FAMU trustees stand up to governor

The FAMU Board of Trustees declined Gov. Rick Scott’s recommendation to suspend President James H. Ammons while state officials continue various investigations at the university.

“We will stand firm against outside influence no matter how well intended,” Chairman Solomon L. Badger, III said during a morning teleconference meeting.

He concluded with a recommendation that the president’s status remain the same. None of the board members objected and no vote was taken on the issue.


Scott began strong-arming the FAMU trustees to place Ammons on administrative leave Thursday. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) announced on the following morning that if trustees bent to pressure from the governor, it would put the university’s accreditation in jeopardy.

"For the sake of appearances, and to assure the public that these investigations are clearly independent, I believe it would have been in the best interest of Florida A&M University for President Ammons to step aside until all of these investigations are complete," Scott said in a statement released shortly after the meeting. "However, we have a process in Florida for the administration of the State University System, and that process has been followed. Like all other Floridians, I will abide by the decision made by the Board of Trustees.”

The FAMU trustees did vote to schedule a regular weekly meeting time to receive updates regarding the ongoing state investigations into the hazing death of Robert D. Champion and other matters at the school.