Dance & Aux Forum

UPDATED 5.1.2012 by Julie Montanaro

Two FAMU professors have resigned in the wake of a hazing scandal at a Tallahassee home

The university intended to fire them anyway according to a letter signed by the FAMU provost.

The pledge told police that the paddling happened inside the home of FAMU music professor Diron Holloway. He says Holloway - and fellow music professor Anthony Simons - were there. The hazing accusations have now cost them their jobs.

"I think the university had to take action basically ... especially from a pubicity standpoint. They needed to take action," FAMU student Terell dePina said.

A letter dated april 16th and signed by FAMU's provost informed the men that the university intended to fire them May 3rd for misconduct and negligence involving members of the Marching 100 and national band fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi.

"Both professors deny any involvement in any hazing," said Mutaqee Akbar who spoke on behalf of both professors today.

Akbar says Simons and Holloway submitted resignation letters Friday.  He claims the university never asked the men for their side of the story.  

"They're pretty much being scapegoats based off the media circus that's been wrapped around this hazing ever since Robert Champion, " Akbar said, "and so they're using these professors, just as they used Director White, in order to say that they are doing something."

The professors were never charged with a crime because the statute of limitations had run out by the time Tallahassee police learned about the accusations.

Students say despite that, the hazing scandal is likely to follow them the rest of their careers. 

"It's a slap in the face to the university that they decided to indulge in those type of events. They should have took the lead professor role and you know, stopped the entire thing from happening," said FAMU graduate Rashad Brown. : FAMU's attorney released a statement saying the university had taken "appropriate employment action" but did not elaborate and did not release any accompanying documents citing privacy laws.

----------------------------------------------------------------------- Tallahassee, Florida - May 1, 2012 - Julie Montanaro

WCTV has confirmed that the two Florida A&M University professors accused of being present during a student hazing ritual are no longer employed at the university.

Diron Holloway and Anthony Simons submitted their resignations on Friday, April 27th.

An attorney for one of the men confirms that the professors received a letter from the university provost notifying them of his intent to fire them effective May 3rd.

Attorney Mutaqee Akbar says the men did not appeal and resigned instead.  He says the university never contacted the men to hear their side of the story. He says the university is using the men as scapegoats.

The incident occurred in 2010 at Holloway's Tallahassee home.

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Two Florida A&M University music professors who allegedly were present while band members were being hazed have been forced to resign.

Their lawyer confirmed Tuesday that both resigned after being given notices the university intended to fire them.

A Tallahassee police report in March quoted witnesses as saying Diron Holloway and Anthony Simons were during hazing of band fraternity pledges at Holloway's home two years ago.

Their attorney, Mutaqee Akbar said they were informed they had 10 days to dispute the impending dismissals but decided to resign and pursue other career opportunities.

The police report said students were slapped on the neck and back and may have been paddled. No charges were filed.

Authorities also are investigating a band member's death due to hazing last year in Orlando.

Stay with Eyewitness News for much more on this story.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- May 1, 2012 -

Florida A&M University officials say "appropriate employment actions" have been taken against two music professors allegedly involved in hazing band members.

They refused to confirm or deny Tuesday if the faculty members were fired. A statement from the university's lawyer cites a confidentiality law saying such information cannot be released without a faculty member's permission or court order.

The Orlando Sentinel, though, quoted a faculty union official as saying Diron Holloway and Anthony Simons had been fired. United Faculty of Florida chapter president Elizabeth Davenport did not immediately respond to messages seeking confirmation.

A Tallahassee police report in March accused both faculty members of being present during hazing at Holloway's home two years ago.

Authorities also are investigating a band member's death due to hazing last year in Orlando.