Gov. Rick Scott refused to back down from his contention that FAMU President James Ammons should step down, at least temporarily, even after the university’s board of trustees decided to keep Ammons in his post.
Scott issued the following statement shortly after the board’s conference call this morning:

Florida A&M University President James Ammons will remain in his post after the historically black university’s governing board this morning rejected Gov. Rick Scott’s recommendation that Ammons be suspended until investigations into the hazing-related murder of FAMU Marching 100 drum major Robert Champion are complete.

The board also agreed this morning to meet weekly for at least the next two months to receive updates on the investigations into Champion’s death – ruled Friday a homicide by the Orlando medical examiner’s office – and alleged financial wrongdoings.

“We will stand firm against outside influence regardless of how well-intended that lead to detrimental consequences that threaten the viability of the university,” Board of Trustees Chairman Solomon Badger said during a telephone conference call this morning. “Our decisions will be fact-based and will result from a deliberative process…Therefore, it is my recommendation that until a final report results from these investigations with official facts, the president’s status remains the same.”

There was no discussion of or vote on Badger’s recommendation.

Scott has repeatedly asked Ammons to step down, and called Ammons into his office Friday afternoon to urge him to step aside until the investigations are complete.

But the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools – the accrediting organization for the university – warned that Scott’s interference may threaten FAMU’s accreditation which requires that schools be free from political influence.

FAMU’s Alumni Association President Tommy Mitchell held a press conference Sunday afternoon warning Scott to let the university operate independently.

And late Sunday evening, Scott’s office issued a statement defending his actions thus far.

“It is up to the FAMU Board of Trustees and Dr. Ammons to determine how to proceed. I have not and will not try to influence their decision. I simply offered my advice and opinion based on the events and the facts I was made aware of. Like all other Floridians, I will abide by the decisions made by the Board of Trustees and President Ammons tomorrow, and I do not plan to release any further comment before then,” Scott said.

Two weeks ago, the trustees rejected a motion to suspend Ammons and instead publicly reprimanded him. Ammons abandoned an effort to fire the renowned band’s director Julian White and instead placed him on administrative leave with pay until the investigations are over.

Read more about the “culture of hazing” here.

Florida A&M University Marching 100 drum major Robert Champion‘s hazing-related death was a homicide, an autopsy report ruled today.

The Orlando medical examiner’s findings were released as Gov. Rick Scott stepped up pressure for the historically black university’s president James Ammons to step down.

After being summoned to Scott’s office this afternoon, a subdued Ammons – until then appearing to reject calls for his ouster – said the governor was committed to preserving FAMU’s future and indicated he may go along with Scott’s recommendation before the university’s board of trustees meet on the issue, again at Scott’s urging, by telephone Monday morning.

“It’s something I’m considering,” Ammons told reporters before leaving the Capitol to hand out diplomas at FAMU’s fall graduation ceremony.

Champion’s death was caused by internal bleeding after suffering blunt trauma, the Orlando medical examiner’s office said. The autopsy found the 26-year-old had bruises to his chest, arms, shoulder and back and suffered bleeding from soft tissues.

Former state Sen. Al Lawson, a FAMU alumnus who accompanied Ammons to Scott’s office in the role of mediator, said it was no surprise that Champion’s death was a homicide.

“This young man lost his life as a result of hazing. It had to do with a lot of physical blows and so forth, in that report. I think everybody expected that it would be that,” Lawson said. “We know the history of hazing at the university. It’s been around since the early 50s.”

Lawson also advised Ammons to stay on the job until the trustees reach a decision Monday morning, and indicated the governor-appointed board may not agree with Scott.

(more…)

Gov. Rick Scott is asking the Florida A & M University board of trustees to suspend the historically black college’s president James Ammons at its Monday meeting.

The request comes after Scott, who returned from a trip to Israel today, was briefed by his aides on the latest investigations into the death of FAMU Marching “100″ band drum major Robert Champion, according to a press release issued by Scott’s office. Scott spoke with FAMU board of trustees chairman Solomon Badger, asking him to suspend Ammons.

