UPDATED 5.14.2012
We had a chance to sit down with FAMU President James Ammons this afternoon and talk about today's decision to continue the band's suspension as well as the hazing death that started it all.
President Ammons said the band would remain suspended for the 2012-2013 academic year. He says in the meantime, the school will continue to recruit talented musicians and offer them scholarships.
Ammons said he extended the band's suspension out of respect for Robert Champion's family and it will give the school time to restructure the band and launch a national search for its next leader.
Ammons said he was disappointed in recent revelations that more than 100 band members were not enrolled in FAMU's band class as required.
"This is written in everything that we give to the music department and to music students and for the life of me, I don't understand how we can have the professors who were in charge of this class and who, like very other professor in this university who teaches, verify the enrollment and attendance of students in their class and not notice that now you've got 101 more than in your class. This will not happen again," Ammons said.
Ammons would not comment on Dr. Julian White's claims that he is a scapegoat and would not comment on whether there will be any more suspensions or terminations. FAMU's attorney cited ongoing investigations and pending litigation.
Additional Video Provided by The News Service of Florida
Q&A with Famu President James Ammons. He responds to the question of whether he should resign, how 101 members of the band were able to participate when they should have been ineligible and the status of students with band scholarships, and more.
Ammons said FAMU's School of Business and Industry will now do research to see how ticket sales may be impacted by the absence of the Marching 100.
He says two of the band's biggest performances, the Atlanta Classic and the Florida Classic, bring in 1.5 million dollars. He says that's about nine percent of the budget.
Yet Ammons is confident the suspension will not have a significant impact on the university's enrollment.
"Even in this down economy, graduates are walking out with multiple job offers. Biggest problem is which offer am I going to take? That didn't happen everywhere, alright?" Ammons said. "So ... and the other thing, there are many members of the 100 who are not music majors. They major in everything, okay? So, I think it's the university that influences decisions, not so much the band. I mean, after today, everyone knows it will eventually come back."
Ammons says there is not a day that goes by that he doesn't think of Robert Champion and his family. He says there must be justice and accountability. He called Champion's death and subsequent arrest of 13 fellow band members "heart-wrenching."
"This is a tragedy, a serious tragedy, but again, we have laws in this state. We have a justice system and we have to let it work," Ammons said of the arrests.
For the first time, Ammons also responded to calls for his resignation.
"And what do you say to those who say you should take some responsibility in all this? There have been calls for you to step down. How do you respond to those suggestions?"
"First of all, I care deeply about Florida A&M. I'm a graduate of this institution. There isn't in my mind a higher honor than to serve as president of Florida A&M University, but I understand at the end of the day that it is the call of the board of trustees," Ammons said. "But I will say this. I would like to have the opportunity to put in place the kind of band programs that all of us associated with this university and who care about human respect and dignity can be proud of."
For the full interview of FAMU President James Ammons, click on the video below
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THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, May 15, 2012
Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Florida A&M's famous Marching 100 band will not take the field for another year, university president James Ammons announced Monday, as the fallout from a hazing death continues to roil the school.
Ammons said he had spoken with a wide cross-section of students, faculty, alumni and supporters of the school's athletics programs before deciding that sensitivity to the family of drum major Robert Champion, who died in an alleged band-related hazing, and the need for more time to come up with new policies for the band should carry the day.
"After thoughtful considering of all of the information, I have decided that the suspension of the band will continue through the 2012-13 academic year," Ammons told members of the school's board of trustees on a conference call.
The announcement came four days after Chancellor Frank Brogan urged FAMU to continue the suspension of the Marching 100 in the wake of Champion's death.
Champion, 26, was allegedly beaten to death in a ritual hazing on board a charter bus during a band trip to Orlando in November. The incident prompted university officials to suspend activities of the vaunted marching band while the investigation continued. Thirteen people have been charged in connection with the hazing.
Several probes of the band and hazing within it are still going on, including a university committee aimed at looking for ways to prevent hazing.
Ammons also said that a new set of guidelines would have to be put in place before the band could return. The new rules could deal with a broad range of subjects, from academics to practice time to travel policies.
"The band must be restructured," he told trustees.
Ammons said a plan set to be unveiled at a board meeting in June will lay out how the band can be brought back while keeping students safe.
Despite some questions about how continuing to sideline the band -- long seen as a highlight of FAMU football games and other sporting events -- might impact the university, board members seemed generally supportive.
"I know it's a hard pill to swallow, because we all love the Marching 100," said trustee Torey Alston.
FAMU is discussing other ways of entertaining fans at the two classics the football team takes part in each year -- the Atlanta Football Classic and the Florida Classic. The alleged hazing of Champion took place after the Florida Classic game between FAMU and Bethune Cookman.
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