TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -Florida A&M University is attempting to combat hazing with an anti-hazing task force and a grant, according to university president Dr. James Ammons.

The FAMU Anti-Hazing Task Force will be made up of a wide variety of  people, from a wide variety of backgrounds and occupations.

The FAMU Anti-Hazing Committee facilitator and members, as follows, were selected based on input from the board, administration, faculty, students and alumni:

• Stephen Craig Robinson (Chairman) – Former U.S. District Court Judge and current partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom;
• Dr. Na’im Akbar – Clinical Psychologist and Former President, National Association of Black Psychologists;
• Dr. Elizabeth Allan – Professor, University of Maine and Co-Director, The National Collaborative for Hazing Research and Prevention;
• Dr. Michael V. Bowie – Executive Director of Florida Fund for Minority Teachers & former national president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council;
• David Brewer – Former Vice Admiral of the United States Navy and Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District;
• Dr. Mary Madden – Professor, University of Maine & Co-Director, The National Collaborative for Hazing Research and Prevention;
• David Starnes – Band Director and Professor of Music at Western Carolina University.

“To put us in the best position to permanently stop hazing at FAMU, we feel it is important to bring in many of the most respected minds on the subject and ensure that we are addressing this destructive issue from all sides,” said Solomon Badger, FAMU Board Chairman. 


The committee will be asked to examine the following issues:

• Hazing at other universities and how has it been handled?
• Getting students to resist hazing; what has worked?
• How do we best govern the Marching “100” and its activities?

The committee’s work will result in findings and recommendations to be presented to the FAMU Board of Trustees for consideration and approval.

The FAMU Anti-Hazing Committee is part of the University’s comprehensive plan to end hazing at FAMU and was approved by the Board of Trustees during its January 2 session. The task force was previously halted due to a possible conflict with the criminal investigation into the death of Marching 100 drum major Robert Champion. Champion reportedly died due to a hazing incident.

Dr. Ammons also announced a $50,000 grant that would go towards anti-hazing research. The research will be done by university students and professors.

The announcement came during a board of trustees meeting February 9.

Following are biographies of the FAMU Anti-Hazing Committee members:

Dr. Na’im Akbar – Dr. Akbar, a Tallahassee native, is a clinical psychologist that is considered one of the world's preeminent psychologists and a pioneer in the development of an African-centered approach in modern psychology. He has served on the Boards of Directors of a variety of civic and professional organizations, including several terms on the Board of the National Association of Black Psychologists, the editorial board of the Journal of Black Studies, and for eight years was the associate editor of the Journal of Black Psychology. Akbar attended the University of Michigan to complete his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in psychology.

Elizabeth J. Allan – Allan is a professor of Higher Education at the University of Maine. She is the author of two books and co-editor of a policy text. Her award-winning scholarship focuses on campus climates and has been featured in premiere education journals including the Harvard Educational Review and The Journal of Higher Education. Allan's professional experience educating about hazing spans two decades and includes research, prevention, student affairs, and policy work. She was the principal investigator for the National Study of Student Hazing (2008) and has authored and co-authored numerous articles, essays, book chapters, and encyclopedia entries on the topic of hazing. Allan earned a Ph.D. in educational policy and leadership from The Ohio State University, an M.S. in health promotion and B.S. in psychology from Springfield College.

Michael V. Bowie – Bowie is the former national president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. from 2003 -2007. Currently, he serves as executive director of Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc. He is also director for recruitment, retention and multicultural affairs at the University of Florida and courtesy faculty for University of Florida. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Morgan State University, a master’s degree at the Pennsylvania State University, and his Ph.D. at the University of Florida.

David Brewer – David Brewer is a retired Vice Admiral of the United States Navy and former superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, second largest school district in the U.S. The 35-year veteran of the Navy commanded Military Sealift Command, with its fleet of 120 ships, from August 2001 until his retirement in March 2006. Admiral Brewer also served as Vice Chief of the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) from 1999-2001. As Vice Chief of NETC, he led the development of the Navy College Program and the negotiations of contracts with 11 colleges, universities and community colleges to provide online bachelor and associate degree programs to more than 300,000 sailors.

Mary Madden – Madden is an experienced researcher and program evaluator whose work has focused on the development, health, well-being, and education of adolescents, including hazing. She has co-authored curriculum to support facilitation of girls' groups as well as developed and facilitated trainings for adults working with girls. Madden directed the National Study of Student Hazing and has co-authored articles on hazing and presented the research findings at numerous conferences. Madden is an associate research professor in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Maine where she teaches research courses.

Stephen Craig Robinson – Judge Robinson is a former United States federal judge who served on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York from 2003 to 2010. He is currently a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Robinson was in private practice in New York City from 1984 to 1987 before becoming an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York in 1987. In 1991, he was managing director and associate general counsel for Kroll Associates before moving to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1993 where he was principal deputy general counsel and special assistant to the director. In 1998, he served as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, where he served for three years.

David Starnes - Starnes joined the School of Music at Western Carolina University in the summer of 2011 as assistant professor/director of Athletic Bands. He directs the "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band and the Symphonic Band as well as teaches music education courses to Undergraduate students. Prior to coming to Western Carolina, Starnes was the founding director of bands at Kennesaw Mountain High School in Kennesaw, Ga., where he served for 11 years. Starnes is sought nationally and internationally as an adjudicator, clinician, guest conductor and creative designer. A native of Chattanooga, Tenn., Mr. Starnes graduated magna cum laude from the University of Tennessee.