Tallahassee, Florida- July 11, 2012- 6pm
Dr. James Ammons has been defending his post ever since a Marching 100 drum major died from hazing ... Now, Dr. Ammons is resigning as FAMU's president. He submitted his letter of resignation earlier today. Dr. Ammons has been defending himself ever since the hazing death of Marching 100 drum major Robert Champion.
In his resignation letter, Ammons wrote, "The Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors made it patently clear to me that I had to take charge and move forward immediately."
There were a lot of people who had been asking Dr. Ammons to move on for a while now. Many say he was partly responsible for the hazing death of Marching 100 Drum Major Robert Champion back in November. However, Dr. Ammons has many people supporting him throughout these past turbulent months.
In his resignation letter he says there are new challenges that must be met head on. He says "when the next president experiences her or his transition in, she or he will very likely find additonal challenges, albeit not nearly to the extent of that which I faced at the outset, or those I am now facing."
Dr. Ammons was the tenth president of FAMU. This is his alma mater. He served for five years.
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - July 11, 2012 - 1:50pm
Florida A&M President James Ammons has resigned the same day parents of a drum major who died after being hazed added the university to a wrongful death lawsuit.
Ammons resigned Wednesday in a letter to the university governing board.
Robert Champion died in November after being beaten by fellow band members during a hazing ritual aboard a bus parked outside an Orlando hotel following a football game against the school's archrival.
Eleven FAMU band members face felony hazing charges, while two others face misdemeanor counts for alleged roles in the hazing. They have pleaded not guilty.
Champion's death put a spotlight on hazing at the school and led to the suspension of the band until at least next year.
The lawsuit brought by Champion's parents claims FAMU officials didn't take enough action to stop hazing.
“I was just made aware of today’s announcement and have read President Ammons’ resignation letter. I realize that this must have been a very difficult decision for President Ammons and his family. As the President candidly and correctly noted in his letter, there are challenges remaining at FAMU that ‘must be met head on.’ The Florida Board of Governors is committed to continued assistance to the FAMU Board of Trustees in order to fully resolve these challenges and ensure FAMU’s future success,” says Dean Colson, Chair for the Florida Board of Governors.
Chairman Solomon Badger III Statement
"I am saddened by President Ammons' decision to resign, but it is his choice to do so. 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."
Dr. Solomon Badger III Chair, FAMU Board of Trustees
University Statement Regarding the Champion Family Lawsuit
“We have known for quite some time that the family intended to file suit. Our hearts and prayers still go out to the Champion family. We are unable to comment further due to the pending litigation surrounding this matter.”
Sharon P. Saunders Chief Communications Officer
Stay with WCTV for details.
Replies
See... FAMUs issue is that they have too many people bending over. Accept responsibility for what took place, pay the Champion family and move on. The Champions should not be out suing the damn bus driver.
Take a look at Penn State... They tossed those involved to the curb and told the families that we accept responsibility and will settle with them. The victims and the public are happy and the University's President and Board have protected it's public image, because after all is said and done, that’s all that matters. And the only people tarnished are the ones involved, not the University.
If I were Ammons, the second Champion was pronounced dead I would've fired Dr. White and had charges pressed against ANYONE that may have been involved in the hazing that night, guilty or not. Let them fight their legal battles. If they were on the bus at the time they were going to be charged. And the very next day tell the family that the University is responsible. And pay them off.
But nooooo, FAMU was out pointing fingers at everyone else. It took months to fire White, took months to press charges and the saddest thing was that the very people who murdered Champion were holding his casket.
Ammons is guilty of NOT protecting FAMU's public image. If this was handled correctly the only people Ammons would've pissed off would be those responsible for the death of Champion. He went around trying to protect his buddies and in turn he has destroyed his own career, a great music program and possibly a University.
.....good luck trying to end hazing
Kinda like Maab's trumpets did vs. Memphis huh? lol
SWAC/TRUTH said:
And it begins I expect a few more administration resignations after some of the articles I have read in the past few weeks