Should the FAMU president go in wake of hazing death?
In a family photo, Robert Champion demonstrates the flair that earned him the prestigious drum major role in the FAMU band.
The Florida A&M University president keeps his job, despite a call by the governor last week for his suspension in the wake of the death of a member of the renowned Marching 100 band.
The university’s board of trustees decided today not to take action against FAMU president James Ammons. According to the news story: The university’s board of trustees on Monday rejected a call by Gov. Rick Scott that James Ammons be suspended. “We will stand firm against outside interference, no matter how well intended,” Solomon Badger, the FAMU board chairman, said during a board meeting that was held by conference call.
The parents of Robert Champion, the DeKalb drum major who died of alleged hazing at the hands of fellow band members, are disappointed in the decision.
Experts on hazing said it will not stop without dramatic action by colleges showing that such behaviors will not be tolerated. Certainly, suspending or firing a president is dramatic, but apparently the FAMU board is not yet ready for such a step.
“Everyone that’s involved,” Pam Champion said Monday of those responsible for Robert D. Champion’s death. “All the way from the administrator that knew that this culture existed at the school to the organizations, the band, each individual student … everybody that turned their back.”Robert D. Champion, a 26-year-old drum major for the FAMU Marching 100 band, died on Nov. 19 from hazing during a band trip to Orlando, authorities said. An Orange County medical examiner determined last week that his death was a homicide, while the university’s board of trustees on Monday morning decided not to take action against FAMU president James Ammons – at least until a criminal investigation was complete.
But Robert Champion’s parents, Pam and Robert G. Champion, of Decatur, believe the top is where the problem of hazing begins. “He should’ve had some type of control over the students, the faculty and all the people he put in place to keep those kids safe,” Robert G. Champion said of Ammons. “If he wasn’t on top of what was going on, I feel that appropriate action should be taken.”
“Ultimately, he’s responsible,” Pam Champion said of Ammons. “He’s the head.”
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
103 comments Add your comment
HS English Teacher
December 20th, 2011
8:39 am
Hazing is not part of education. There are plenty of straight A students who would never submit to beatings that cause bleeding.
Frankie
December 20th, 2011
8:48 am
@HS English Teacher…you are correct that hazing is not a part of education, but for every Straight A student that won’t submit themselves to hazing, there is one that will.
We as parents have to drill it into our young adults that physical hazing is not acceptable and continue to pressure the school administration to enforce the laws of the unitversity and the state.
Frankie
December 20th, 2011
8:56 am
@ Good Mother…I believe that every young adult has to be held accountable for their actions. No one deserves to get hurt or die, but like i said before if you choose to walk in a building that is on fire know that there is a chance that you could get hurt or die….
By the way i will be on jury duty the first of next year…
How can you try and wear a moniker called “good mother” and call people imbiciles because they express an idea different from yours…
By the way name calling is juvenile and is part of hazing and bullying…of which you have said you are against…I’m just sayin’
carlosgvv
December 20th, 2011
9:03 am
Whenever I see large groups of FAMU students and faculity on TV they are all black. I thought segeration was outlawed years ago. When was it reinstated? And, what colleges now are all white?
Frankie
December 20th, 2011
9:08 am
No colleges are all white just like FAMU is NOT all black….Your implication and arguement are tired and weak….
ALL HBCU’s accept any person holding GREEN DOLLAR BILLS….just the IVORY LEAGUE schools….
Cosby
December 20th, 2011
9:14 am
Hazing or just another reflection of our deteriorating society? this is the question, my bet, all stems from society’s ills and perhaps those nasty rap – so called music.
WAR
December 20th, 2011
10:21 am
pledging is a necessary process. hazing is one component of the process. both are critical to the success of an organization.
WAR
December 20th, 2011
10:26 am
school daze (movie) has examples of pledging/hazing in it. animal house (movie) has examples of pledging/hazing in it. old school (movie) has examples of pledging/hazing in it. pledging/hazing reaches across lines in different facets of society. granted these are movies, but these movies do reflect a pattern that pledging/hazing is an extension of who/what we are. some should endure the tests and others should not. under no circumstance however should the process lead to death.
