A fellow Florida A&M University Marching 100 drum major’s testimony sheds light on the culture of hazing exposed with the death of Robert Champion last year.
In discovery released Tuesday, Lanauze Keon Hollis described how he and Champion came to the decision to go along with a hazing ritual that ultimately ended in his bandmate’s death.
“During the season we dealt with attitudes from members of the band, disrespect and challenge of authority,” Hollis said in his sworn statement.
Hollis said band members thought Champion was homosexual and disliked him because he upheld the rules.
Hollis also defined and described several of the hazing rituals that took place the night of the Florida Classic.
The first Hollis described was the “hot seat,” which is when the prospect crouches over their seat and other members beat them with objects of their choice.
The second Hollis described was “prepping,” which he said was when he had to stand there while someone slapped him on his body with both hands and full force.
Finally, Hollis described “crossing the bus;” the ritual where he had to run down the bus aisle while other members punched, kicked and whipped him with a drum strap.
Hollis said Champion went through “prepping” and “crossing the bus” and that he saw him being beaten with sticks.
Hollis said they called an ambulance when Champion began tripping and could not breathe and other band members even performed CPR before paramedics arrived.
Eleven people face felony hazing charges in the hazing death of Champion after the Florida Classic last year.