January 23, 2012

National Anti-Hazing/Anti-Violence Task Force to Hold First Conference Feb. 24-25

Champion Death Must Not be in Vain, Leaders Declare

By Hazel Trice Edney

Rev. Dr. R. B. Holmes, chair of the Anti-Hazing/Anti-Violence Task Force, announces its first conference to be held Feb. 24-25. Tallahassee Mayor John Marks, in the background, will also involve the National Conference of Black Mayors. PHOTO: Freddie Allen

Julian Coakley, SGA President of Florida Memorial University, flanked by Robert Champion Sr. and Dr. R.B. Holmes, says he is working to unite all HBCU student leaders against hazing. PHOTO: Freddie Allen

Lezli Baskerville, president/CEO of The National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO), commits to work with the 105 HBCUs and 50 predominately Black colleges and universities to make them hazing-free. Behind her are Pam and Robert Champion Sr. PHOTO: Freddie Allen 

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - A national coalition of educational, clerical and journalistic leaders have begun a movement to end hazing and other types of violence on historically Black college campuses across the nation – starting with a conference Feb. 24-25.

The Anti-Hazing/Anti-Violence Task Force Initiative and Conference was announced during a press conference held at the Washington, D.C.-based National Press Club Jan. 17, where a string of leading organizational representatives vowed they will not cease until hazing is eradicated. It is being birthed from the tragic death of drum major Robert Champion of Florida A&M University, who died after a beating from fellow band members Nov. 19.

“The untimely death of brother Robert Champion in a real sense has encouraged us to redouble our efforts to eliminate and eradicate hazing from our culture. We’ve selected a broad and diverse group of community stake holders to join this national anti-hazing, anti-violence task force. It includes our leading presidents of historically Black colleges and universities, faculty, staff and students, the faith-based community, elected officials, Greek and community organizations, educators, the Black Press and others to work together for the sole purpose of eliminating hazing from our community,” said Dr. R. B. Holmes, pastor of the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Fla. and publisher of the Capital Outlook Newspaper, a member of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

Holmes announced the conference to be held Feb. 24-25, at the South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, S.C.

“The purpose of this conference will be to share thoughts, ideas, and solutions from leading professionals, students and grassroots organizations to help us eradicate the culture of hazing,” he said. Flanked by HBCU presidents, and other clerical and fraternal representatives, Holmes pointed to 12-point three-year strategic plan of action that he believes will eradicate the violent induction practices for good.

The Strategic Plan of Action includes the Feb.24-25 conference; an Anti-Hazing/Anti-Violence Awareness Sunday on March 25; Anti-Hazing/Anti-Violence Engagement and Empowerment Rallies in 25 cities over the next three years; an Anti-Hazing/Anti-Violence Youth Summit in June 2012, in Atlanta, Georgia, in conjunction with the National Newspaper Publishers Association/NNPA Annual Conference; an Anti-Hazing/Anti-Violence Pre-K to High School Initiative, which will include an “Anti-Hazing Curriculum” to teach young people how to resist hazing and bullying; an Anti-Hazing/Anti-Violence Black Press Initiative to encourage Black-owned newspapers to carry monthly articles on “The Culture, Cause and Cure for Hazing” and encourage African-American broadcasters to develop talk Shows focused on the eradication of hazing from our culture.

Also, an Anti-Hazing/Anti-Violence Social Media Vision to inform the community of the effort to eradicate hazing; an Anti-Hazing/Anti-Violence Media Campaign to work with groups like BET, WORD Network, C-Span, TV One, and other media venues to develop a comprehensive plan of action to blitz their respective listening audiences on the topic of hazing; an Anti-Hazing/Anti-Violence HBCU Collaborative to join Historically Black Colleges and Universities/HBCU presidents, administrators and student leaders to spearhead workshops and conferences to eliminate hazing on and off campuses; a Theological/Psychological Response to collaborate with pastors and theologians in developing sermons and lectures on the dangers of hazing and strategies for its elimination. Psychologists and sociologists will also develop position papers on the subject.

Also, an Anti-Hazing/Anti-Violence Annual Recognition Program to recognize persons, groups, organizations, universities, colleges, businesses, media venues, and others who have developed exemplary programs to eradicate hazing from our culture and community; and Robert Champion Scholarships through the Robert Champion Foundation, which will encourage HBCUs to establish scholarships to spotlight the importance of the elimination of hazing on all campuses in general and HBCUs in particular.

Among the key organizations involved in the movement are The National Newspaper Publishers Association/NNPA; The National Save the Family Now Movement, Inc.; The Martin Luther King, Jr., Center for Nonviolent Social Change; and The National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO).

A large part of the movement will be collaboration with groups that have historically engaged in the practice of hazing, such as sororities and fraternities.

James Crumble Sr., Southern Regional Vice President of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, says his region, the largest in the country for his fraternity, has established a three-point plan based on education, accountability and collaboration. He stressed accountability.

“In those rare instances where my beloved brothers make mistakes, we will hold them accountable. If that means expulsion, if that means de-chartering of a chapter, if that means providing information to local resources for criminal and civil liability, we will do that. It is time for our brothers in this house to realize that all life is precious and no tradition is worth anyone’s life,” he said.

Tallahassee Mayor John Marks, a member of the board of trustees of the National Conference of Black Mayors, noted that the subject of violence and hazing “has been an issue that has either been taboo to talk about, or a subject that is off limits.”

But, with this movement, that has changed, he said. “Never have I felt such a unified stance toward such an undignified act of violence and ignorance in our society. I am pleased to see such enthusiasm of the organizations.”

Marks said he will serve as a conduit for the 650 mayors that are members of the NCBM and a non-hazing task force will be created.

“Today marks the beginning of a new era in which we collectively engage in changing our culture and environment as we seek cross-cultural and multi-faceted solutions which will make a difference in eliminating hazing and all forms of violence from college campuses across America,” Marks said.

The difficulty of stopping the deeply entrenched behavior is evident to Julian Cokely, Student Government Association President at Florida Memorial University.

He spoke of the deaths of two women - 22 and 24 year old - from California State University who drowned blind-folded and tide together in the ocean while pledging a sorority. “When will this reckless behavior come to an end?” he asked.

Working with HBCUs across the country, Coakley says he believes in a radical approach to eradicate the behavior including removal of funds from organizations caught engaging in it.

NAFEO President & CEO Lezli Baskerville says she will help pull together the 105 Historically Black colleges and 50 predominately Black colleges and universities that are a part of NAFEO.

Unity will be the key, she says, will be “students with a sense of oneness.”

Robert Champion Sr., the father of the drum major said the most important aspect of this movement is now “urgency”.

“We can’t wait,” he stressed. “We need to give a sense of urgency so we can get rid of this thing. We’ve got a problem. It’s an urgency problem. We can’t wait. We’ve got to move now.”

His wife, Pam Champion, said the issue is now well beyond her son. “No more hiding, no more secrecy…It takes everybody. It’s not just a Champions thing. Everybody must get on board with it if we are going to end it.”