WAR
December 20th, 2011
10:30 am
carlosgvv
whenever I see large groups of PENN STATE students and faculity on TV they are all WHITE. I thought PEDOPHILIA was outlawed years ago. When was it reinstated…..
Good Mother
December 20th, 2011
10:46 am
Frankie, I can call myself a good mother and call you an imbicile because you are an imbicile.
You are also dangerous. I am terrified that my child might grow up in a classroom and be influenced by the child you raised to think as you do.
You refer to our disagreement as a “difference of opinion.”
That’s quite an understatement you are making, Frankie.
What you are advocating is criminal and against the law.
Of course, it’s obvious that the law means nothing to you.
@darattler from Good Mother
December 20th, 2011
10:50 am
Darattler rears his ugly fangs and says “If I can offer any advice to the Champion Family, I would suggest they limit their media interviews until the investigation is completed. I’m not sure who’s advising them, but I don’t believe it’s going to help their case in the long run. That’s just my opinion.”
Well, of course you don’t want the Champion family in the media because every time they do they communicate the culture of violence FAMU embraces. They are exposing the dirty secrets of FAMU and darattler is worried he might be implicated.
Daratter, attacking the family of a victim is cowardly.
You, ratter, are a coward.
darattler
December 20th, 2011
11:03 am
@ WAR – My thoughts exactly. Everytime I see Gov. Deal on TV, everybody standing around him is WHITE. I didn’t know the State of Georgia Government was still segregated.
@catlady – You’ve got to be the most narrow minded bigot in America. Let’s get one thing straight; FAMU is not interested in taking over FSU for obvious reasons. No. 1, that has to be one of the most criminal colleges in America. Students have been raped in their library, students have ignited fire bombs on campus, students have been caught cheating on MUSIC EXAMS, professors have been caught with porn on their computers, students have been shot and killed on campus, they have been charged with academic fraud, their athletes have been arrested and charged with assault on police officers and other students, black athletes are being exploited and the list goes on. Just this week, 3 (THREE) of FSU’s athletes were arrested. Don’t take my word, Google it. Several of FSU students transferred from FAMU because they could not handle FAMU’s rigorous curriculum. Just so you know, life is good at FAMU and our students are the best and the brightest. You can keep your garbage at FSU and we’ll keep our jewels at FAMU.
Critical Thinking
December 20th, 2011
11:04 am
The University does have strong anti-hazing policies. Students who are willing participants and those who haze can lose scholarships and be expelled per the student handbook, The FANG. Additionally, band members (and other student organizations) are required to attend Anti-Hazing workshops. Band members signed contract to not participate in hazing or to be hazed. Hazing complaints are forwarded to the police. The band is suspended. There is no indication the school is not cooperating in the investigation. What more from an administrative perspective can be done? I do not think the school should risk accreditation to make people calling for blood happy.
darattler
December 20th, 2011
11:21 am
@ Good Mother – Lets be clear on my position. We (FAMU Community) stand united with the Champion Family in their call for the indictments of those who caused the death of their son. We also stand united with the Champion Family in their efforts to end hazing, once and for all. If the Champion Family wants to sue FAMU for the death of their son, that’s fine to. My position is this: going on a media frenzy to attack FAMU can be counterproductive. I really don’t thing it helps the Champion’s case. The hazing at FAMU is under investigation. I think it is premature for us to jump to any conclusions until the investigation is completed. My personal opinion is that
Robert Champion (God bless his soul) was deeply involved in hazing himself. FAMU has 13,000 students. It is wrong to paint all of FAMU’s students with the same hazing brush. FAMU’s students are some of the Best & Brightest in the country. If you believe that hazing only happens at FAMU, then you are a bigger fool than I thought you were. We stand FAMUNITED for justice for Robert Champion. We stand FAMUNITED agains undue influence and unwarranted attacks against our university by ANYONE!
