Corbin, Gainous cancel BOT meeting

It is unclear if or when the alumni who were expected to attend and speak at the meeting

Remnants of Hurricane Ivan hit FAMU Friday although the eye of the system had not reached Florida.

President Gainous and Board of Trustees Chairman James Corbin decided to cancel some long-awaited campus events for this week as a result of Ivan. As of Friday, none of the events had been rescheduled.

News that the Tuesday board of trustees meeting that was to be held in the Grand Ballroom had been cancelled came in a statement Friday afternoon. At the time, Ivan was in the Caribbean and headed for Key West where tourists and some residents were told to evacuate. However, the hurricane, which had strengthened to a Category 5, had several potential routes, including one that could hit the panhandle.

A faxed announcement from board of trustee liaison Dawn Holley-Dennis said the meeting was cancelled “due to the forecast of Hurricane Ivan.”

The notice also said Corbin cancelled the meeting, but did not say when it would be rescheduled.

“He wants to maintain the safety and security of the people who want to be at the meeting and the trustees who have to be at the meeting,” said trustee Barney Bishop. “I think it was the right decision.”

Holley-Dennis said she does not know when the meeting will take place.

“Chairman Corbin called me [Friday morning] and as we speak we have not rescheduled,” Holley-Dennis said. “Once the president and chairman speak to me, I’ll know what the dates are.”

The meeting has been anticipated by some after an online petition was recently circulated calling for a change in leadership. Bishop also asked Corbin via e-mail to add “Evaluation of the Board of Trustees” to the agenda. have been notified of the cancellation.

Corbin could not be reached for comment.

Also, as a result of “a possible hurricane in Florida,” as quoted from a media advisory from the Office of Public Affairs, Gainous held an emergency meeting Friday to announce even more cancellations for the week.

The groundbreaking for the campus recreational center scheduled for Wednesday has been called off.

The event, which was to take place at the corner of Wahnish Way and Osceola Street, across from the women’s softball field, was to begin the building process of a multi-million dollar on-campus recreational facility.

The Student Achievements Reception with the Board of Trustees that was to be held at the President’s House tonight was also cancelled, as was the Strategic Planning Committee Meeting which was to take place in the President’s Conference Room in Lee Hall this afternoon.

However, Ivan has not delayed all campus events for the week.

The SGA-sponsored appearance by Rev. Jesse Jackson has not been postponed nor cancelled.

At press time, SGA President Virgil Miller said his arrival, which is a part of the “Hope is on the Way Tour,” is still scheduled for Wednesday at noon in Lee Hall Auditorium.

The Fall Career Expo is also still scheduled to take place Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Leon County Civic Center.

Contact rachael shackelford at famuannews@hotmail.com