“Governor Scott has strongly recommended to Chairman Badger that at the meeting, the Board of Trustees place FAMU President James Ammons on suspension, effective immediately, until the investigations at the University are completed. Governor Scott has also placed a call to FAMU President Ammons to personally notify him of these discussions,” the release reads. (more…)

Florida A & M University officials have halted dismissal procedures against “Marching 100” band director Julian White and reinstated four students previously expelled for their connection with the death of band member Robert Champion.

Wednesday’s actions are the latest twist in the ongoing drama since Champion’s Nov. 19 death, which detectives say may have been caused by hazing.

Two weeks ago, FAMU president James Ammons put White on administrative leave with pay and said he intended to fire him. Last week, Ammons told the state university Board of Governors that four students were expelled in relation to Champion’s death.

On Wednesday, university officials said the students have returned to classes because state police ordered that no disciplinary action be taken until criminal investigations are completed. And a university attorney said White will remain on administrative leave with pay but dismissal actions have been dropped.

“This continues to be a sad time for the entire FAMU community, but each day, I see that Robert Champion’s death was not in vain. A dialogue of healing has begun, and I’m encouraged to see students, faculty, alumni, administrators and trustees taking steps to get rid of hazing. Robert’s parents are starting a hazing hotline. Today I joined ministers and community members at a prayer service for the Champion family, the Marching 100, and for the FAMU Nation. I ask people to continue praying for the Champions and for the Rattler Nation, and I look forward to working with these groups to eradicate hazing on and off campuses throughout the country— in Robert’s name,” White, fighting the dismissal, said in a statement.

Gov. Rick Scott ordered the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate Champion’s death, also being investigated by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and hazing practices at FAMU. FDLE asked the university to back off on any disciplinary action until the criminal investigation is complete.

Gov. Rick Scott spoke out about the death of Florida A & M University “Marching 100″ drum major Robert Champion today, saying he did not order the ouster of band director Julian White. And Scott said he supports putting FAMU’s internal inquiry on hold until other investigations are complete, likely ordered by Scott’s chief of staff Steve MacNamara.

Scott sidestepped questions about his support for FAMU President James Ammons, whom White accused of ignoring his repeated pleas for help to combat hazing.

“I think we are doing it through the most appropriate agency, which is the Florida Dept of Law enforcement. As long as we should expect that everybody cooperates,” the governor said. “Look, we cannot have another child, another student die this way. No one expects sending their child off to school having any pressure like this. I don’t have all the facts. I hope no one did anything inappropriate but…”

Ammons late last night called off the hazing task force – scheduled to meet next week – “based upon input from the Governor’s Office,” Ammons said in a press release.

Scott said he didn’t have a conversation with Ammons about the task force, headed by former attorney general Bob Butterworth and former corrections chief Walt McNeil, now Quincy police chief.

“But I think it makes sense for them to allow the FDLE investigation to happen first. I think Steve MacNamara did, though,” Scott told reporters this morning.

Scott ordered the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct an investigation into Champion’s Nov. 19 death, which the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, also investigating, says is related to hazing.

The university system Board of Governors is also doing its own inquiry into hazing practices at the historically black college, this time with MacNamara’s support.

“Hopefully this will alleviate the need for the ‘citizen task force’ the Dr. Ammons has appointed. In my opinion we don’t need duplication and dueling tasks forces and the Inspector General’s are much better suited to review this matter than the group assembled,” MacNamara wrote in an e-mail to BOG Chairwoman Ava Parker on Nov. 29.

Scott this week also ordered all university presidents to reevaluate their hazing policies but insisted he did not thwart the task force.

“No, what I did was ask FDLE to join the investigation, and Chancellor Brogan to join in. When something like this happens, what we should be doing is making sure this doesn’t happen again…You’d hate for something like this to happen to your own family,” he said.

Four students were expelled from the university in relation to Champion’s death. In the meantime, the Tallahassee Police Department is investigating the alleged hazing-related battery of a second band member, 18-year-old Bria Shante Hunter, who said she was injured weeks before Champion died.