Critical Thinking
December 20th, 2011
11:33 am
The difference between Penn State and FAMU is that in the Penn State case the grand jury investigation and documents indicated that administrators knew of wrongdoing and FAILED to act. In the FAMU cases when the school learned of wrongdoing, the University ACTED. The band director alerted the police in the Bria Hunter case. There is no evidence of a coverup in the Champion case or Bria Hunter Case. The police have been involved since the Sunday after the incident; students called the ambulance soon as Champion collapsed. The University has been instructed not to take any further actions by the FDLE.
another teacher
December 20th, 2011
11:38 am
These are grown people, not children. FAMU president should step aside because he is the head.
Unfortunately, a young man was murdered. We should call it what it is and that is murder. We don’t like that word. Crimininally those who did the act should be held accountable. Those who allowed this to happen, FAMU school should be held accountable financially. I have no idea why anyone needs to beat another man to death for a frat, a group, or a symbol.
Celia
December 20th, 2011
11:43 am
It is not good enough for FAMU board of Directors, President and Band President to say that they did everything to stop hazing.
The point is that FAMU University did not take any “action” to stop hazing on their campus, property, buses and at its events.
I would have expected FAMU to take action such as have a bus count of everyone getting on and off that bus. They should have a bus captain, who is trained in security control and they should be centered front, middle, back of the bus during an event.
FAMU could have taken “action” to make sure everyone was off the bus and the bus was locked and guarded with no one able to access it.
FAMU should have had a medic on that bus, who should have been the last off the bus. Every seat should have been checked.
They should have found out “why” a group of students went to get Robert champion off the bus he was on and “force” him on Bus C.
FAMU failed to take action to back up their claim that they tried to stop hazing.
FAMU band director should be investigated to find out where the money was spent when he would report and gets money for so many people going to an event; yet, less than that really went to the event. They owe the state and taxpayers money back. They are embezzling money for their own benefit at taxpayer expense. They should be closed down or loose accreditation.
Action means room checks and guards at the door on road trips. These students represent the school and even if they are at school or in their own apartment and something happens to another band member, they and the school is accountable.
The bus should have cameras, which I am sure they did. We need to see what happened on that bus.
ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS!
Frankie
December 20th, 2011
11:50 am
@good mother…so you think that NO ONE SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS….and you call me dangerous..
You obviously can not read and I can also tell you that your child will not have to worry about sitting next to my child, because my child will be in the higher learning classes while yor child is stuck trying to get out of remedial english and math.
Lesson No. 1…When You “quote” someone the words between the quote symbols should be the verbatim words used. not a paraphase.
And what is it exaclty that I am “advocating”…see i used the word you used in my quote…..here endth the lesson…
Maybe the problem here “Good Mother” is that your education level did not afford you to experience the life of a college student, hence the reason why yuo are so inept about the activities that go on at a college campus….now I understand the comments you made and the lack of sense they make….
Frankie
December 20th, 2011
11:54 am
And you see “Good Mother” I did all of that and did not have to resort to name calling…
darattler
December 20th, 2011
12:59 pm
Celia said : “They should have found out “why” a group of students went to get Robert champion off the bus he was on and “force” him on Bus C.”
@ Celia – During Robert Champion’s funeral, FAMU’s Band Director stood at the podium and said “Robert Champion rode back from the game in the LIMOSINE with the rest of the Drum Majors & me & sat directly across from me”.Now, that doesn’t sound like Robert Champion was taken from one bus and forced into Bus C. We really need to await the results of the hazing investigation, pray for the Champion Family and pray for FAMU. The Marching 100 will dedicate the 2012 Season to Robert Champion and march in his memory.
Critical Thinking
December 20th, 2011
1:00 pm
@Celia The bus was a charter bus. The bus company is responsible for locking the bus. Champion left the game in a limo. There is no evidence the band director embezzled any money; the FDLE hasn’t released any reports.
