SCOTT: FAMU'S AMMONS SHOULD BE SUSPENDED

By BRANDON LARRABEE
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, December 15, 2011.......The Florida A&M University board of trustees scheduled a meeting for Monday, following a request by Gov. Rick Scott that the school suspend its president amid an investigation into alleged hazing and questions about the finances of the school's band.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced Wednesday that its investigation into the death of Robert Champion, a 26-year-old band leader who died after what police say appears to have been a hazing, was widening to include the finances of the school's famous "Marching 100" band. Champion died after the annual Florida Classic football game between FAMU and Bethune Cookman on Nov. 19.

For Scott, who returned to Tallahassee on Thursday following a trade mission to Israel, the financial revelations were enough to prompt his call for President James Ammons to be temporarily suspended while the investigation continues. Scott said he spoke with Ammons by telephone while waiting for a connecting flight in Atlanta.

"I called President Ammons and I suggested that at this time, that he step aside during the investigation, make sure that everybody is comfortable that the right things are happening there, that there's complete cooperation," Scott told reporters after landing at Tallahassee Regional Airport. "I hope the president wasn't involved in anything, but I think it's the right thing at this time."

The governor also confirmed that he spoke with FAMU Trustees Chairman Solomon Badger to request the board suspend Ammons. Scott, who said he had "a very cordial conversation" with Ammons, also said he didn't yet have any evidence that the school's president had done anything wrong or should resign.

"If he's not done anything wrong, then he absolutely should survive this," Scott said.

Until Thursday, Scott had largely refrained from passing any judgment on Ammons, saying his fate should be decided after FDLE concluded its investigation. Scott's office had gotten directly involved in the controversy only sparingly, with his chief of staff at one point asking for the university's own task force to hold off on its work until the FDLE probe was completed.

Shortly after Scott spoke at the airport, FAMU announced a telephone board meeting had been scheduled for Monday morning to discuss the request. In a statement issued by the university, Badger was noncommittal on Scott's request.

"This is a very difficult decision that we are facing," Badger said. "We have supported President Ammons’ leadership even through this crisis."

For his part, Ammons said he was confident that he would be cleared of any wrongdoing.

"I’m sure that this investigation will determine that under my leadership, the administration acted appropriately," Ammons said in a statement. "I serve at the pleasure of the FAMU Board of Trustees and I will abide by whatever decision the Board reaches."