Colleges for Dentistry

Some of the key trustees who pushed to remove the super-majority clause from FAMU President James H. Ammons’ contract are now attempting to place the university’s chief executive on administrative leave.

Former Chairman Bill Jennings, who spent months trying to strong-arm Ammons into giving up the super-majority clause behind-the-scenes, said that the Board of Trustees should put Ammons on administrative leave while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) continues its investigation into the death of Marching 100 drum major Robert D. Champion.

Charles Langston, who also fought fought bitterly against the super-majority clause as a member of the recent Ad Hoc Committee on the presidential contract, agreed.

The original super-majority clause from Ammons's 2007 employment agreement required nine votes to terminate the president without cause. Trustees kept the clause in place after finding out that Ammons was not the only State University System of Florida president with that type of contractual provision (contrary to what Trustee Karl White led some to believe). Ammons’ super-majority protection was amended in a manner that parallels that of Florida Atlantic University President Mary Jane Saunders, whose contract requires a super-majority vote for termination with or without cause.

Placing Ammons on indefinite administrative leave would permit the trustees who want him gone to get around the super-majority vote requirement for an actual termination.


A motion to place Ammons on administrative leave was brought before the board by Trustee Rufus Montgomery.

"If you can place [Former Director of Bands] Julian White on administrative leave pending a criminal investigation and the outcome, then we as a board can place James Ammons under administrative leave," Montgomery said.

Ammons placed White on administrative leave following Champion’s death on November 19. The Orlando County Sheriff’s Office suspects that “hazing was a part of what occurred that night.” Ammons said that White failed to exercise competence in reporting alleged incidents of hazing within the band.

Jennings said that “Dr. White alleges that he informed Dr. Ammons through the letters about hazing” prior to November 19 and that he fears Ammons’ continued service as president could adversely affect the FDLE’s investigation into that matter. Jennings failed to offer any actual confirmation that White’s letters to Ammons are part of the FDLE probe. The FDLE is conducting a criminal investigation into Champion’s death.

Trustee Marjorie Turnbull noted that the FDLE has publicly stated that the FAMU administration is meeting its expectations for cooperation.

“The Board of Governors and FAMU have been very cooperative with us," FDLE Spokeswoman Gretel Plessinger said in a quote published by the Tallahassee Democrat.

Numerous board members expressed reservations about Montgomery’s motion. Trustee Torey Alston moved to place the issue of a possible administrative leave for Ammons on the post-public discussion portion of today’s agenda.