These individuals are over 18. There were no “C Bus” hazing complaints provided to the University prior to this incident. It is only being publicized now because someone made an anonymous comment to one newspaper and other papers ran with it. I actually read a paper that may have named the source; the student was not even at the game in question and was no longer a FAMU student. So given this information why would guards and medics be riding on the bus? Room checks for college students during the early evening (i.e. 7-8 PM)? I came and went as I pleased as a college student even on University trips.
Schools are not generally liable for things that happen in private residences. Schools are generally not liable if they have policies, enforce them, and do not act in a negligent manner. They do not have physical custody of students; schools are not prisons. If that were the case, colleges and K-12 instuitutions would be sued for allowing students to drink and drive, text and drive, students being rapped, doing drugs, students under the age of consent having sex at schools, parents who commit child abuse, students fighting, etc. Colleges cannot make students do anything; students decide if they want to comply with policies and rules.
Warrior Woman
December 20th, 2011
1:10 pm
No. Firing anyone before the investigation is complete is both wrong and unfair.
Mahopinion
December 20th, 2011
2:05 pm
@oh My- Where in my post did I say he “deserved” to die?what I did say was that he was a willing participant in the hazing process and therefore deservesas much of the blame for the outcome as the other students. At 26 years old, he was not a child. He was an adult who made the adult choice to participate in risky behavior. Each of the students involved made the adult choice to participate. Blaming an institution or it’s leaders completely negates the idea of free will. Everyday in every way we all have the choice to either do the right thing or not. I’m so tired of the “boo hoo, he made me do it” attitude displayed by those who don’t have the gonads to own up to their own choices.
Frankie
December 20th, 2011
2:35 pm
@Mahopinion….you have to excuse some “people” on this blog, they not only can not read, their comprehension level falls below the national average….
I agree with you that accountability is definitely being over looked. For every choice you make there is a consequence that will result, albeit good or bad.
I have been accused for advocating something, the only thing I advocate is that our young adults use good judgement in the decisions they make, and be accountable for their own actions.
Seems like some of these bloggers are upset because they now realize that they raised children that will never grow up, they will always be children in the eyes of their parents….and not young adults who should be developing the skill to take care of themselves in this world.
Proud Rattler
December 20th, 2011
2:38 pm
@ cat lady, I read this blog quite a bit, you never came off as the bigot that you now show yourself to be. I believe you have claimed you were a former educator, God bless those black children you came in contact with. And I’m glad I can walk a chew gum at the same time. The governor wants the MONEY for FSU, so CLOSING FAMU is the option.
catlady
December 20th, 2011
3:05 pm
darattler and Proud Rattler: Not sure how I sound like a bigot. I stated a fact: When I worked at FSU the minority students were judged for admission by a whole different scale. That is a FACT. And this was years after the SC Michigan Law school decision. I had to send out denial letters to white kids with 1200 SATs (un-recentered–without the 100 extra points–and when 1600 was the top score) and yet black kids with 900 were routinely admitted. That is a fact. In fact, virtually all black kid’s files were taken before a committee to individually be examined for admission.
I was responding to someone earlier (Proud Rattler, was it you?) who said this mess was an attempt by the governor to shut down FAMU, and I stated why it would not happen. Did I agree with this reasoning? No, but the mamas of Tri Delts and Sigma Nus would not stand for FSU being 50% minority. Simple politics, and the way folks in Tallahassee, many of whom, both black and white, have long-held views of “the other,” and bitter racial animosity (I think you both know that). I expressed, earlier, what their thoughts would be on putting FAMU students on the FSU campus. Apparently so clearly that two of you thought I was speaking for MYSELF. Well, you don’t know me so you perhaps could not tell the tone with which I was writing. Please reread.
I can tell you some things about dicey decisions/actions at FSU while I was there. They certainly have their share of scandals as well. However, the young man who died, who we are talking about here, was a FAMU student. The focus right now should be on bringing his killers, and those who enabled them, to justice.
He deserved better than to be killed on a band excursion, FOR ANY REASON. And those who had the ability to intervene, and did not, should be held responsible.
Critical Thinking
December 20th, 2011
4:20 pm
@catlady The graduation rate for African-American students at FSU is higher than it is for white students.
