The family of Robert Champion, a drum major killed in a hazing ritual, settled their lawsuit with Florida A&M University (FAMU).
The Orlando Sentinel reported obtaining documents that showed FAMU paid $1.1 million to the Champion family and will issue a formal apology as well. The school will pay $300,000 through the Florida Department of Financial Services and the remaining $800,000 will come from an insurance company affiliated with the Rosen Plaza hotel.
Champion died from injuries sustained during a vicious hazing ritual taking place in a bus parked outside the hotel, where the FAMU marching band was staying. All 15 people charged in Champion's death have concluded their court cases and only one was sentenced to prison time, the band member accused of organizing the ritual.
Other conditions of the settlement include renaming FAMU's anti-hazing program after Champion, as well as installing a plaque honoring his memory in one of three campus locations. The Sentinel learned the Champion family will get to choose between the FAMU student union, the marching band's practice field, or the band's practice room.
"Today's settlement is bittersweet, but it will enable us to focus squarely on our mission of educating young people, schools, band directors and athletic teams about the dangers of hazing," Pam and Robert Champion Sr. said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press. "We will always honor the memory of our son, Robert. We called Robert 'the example,' and the positive change that will come as a result of his death will ensure that he did not die in vain."
The school's apology to the Champions reads, in part:
"On behalf of the FAMU Board of Trustees, please accept our sincere condolences and sympathies for the loss of your son, Robert Champion Jr., and please know that we are deeply sorry for your family's and the world's loss of such a fine and outstanding son, brother, musician and individual.
"We greatly appreciate the opportunity to honor Robert's memory and spirit to help inspire and motivate people everywhere to forever eradicate hazing from our society once and for all."
