TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M University’s student newspaper has delayed publication of its first spring semester edition, due in part to a libel suit over a hazing story.
University officials on Wednesday acknowledged The Famuan newspaper’s on-line edition erroneously implicated a band member in the 2011 hazing death of drum major Robert Champion.
They said the university has not yet been served with the lawsuit filed by Keon Hollis, also then a drum major, but pointed out the newspaper published a correction.
The two-week delay of the first edition until Jan. 30 will provide time for staffers to receive intensive training.
Another factor that led to the delay was the discovery by the journalism school’s dean that some editors prior to August 2012 had been ineligible to participate in student media activities.