Ole Guy
December 20th, 2011
5:35 pm
The prez has absolutely nothing to do with this travesty…no more so than if these thugs had pulled a gun on a fellow band member. As I have indicated in previous comments, this entire generation, being inculcated from birth, with the “no one’s responsible for nuthin’” mentality, needs to go through, what we refer to in the military, as an operational standown. Kids, AT ALL LEVELS OF THE EDUCATIONAL CIRCUS, need to be advised, IN THE HARSHEST MEANS CONCEIVABLE, that, FROM HERE ON OUT…NO _ H _ T will be tolerated, under pain of IMMEDIATE and UNDENIABLE CONSEQUENCE…MEANINGFUL and PAINFUL CONSEQUENCE.
Those of you who seem to delight in lambasting the Ole Guy’s antiquated views, and similar liberal use of salty lingo can only look at results: Besides the dismal (at best) academic performances of kids who are (ostensibly) top scholars in high school, we are seeing more and more kids, at extremely tender ages, commiting crimes unheard of in past gens. Courts are quickly becoming Juvenile Courts in absentia…kids/adults seeing no problem is killing one in order to lay claim to a GD cell phone, a pair of sneaks, or some other damn whatever. WHAT MORE EVIDENCE IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO COME TO THE REALIZATION THAT WE MUST, REPEAT…MUST STOP PISSING AROUND WITH THESE KIDS; WE CANNOT ALLOW THEM THE “SLACK” WHICH WE HAVE SO “GRACIOUSLY” ALLOWED.
We read of these calamities…Columbine, Virginia, etc, etc, etc, and we view them as far-removed, as “not in my back yard”. Perhaps when these kids’ faces become the faces of those we (once) loved, miss terribly, and possibly identify as those to whom we brought into this world gone nuts, we just might start doing the unimaginable…EXERCISE A LITTLE RESPONSIBILITY.
Proud Rattler
December 20th, 2011
5:59 pm
@ cat lady, just because they shut FAMU down doesn’t mean all black students would end up at FSU. It is purely money driven. Those FAMU students could be siphoned off to Bethune and various other small and large FL campuses. Please believe I know of the element of which you speak that doesn’t want a 50 percent enrollment hike at FSU (well of course if it is in athletics and could make the university a ton of money) however I digress. This to me is what it boils down to, Dr. Ammons deserves a hearing and a full investigation and if he didn’t practice due diligence then he should be dismissed.
Ivan Cohen
December 20th, 2011
7:01 pm
The University Trustee’s may “hang tough” or “ride it out” but FAMU will never get back its good name. The publicity surrounding these hazing won’t bring any new students to your campus. Parents may choose to steer their children away from FAMU.
bu2
December 20th, 2011
7:58 pm
The FAMU board, talking about stopping outside interference, needs to be removed. Its that sick circle the wagons mentality that allows this type of behavior to continue. I’m presuming the supporters of this activity on this board are not all the same person. Their support indicates that there needs to be dramatic action to end this activity. The state of Florida has an obligation to stop this and protect their students and they need to start with the FAMU board.
It amazes me that these college students want to beat people like this. These are kids who can afford to go to an out of state school. Its a sick culture when male college students want to beat a 110 pound female as they did with the other student. Its a sick culture when people defend this or blame the victim.
The people doing the beating need to be arrested. And the death penalty is the appropriate penalty for the FAMU band. This has happened repeatedly over the years and just last month 26 got removed for previous hazing.
darattler
December 20th, 2011
9:57 pm
@ Ivan Cohen – FAMU’s good name never left. That’s wishful thinking on your part. You obviously don’t know FAMU. Several parents have told me in recent weeks that THEY CAN’T WAIT for their children to enter FAMU in Fall 2012 and become Rattlers. If Virginia Tech can survive a massacre of 35 students ON THEIR CAMPUS in one day, then certainly FAMU can survive undergroud hazing OFF THEIR CAMPUS. There were several serial killings on two college campuses in the State of Florida & it didn’t seem to affect their image. This one’s for you:
http://famunited.tumblr.com/#3
Oh My!!!
