DEKALB COUNTY, Ga.,None — The DeKalb County school district is suspending all marching band activities over concerns of "inappropriate physical activity" between students.
The district began investigating after former Southwest DeKalb High School student Robert Champion died during an alleged hazing on board a Florida A&M University bus in Orlando in November. Three weeks earlier, FAMU band member and Southwest DeKalb graduate Bria Hunter said she was brutally beaten in a hazing by three marching band members. Two of three students charged in the attack also attended Southwest Dekalb High School.
"After incidents were reported in the media, we alerted principals and band directors to be vigilant and reminded them of our zero-tolerance policy of harassment of any kind." said schools spokesman Walter Woods.
The incidents prompted DeKalb County to look into marching band culture in the school system.
"We have had some calls from parents in the community. We have documented one incident that happened over the summer, and subsequent to that, the superintendent this morning directed a full scale investigation, and until that is done, we are going to suspend all band activities outside the classroom." said Woods
Woods said Wednesday they were looking at every high school after two incidents during band activities over the summer. He declined to say whether they were hazing.
"The investigation, headed by Deputy Superintendent Kendra March, is meant to determine the scale and nature of any inappropriate activities and what actions need to be taken at the school level to ensure the safety of students," Woods said in a statement.
He did say students were not injured enough to be treated at a hospital.
Channel 2's Tom Regan spoke with student leaving Southwest DeKalb to get their reaction to the suspension of band activities.
"We got a good band. I don't want them to stop, but if they got to, they got to." said Jerome Marks.
Regan also spoke with marching band member Nkenge Scott, who plays trombone.
"Have you heard of any incidents of hazing or harassment?" Regan asked.
"No. Not at all." said Scott.
School officials say the investigation should take two months. Disciplinary action will be taken against any student or school employee who violated policies against harassment.
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