THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, December 20, 2011

Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida

The Florida A&M University board of trustees agreed Monday to keep President James Ammons on the job despite an ongoing investigation of the school's famous "Marching 100" band, rejecting a recommendation from Gov. Rick Scott that Ammons be suspended.

The board's decision came in the wake of building pressure on Scott to butt out of the inquiry at the historically black university, with the regional accrediting body and the head of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus both telling the governor to keep his distance. And in explaining the decision, FAMU Board Chairman Solomon Badger sent an implied warning shot at Scott and others.

"We will stand firm against outside influence, regardless of how well-intended," Badger said during a teleconference to discuss Ammons' status.

The board did agree to set up weekly meetings over the next 60 days to remain apprised of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's investigation into what happened to drum major Robert Champion, whose death after a hazing incident was ruled a homicide last week by Orange County medical examiners. Champion died in Orlando following the annual FAMU-Bethune Cookman football game on Nov. 19. FDLE has since announced that it also is looking into the band's finances.

Badger also said the board would meet at FAMU next month to conduct Ammons' evaluation.

And in a statement issued following the meeting, the board said it was too soon to force Ammons to step aside, even temporarily.

"Until information and results from the ongoing investigations are made available to the board, enabling it to effectively conduct a fact-based deliberation on the role of the administration and the President in these matters, the board is deciding to leave the status of the President unchanged," it said.

Scott publicly waded into the controversy last week, calling on the board to suspend Ammons to remove any doubts about the thoroughness of the investigation. Ammons said after a Friday afternoon meeting with Scott that he would consider the advice, but the board action Monday would keep him on the job for the time.

The governor released a statement following the meeting saying he would follow the board's decision.

"For the sake of appearances, and to assure the public that these investigations are clearly independent, I believe it would have been in the best interest of Florida A&M University for President Ammons to step aside until all of these investigations are completed," Scott said. "However, we have a process in Florida for the administration of the State University System, and that process has been followed."

Over weekend and leading up to Monday morning's meeting, pressure had been building on Scott to remove himself from decisions about Ammons' future -- including a letter from Belle Wheelan, president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, FAMU's accrediting body.

"Having been a college president, as well as being a parent, I truly appreciate the seriousness of the issues with which the University is dealing as it relates to the reported hazing events of recent weeks; however, the issues are those of the University and as such should be handled by the governing board," Wheelan wrote.

In an interview Monday, Wheelan said the board was free to suspend Ammons if it believed it was necessary, but not because of pressure from Scott.

"If they do it because he tells them to, that jeopardizes their accreditation," she said.

Losing accreditation could endanger federal financial aid to students, but Wheelan said the organization was likely to place an institution on warning first. She also said SACS has taken no steps toward investigating FAMU over the governor's comments.

On Monday, Rep. Mia Jones, the Jacksonville Democrat who chairs the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, also urged the university's board to make its own decision.

"Governor Rick Scott is our state’s Chief Executive Officer, and while he is certainly entitled to an opinion, his actions or influences on the management and governing of the University could jeopardize FAMU’s accreditation under the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools," said Jones, a FAMU alumna. "It is the position of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus (FLBC) that the Board of Trustees be allowed to fulfill its duties in the manner outlined in Florida statutes without influence from the Legislative or Executive branch of government."

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[UPDATE] TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - December 19, 2011 - Noon -

The FAMU Board of Trustees held an emergency meeting this morning. Board members scheduled the meeting to respond to Florida Governor Rick Scott's request to suspend FAMU president Dr. James Ammons.

FAMU Board of Trustees have agreed not to take any action on the status of university president Dr. James Ammons. I was upstairs in the conference room of Lee Hall when the board members held their meeting by phone. The room was packed with university team leaders and the media.

The trustees scheduled the meeting after Governor Rick Scott strongly suggested to Board Chairman Solomon Badger to suspend Dr. Ammons last week. Scott says Ammons should step down while investigations of hazing and irregularities at the university are being conducted.

This morning during the conference call meeting, Chairman Badger suggested that Dr. Ammons' status should remain the same until all investigations are completed.

The board also voted to have meetings every week in order to stay abreast of ongoing issues.

We did not hear President Ammons' name called during the teleconference, nor did we hear him say anything during the call, but leaders who were in the conference room say he was on the phone.
Eyewitness News was told Dr. Ammons is on holiday leave, but administrators did not know where he was calling from.

STATEMENT FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES:

"As a board, we are vested with the power and authority to govern and set policy for Florida A&M University. To clarify any concern, we are fully aware of our authority. As is always the case, the board will act with the best interests of the University in mind and will not be influenced by pressure from political or other outside forces. Our deliberations on all matters are underscored by our commitment to pursuing the right path for the University and its future."

