FAMU Chief Ammons Resigns
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Posted By: How May I Help You NC on July 13, 2012 The action came the same day the school was sued in a hazing death. By Merissa Green THE LEDGER Published: Thursday, July 12, 2012 at 2:40 a.m. Last Modified: Thursday, July 12, 2012 at 2:40 a.m. LAKELAND | Eight months after a drum major died following a hazing incident, Winter Haven native James Ammons has resigned as president of Florida A&M University. Facts James Ammons wrote in his resignation letter: "After considerable thought, introspection and conversations with my family, I have decided to resign from my position as president in order to initiate my retirement on Oct. 11." "After considerable thought, introspection and conversations with my family, I have decided to resign from my position as president in order to initiate my retirement on Oct. 11," Ammons wrote Wednesday in his resignation letter. "Following the presidency, I will continue my work on science, technology, engineering and math initiatives as a tenured full professor on our great faculty." Ammons received a vote of no-confidence from the FAMU Board of Trustees last month. He earns at least $325,000 a year as president. The resignation came the same day Robert Champion's family filed a lawsuit against the university. Champion collapsed Nov. 19 on a bus parked outside an Orlando hotel following FAMU's showdown with Bethune-Cookman University in the annual Florida Classic. Police said Champion had been vomiting and complained he couldn't breathe shortly before he collapsed. Investigators later learned that while Champion was on the bus, he had undergone a traditional band hazing ritual. After Champion's death, the Marching 100, which has appeared at Super Bowls and presidential inaugurations, was put on suspension while state and Orlando law enforcement officials investigated. In May, Ammons, who is the university's 10th president, announced the band would remain on suspension for the 2012-13 school year. Solomon Badger III, chair of the FAMU Board of Trustees, said he was saddened by Ammons' decision to resign. "Given all that has transpired, it seems to be in the best interest of the university, and I applaud him for putting FAMU ahead of his personal goals," Badger said in a prepared statement. Local alumni, especially those from Winter Haven's Florence Villa community where Ammons grew up, said they are in disbelief. Deldrick Leonard, who graduated in FAMU in 1999, said Ammons made a tough decision in resigning, but he's looking at moving the university forward. Leonard played the trombone in the Marching 100. "I'm deeply saddened to learn of this," Leonard, 36, said. "He has done a fantastic job to guide the university through this difficult situation." Larentiis Smith, who graduated in 2004, played the tuba in the band. "I'm in a state of shock," he said. "I want to know what's the reason. I feel bad for the school." Ted Taylor of Plant City said FAMU has received unfair coverage from the media because there have been similar incidents at other universities in the state. "FAMU has lost a great president – somebody who loved the university dearly," said Taylor, who graduated from FAMU in 1975. Donzell Floyd, who lives in Florence Villa and graduated from Bethune-Cookman, said he feels sorry for the students because Ammons was a good leader. "I thought the situation was a rush to judgment from the start on the part of the governor and others in decision-making positions," Floyd said. "All pertinent facts were not considered." While the hazing case has drawn national attention, some university system officials have been at least as troubled by other issues. A scathing letter sent to Badger by the state university system Board of Governors chairman, Dean Colson, alluded to several serious issues that have worried state officials. Among those were lower graduation rates, allegations of fraud having to do with summaries of an audit that hadn't actually been done, and a sexual assault of a minor at the university's research school. Then, as the hazing allegations came under the national spotlight, school officials learned that several members of the famous band weren't even students at the university. Ammons graduated from FAMU in 1974. After teaching at the University of Central Florida, Ammons was hired by FAMU as an associate professor in political science in 1983. He became the provost and vice president of academic affairs in 1995. He left FAMU to become the chancellor at North Carolina Central University until becoming FAMU president in 2007. Ammons is thought to be the first Polk County native to serve as president of a state university. Polk County's FAMU alumni chapter has 200 members. Currently, 174 students from Polk are enrolled at the college, according to FAMU. [ Merissa Green can be reached at merissa.green@theledger.com or 863-802-7547. Information from The News Service of Florida was used in this report. ] Photo: JAMES AMMONS is thought to be the first Polk County native who has been president of a state university. He announced his resignation as president of Florida A&M University on Wednesday. PAUL CRATE | LEDGER MEDIA GROUP Source: http://www.theledger.com/article/20120712/... If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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