Delaware State University Officials Investigating Hazing Allegations
DOVER, Del. (CBS/AP) -- Delaware State University has suspended all activities of the school's band music groups amid an investigation of alleged hazing.
The suspension involves all band performances, including those of the DSU Approaching Storm marching band, the DSU Jazz Ensembles, the concert band and pep bands. A spokesman said roughly 150 students participate in the bands.
"The university takes any kind of hazing seriously. Fortunately we haven't had any reports of injury, minor or serious," university spokesperson Carlos Holmes said.
But they are not ruling anything out until all band members have been interviewed.
"We don't want to wait until a student gets seriously injured," Holmes said.
Officials at the historically black institution said the suspension covers the rest of the semester, including the final home football game Nov. 23. They did not provide details of the alleged hazing but said the university takes such allegations very seriously.
A university spokesman said the investigation began more than a week ago, and that enough information had been developed to prompt officials to suspend all band activities until the investigation is concluded.
"Everybody knows the seriousness about it especially in college now," student Aeisha Gray said.
Dr. Alton Thompson, DSU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said that student safety is a paramount priority at DSU.
"The University takes these allegations of hazing very seriously, and as such, taking action immediately to suspend the band activities and thoroughly investigate the veracity of the charges is the only appropriate course," Dr. Thompson said.
Decisions concerning band activities during the 2014 spring semester will not be made until the conclusion of the ongoing investigation, which the University is conducting in conjunction with the DSU Police Department.
While the band performance activities are suspended, music-related academic classes will continue to take place.
