At least 27 students at Jackson State University have been suspended for two years for hazing freshmen in the Mississippi institution’s 280-member marching band, known as the “Sonic Boom of the South,” according to The Clarion-Ledger, a newspaper in Jackson, Miss. The suspended band members, most of them upperclass percussion players, are said to have beaten the freshmen last month with 2-by-4 boards, pipes, bats, paddles, beer bottles, and a chair, but none of the victims was seriously injured. No charges have been filed in the case. Despite the absent players, the band will continue to perform, but as one student told the newspaper, “it’s going to hurt the halftime show.”
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5 Responses to 27 Band Members Suspended at Jackson State U. for Hazing Freshmen
greenhills73 - October 1, 2009 at 11:20 am
Where on God’s green earth does ANYONE get the idea that it’s EVER ok to beat other people with those things?
22273693 - October 1, 2009 at 3:36 pm
I would say a broken collarbone is serious. The more controversial issue is that JSU refuses to release academic records so the students could attend another school during this two year suspension.
tony__ross - October 1, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Like many, I agree with the sanction and suspension. However like 22273692′s post, I disagree with JSU’s policy/stance on refusing to release academic transcripts of the students who want to attend other universities so those students could continue their education. For many institutions, students who are suspended may have a notation on their transcript indicating said suspension. And for some state university systems students may not be allowed to enroll in another institution within that system. However, it does not/should not preclude students from getting their transcripts and transferring to another college or university outside of their system.If students want to attend another university outside of the JSU system and JSU refuses to release the transcripts, they may indeed be setting themselves up for a lawsuit. We may not have heard the last of this.
wftate - October 2, 2009 at 1:56 am
Without all the details, I do not want to be too harsh. However, it is hard to understand why the students were only suspended. This is criminal behavior that also reflects very poorly on the university. Give them their transcripts as well as final marching orders. There is no need to return to campus. What lessons will be learned away from campus for two years?
marvb - October 2, 2009 at 9:30 am
Evidently, This university does not tolerate hazing.The perps should have thought of possible consequences before choosing to treat others so cruelly.You would think that this is criminal behavior. Who is paying the student’s medical bill?The holding of transcripts is a consequence of the choices made.The university got somebody’s attention, didn’t they? Good!