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A national leader in the Missionary Baptist Church is calling for a national task force to end hazing at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The call comes two weeks after the hazing related death of FAMU drum major Robert Champion. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, Governor Rick Scott, when asked, did not offer support to FAMU President James Ammons.

Paster O. Jermaine Simmons confides that he was hazed a dozen years ago because he was not strong enough to resist.

“Not one time did I call home and say, Daddy, they’re hazing me,” Simmons said/ “Because I wanted to fit in! There’s a negative stigma, unfortunately, on individuals who were not hazed, who were not initiated the “right” way.”

Now, Simmons and other Black Pastors say they must reach the young in their congregations to give them the strength to say no.

“Our people understand that hazing must stop, and it must stop now and forever,” Rev. R.B. Holmes, pastor of Bethel Church, said.

Historically Black College Presidents from Georgia, South Carolina, Jacksonville and Miami will work to unveil an anti hazing educational plan by Martin Luther King’s birthday in January.

At the state capitol, Governor Rick Scott says he is anxious to hear from the Florida Board of Governors about anti hazing plans across the state.

“No one anticipates going off, sending their child off to school and having any pressure like this,” Scott said.

But when asked if he supported the efforts for FAMU President James Ammons in the wake of Drum Major Robert Champion’s death, Scott declined to answer.

FAMU Trustees meet for the first time since the drum major’s death next week in Orlando. But nowhere in this lengthy agenda is there a mention of Robert Champion.

The board has a closed door session with attorneys where the case could come up. Robert Champion’s death could also be discussed during a report by the University President.

FAMU students are being called to a mandatory meeting Monday evening to talk about the hazing death. They will be urged to sign anti hazing pledges.