FMU still negotiating hazing lawsuit
Florida A&M University is still trying to resolve a lawsuit filed by the family of a drum major who died following a hazing ritual.The university board held an emergency meeting on Feb. 14 to discuss the lawsuit filed by the family of Robert Champion. Champion, who was gay, died in November 2011. The Champions, who live in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur, Ga., claim university officials did not take enough action to stop hazing in the famed Marching 100 band before the death of their son. They rejected a previous offer to settle the case for $300,000.
Since Champion’s death FAMU has made sweeping changes to try to combat hazing.
Band combats bullying with music
More than 50 talented high school musicians rehearsed for weeks for a special concert Feb. 24 at the Broward Center. The students represent high schools from Miami-Dade County all the way up to northern Palm Beach County and all were selected to participate in the second annual Youth Pride Band. Founded last year as a response to the large number of anti-gay bullying incidents and rise in suicides among LGBT youth, the band promotes understanding through music.
Name change snub sparks policy rewrite
A September 2012 request by a Lee County man to change his last name to that of his new husband was met with hostility by the Department of Motor Vehicles. When he presented a New York marriage certificate, he was dismissed with “hostility” and was not told of alternative ways to complete the change. Now, following the involvement from the ACLU, the DMV has rewritten policy manuals to reflect that its employees are to ask for a passport and Social Security Card as sufficient for a name change when a marriage certificate is not considered valid.
Cuts could hinder Florida HIV testing
The White House released lists for each state on Feb. 24 of potential effects of automatic spending cuts set for Friday, March 1. And among the programs getting hit hard is the Florida State Health Department’s HIV testing program. The $1.4 million funding for the program means that HIV tests would be cut by about 359,000, according to the numbers. The White House compiled the numbers from federal agencies and its own budget office. The numbers reflect the impact of the cuts this year. Unless Congress acts by March 1, $85 billion in cuts are set to take effect from March-September.