"Furthermore it should be noted that the board is closely monitoring all ongoing investigations. Until information and results from the ongoing investigations are made available to the board, enabling it to effectively conduct a fact-based deliberation on the role of the administration and the President in these matters, the board is deciding to leave the status of the President unchanged. The board is committed to convene and act promptly, as soon as information from the investigating agencies becomes available."

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[UPDATE] TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - December 19, 2011 - 9:45am -

Florida A&M University's president will keep his job while authorities investigate the hazing death of a band member.

The university's board of trustees on Monday rejected a call by Gov. Rick Scott that James Ammons be suspended.

The decision comes three days after the state medical examiner ruled that 26-year-old Robert Champion's Nov. 19 death was a homicide. Officials say he was beaten so severely that he bled internally and went into shock. He died within an hour.

Ammons and other university leaders have been criticized for not doing enough to stop a culture of hazing within the university's famed "Marching 100" band. Band director Julian White has been placed on temporary leave and the board had already publicly reprimanded Ammons.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — December 19, 2011 - 9:20am -

The FAMU Board of Trustees started its conference call meeting around 9am.

Chairman Badger has suggested that Dr. Ammons' status remains the same until all final reports are in.

As of 9:30am, the board has not yet started discussing the chairman's recommendation yet. They are talking about a motion to start meeting once a week to stay on top of ongoing issues.

Meeting adjourned at 9:33. No action taken on the status of Ammons. Voted to meet every week.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — December 19, 2011 -

The immediate future of Florida A&M University's president is on the line Monday morning as the board of trustees considers whether to suspend him while authorities investigate the hazing death of a band member.

The meeting comes three days after the state medical examiner ruled that 26-year-old drum major Robert Champion's Nov. 19 death was a homicide. Officials say he was beaten so severely that he bled internally and went into shock. He died within an hour.

School President James Ammons and other university leaders have been criticized for not doing enough to stop a culture of hazing within the university's famed "Marching 100" band. Band director Julian White has been placed on temporary leave and the board publicly reprimanded Ammons.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott suggested to university leaders that Ammons be suspended but said he'd abide by the board's decision.

Students have largely stood by both leaders. Students protested outside the governor's mansion Thursday to show support for Ammons, and the president of the national alumni association at a news conference Sunday contested Scott's involvement and recommend Ammons not be suspended.

"This is under investigation," Tommy Mitchell said. "How do you make a determination before all the evidence is in?"

Scott said in a statement that he is not singling out FAMU and called on all universities in the state to examine their hazing and harassment policies. He said he was offering his opinion and counsel regarding Ammons.

"I merely suggested it would be wise for Dr. Ammons to step aside until these investigations are completed," Scott said. "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. Like all other Floridians, I will abide by the decisions made."

Champion died after falling unconscious on a bus outside an Orlando hotel after the school's football team lost to rival Bethune-Cookman. Witnesses told emergency dispatchers he had been vomiting.

The medical examiner's office in Orlando found that Champion had bruises to his chest, arms, shoulder and back and internal bleeding. No charges have been filed.

Champion's death exposed years of hazing that has plagued the band and left several students injured. In 1998, Ivery Luckey, a clarinet player from Ocala, Fla., was hospitalized with kidney damage after being paddled as part of an initiation to become a member of a group known as "The Clones." Three years later, band member Marcus Parker was also hospitalized with kidney damage after being paddled.

Ammons, a FAMU alumni, became president in 2007 at a time when the university was under considerable distress. There had been four presidents within the previous six years and an audit in 2007 uncovered 35 findings, including $4.5 million in unaccounted sports tickets and lost equipment. The university was placed under probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Under Ammons' leadership, the university's accreditation was restored and its finances improved. An audit done two years later found the university still needed to do a better job of paying bills on time and keeping a closer eye on employee use of state-owned cell phones, but those problems paled in comparison to the previous report.

"He brought us through that," Mitchell said. "There's no reason for us to believe he can't bring us through this."

But hazing continued to be a problem. White has provided letters of suspension issued to dozens of band members for hazing, including many of which Ammons was reportedly provided a copy.

Less than two weeks before Champion's death, band member Bria Hunter was hospitalized with a broken leg and blood clots in what authorities say was another act of hazing. Three band members have been charged in the beating.

And two days before Champion died, White sent a letter to alumni, urging them not to "return and perpetuate the myth of various sectional names."

"You should not return and look down on people who follow university regulations by not participating in sub-organizations," White wrote, urging alumni to help him eliminate "all vestiges of hazing" in the band.

Ammons suspended the band after Champion's death, dismissed White and expelled four students in connection with the hazing. White was later placed on temporary leave and the students were allowed to attend class after state authorities urged the university not to take disciplinary action before the investigation was complete.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has warned Scott's push to suspend Ammons could affect the school's accreditation because of "undue influence" on the board from outside.