December 21st, 2011
12:44 am
daRattler…you’re right in everything you said. good luck with the pending law suits. just make sure FAM doesn’t lose it’s good name.
maopinon…you’re right too. no one in administration should step up and take responsibility for the actions of the marquee group of the school. when another kid gets hurt or killed just to get a rep then hey, it’s on them. after all, FAMU is centered around the 100. pennstate is centered around the football program and these instituions must be prtected at all times. I get it now. what was I thinking?? stay small and when FSU swallows up FAMU I guess it’ll be Robert Champions fault too.
darattler
December 21st, 2011
7:51 am
Oh My!! Take two cups of Metamucil and go sit. FAMU will NEVER lose its good name. When all of this sensational unwarranted media attention settles down, FAMU will be stronger than ever. I don’t know about you, but it amazes me how a person was shot and killed on Va. Tech’s campus a week ago and you hear absolutely NOTHING about it on any news outlet. Hmmmm, makes you wonder. FAMU is MORE THAN the Marching 100. If you knew ANYTHING about FAMU, then you would know that. We worry about FSU “swallowing” us up about as much as we worry a dog climbing a tree backwards. “It ain’t gonna happen”. Besides, we don’t want their systemic problems.
bootney farnsworth
December 21st, 2011
8:42 am
nice to know a price can be put on FAMU’s “good name”.
one dead black man.
based on some of what I’ve read here, I’m actually glad its
just one.
bootney farnsworth
December 21st, 2011
8:45 am
@ catlady
you “sound like a bigot” for daring to point out things which can’t
be easily repudiated. in short, pesky facts.
ergo, time for the race card. can disprove the point – discredit the person.
bootney farnsworth
December 21st, 2011
8:46 am
how many black men have to die before the band and its culture of abuse and violence is examined?
2? 10? a whole busload?
bootney farnsworth
December 21st, 2011
8:49 am
hazing only becomes “necessary” when weak, little people with no leadership skills are involved.
bootney farnsworth
December 21st, 2011
8:53 am
the reason the President should take a hit is simple.
he’s the President. accountability comes with the position.
had he spent more time actually dealing with this, I’d be
happy he’s being accountable and responsible. but since his
focus has been to circle the wagons and deflect -
time to go.
Frankie
December 21st, 2011
9:19 am
How many people at VA Tech had to die, the president of VA Tech is still in place. Wasn’t security supposed to be on campus, where were they, your arguement doesn’t wash….
Frankie
December 21st, 2011
9:21 am
The president has made strides to require organizations to take responsibility and provided them with contracts that they had to sign in order to be a part of that organization (whether it was band, fraternities, sororities, etc…) the contracts stated that hazing is prohibited and will result in disciplinary actions even expulsion if they participate in hazing (giving or receiving)
The gang that perpetuated this was just that a gang and like most gangs they did not follow the rules..hence breaking the law.
darattler
December 21st, 2011
11:12 am
FAMU Named One of Most Affordable Colleges by JET Magazine.
by Florida A&M University on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at 9:39am
.
Florida A&M Universitycontinues to receive national recognition for its outstanding achievements. This year alone the historically black university has been named one of the top 100 national universities by Washington Monthly Magazine, one of the Best Colleges in the nation by Forbes Magazine, a Top Green College in America by The Princeton Review and ranked the No. 1 public historically black college or university by U.S. News and World Report.
What is FAMU’s latest feat? FAMU was named one of Jet Magazine’s most affordable colleges in the nation.
“An education is the key to changing one’s socioeconomic status,” said Vice President for Student Affairs William Hudson Jr. “It is important that we do not price out students who want a quality education. An education is truly something that no one can take from you.”
With the rise of college tuition all around the nation, students often cannot afford the fees associated with attending college. Other public schools highlighted in the magazine included the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, the University of Florida and the University of Virginia.
