida A&M University came under sharp scrutiny for the death of marching band member Robert Champion, who was beaten after a football game. The school has suspended its world-famous marching band and prosecutors have pressed misdemeanor charges against more than a dozen students.

UofL Pan-African Studies Professor Ricky L. Jones is director of the center. He says Louisville has also seen  violent hazing incidents on its college campuses, which occur more often than people realize.

"We’ve had a number of suspensions over the last decade and a half. We had one student almost die, who suffered from kidney failure in 1997. We’ve had extended suspensions going from seven to ten years of Greek-lettered organizations here," he says. "So it’s not an issue that’s just relegated to Florida A&M and people need to understand that."

Eastern Kentucky University officials have suspended the school’s club rugby team following hazing allegations.

Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Mike Reagle says the suspension means more than not playing games. The student-run team cannot meet, practice, have parties or do anything together as a group. Reagle said the prohibition is for the safety of team members.