Jackson State Band Has Less "Boom"
-- Black College Wire
Tiffany Edmondson
Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: News
More than 40 members of Jackson
State University's 280-member marching
band, "The Sonic Boom of the South,"
have been suspended and may face criminal
charges amid allegations of hazing.
In addition to the hazing charge
and failure to comply with university rules
and regulations, the students also may be
charged with assault and battery and moral
turpitude. Hazing allegations came to light
Friday just before the football season's first
home opener against Grambling State University.
According to JSU Associate Vice
President for Student Life Marcus Chanay,
the hazing accusations stem from a student
suffering a fractured shoulder during an
off-campus event.
"On Friday, September 18, 2009, the Division
of Student Life was contacted by a
parent who reported that her son was hazed
off-campus by upperclassmen band members
out of the percussion section. She indicated
to us that her son had been hospitalized
for a fractured shoulder," Chanay
said.
The JSU Department of Public Safety
launched an investigation which determined
that charges would be filed. The
Jackson Police Department is also investigating
the off-campus incident. Chanay
added: "There were approximately 22 students
hazed. There are no charges pending
against the entire band. We will continue
educating the entire band on hazing."
Some band members were not allowed to
perform during Saturday's halftime show.
Any allegations of hazing
would be investigated
and handled by
Judicial Services, which
falls under the Division
of Student Life. According
to the JSU Student
Handbook University
Policies and Procedures
Relating to Student
Conduct: "Participation
in hazing subjects the
individual or organization
to University disciplinary
action and may
be punishable by law."
The handbook also states that judicial
penalties for hazing are: suspension;
indefinite suspension; or expulsion. Similar
State University's 280-member marching
band, "The Sonic Boom of the South,"
have been suspended and may face criminal
charges amid allegations of hazing.
In addition to the hazing charge
and failure to comply with university rules
and regulations, the students also may be
charged with assault and battery and moral
turpitude. Hazing allegations came to light
Friday just before the football season's first
home opener against Grambling State University.
According to JSU Associate Vice
President for Student Life Marcus Chanay,
the hazing accusations stem from a student
suffering a fractured shoulder during an
off-campus event.
"On Friday, September 18, 2009, the Division
of Student Life was contacted by a
parent who reported that her son was hazed
off-campus by upperclassmen band members
out of the percussion section. She indicated
to us that her son had been hospitalized
for a fractured shoulder," Chanay
said.
The JSU Department of Public Safety
launched an investigation which determined
that charges would be filed. The
Jackson Police Department is also investigating
the off-campus incident. Chanay
added: "There were approximately 22 students
hazed. There are no charges pending
against the entire band. We will continue
educating the entire band on hazing."
Some band members were not allowed to
perform during Saturday's halftime show.
Any allegations of hazing
would be investigated
and handled by
Judicial Services, which
falls under the Division
of Student Life. According
to the JSU Student
Handbook University
Policies and Procedures
Relating to Student
Conduct: "Participation
in hazing subjects the
individual or organization
to University disciplinary
action and may
be punishable by law."
The handbook also states that judicial
penalties for hazing are: suspension;
indefinite suspension; or expulsion. Similar
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