“It’s beneficial to students that FAMU be affordable because we hope to earn our degree without a lot of debt to go with it,” said Markia Butler, a senior journalism student from Jacksonville, Fla. “Being more affordable is really ‘Excellence with Caring.’”
@ darattler
December 21st, 2011
12:05 pm
“FAMU Named One of Most Affordable Colleges by JET Magazine”
LMAO – really – JET Magazine? Do you also like to see a seal of approval from BET or Tyler Perry before going to a HBCU?
darattler is really the worst possible (self-appointed) spokesperson in this given catastrophe. His/her ad naseum moronic drivel is really comical.
By the way, FAMU could be shut down today and no one of real importance would care.
Keeping vomiting up your stupicity, darattler – your only making FAMU look worse with your constant cheerleading. You are kind of your own worst enemy!
...and we wonder why
December 21st, 2011
3:20 pm
http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/21/justice/soldiers-charged/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
Should the United States General resign in the wake of this hazing death?
Oh My!!!
December 21st, 2011
4:58 pm
darattler…I’ve had my metamuceil cocktail to go along with FAMU Kool-aid you’ve been drinking. No one is going to dispute the importance of the HBCU in our community. FAM has been there when other educational avenues were cut off or not accessible. However, FAM had and still has a chance to set a serious precedent not only to the rogue band groups that poorly mimic the black greek letter organizations rituals but to all organizations. They have the world looking at them. I can’t speak for the VaTech incident because you and I both know HBCUs are looked at in another light when compared to other non HBCUs. If affordability and a green campus is something you want to hang your hat on go right ahead. But it seems to me if you have an instituion as great as FAM is, then you should have another Ammons ready to step up and take over. Good luck dealing with the intense media scrutiny in the coming weeks. Ssssssssss!!!
darattler
December 21st, 2011
6:08 pm
Yes, we should fire the U. S. General, shut down the military for 5 years and charge these soldiers with murder.
catlady
December 21st, 2011
6:39 pm
Critical Thinking: I am glad to hear that. Source? I guess I can call the IR office.
Proud Rattler: You are right. Not every student would go to FSU. The private colleges, however, like Bethune-Cookman are a good bit more expensive. Perhaps you are right about Dr. Ammons. My reaction is, he should be treated like the Penn State pres. It happened on his watch; he takes the hit. In the Penn State case, we have allegations of rape. In the FAMU case we definitely have a dead student. I think that fact merits dismissal of the president immediately–this waffling does not look good. However, on that we can disagree without me being a bigot. If you have followed this blog for any length of time I think you know I am pro-minority; in fact, sometimes some on this blog get mad at me about that.
I hope all this gets sorted out soon and good comes out of it somehow.
darattler
December 21st, 2011
7:27 pm
@ catlady – After it was reported to university administrators that Penn State’s coach was seen sexually molesting a little boy, the university still allowed this pervert to roam the campus and have access to its facilities for the next 10 YEARS! As soon as some of FAMU’s band members were identified as hazers, they were suspended from the band. FAMU’s President could not have prevented the death of Robert Champion. We cannot compare Penn State’s situation with FAMU’s. Nor can we compare Va. Tech’s with FAMU’s. I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that FAMU is getting more sensational media coverage than Va. Tech did when 35 students were murdered on campus. Why is that? I’m happy to hear thay you’re not a bigot. Yeah right! Some of my best friends are white.
Ole Guy
December 22nd, 2011
11:42 pm
Darat: Jet Mag…is that the fine periodical, I hear about so much, renouned for concise; insightful reporting? I hear that Jet is running, neck-to-neck, with Aviation Week and Space Technology in factually reporting THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER.
Proud Teacher
December 23rd, 2011
9:44 am
FAMU needs to assess the situation more rationally. Many good programs exist at FAMU and many more students of integrity attend this school. This hazing incident is abominable and must be dealt with appropriately, but don’t punish everyone in some kind of blanket reprimand. Go to the source and start the repair from there. Knee-jerk reaction to a horrific incident is not usually the best reaction in the long run. Think is through. This is sound-byte time for the politicians.