TALLAHASSEE–All but four of Florida A&M’s Board of Trustees present Thursday expressed their disapproval of President James H. Ammons’s handling of the “crisis” that followed Robert Champion’s hazing death in November.
Ammons said he hear the board “loudly and clearly” and that he would work to repair the university’s image.
Trustee William Jennings presented the motion of no-confidence to the board, which after 10 minutes of discussion and another 10 minutes of recess, rebuked Ammons‘ handling of the vote.
Only BOT chairman Solomon Badger and trustees Marjorie Turnbull, Spurgeon McWilliams and Kelvin Lawson said “no” when their names were called for the vote. The other eight members present voted in favor of the motion.
Lawson had said that there was “extenuating circumstances,” including pending investigations by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that he believes affected Ammons’s ability to take action.
Ammons said in response:
“I hear you loudly and clearly, I understand that there are some measures I have to take, as university president, to fix things, and I will fix them. This is very serious for the future of this university. You have my commitment to fix them and get this job done.”
Following the meeting, members of FAMU’s National Alumni Association and FAMU graduate Rep. Al Williams voiced their support for Ammons.