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
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103 comments Add your comment
Redene
December 26th, 2011
11:21 am
My heart truly goes out to Robert & Pam Champion for the loss of their child. The pain they are enduring is unimaginable. However, has anyone asked what and why was Robert Champion, the 26 year old student thinking? Doesn’t some of the responsibility lie with Robert Champion, the 26 year old student. How much control does parents have over their 19 year old, the normal age of a college freshman, let alone a 26 year old? I, as a parent of three boys, the youngest a senior in college, don’t know what my 22 year old is doing away from me. When he is away, just as his older brothers were when in college, I have very limited control over their behavior away from me. I must trust that how we have raised them and what we have taught them will guide them in their decision making. When our children engage in such inhuman activities, is it our fault as parents? Are we as parents responsible and liable? If not, how in the world can you, Ms. Downey, Pam & Robert Champion, or anyone else say that President Ammons is responsible and liable? Robert Champion was 26 years old, fully grown by anyone’s definition. How many times we thought we had control over them when they did just as they pleased? How many times have our children did not listen to our suggestions? How many times have our children chosen friends and acquaintances, that we did not think best for them? How many times have our children engaged in activites when we have asked them not to? Ms. Downey, what about an article on the role the student who is being hazed play in the whole hazing atmosphere?
darattler
December 26th, 2011
1:22 pm
@ Redene – Thank you very much for your very eloquent comments. I agree with you 100%.
Chandler
December 26th, 2011
1:34 pm
CEO’s are typically held responsible for the actions of their employees, a failed policy, the company or organization not responding within its jursidiction, etc. The FEMA director during Katrina had to resign, The CEO of Jetblue, Airways, Inc. had to resign when passengers were left on the runway during a major snow storm, The CEO of BP resigned after the explosion in the gulf, the CEO of CL & P resigned after the company’s power restoration policies failed to restore power to CT residents after an October snowstorm, and lastly the PSU President was terminated along with the head coach. Why should Ammons be treated any different. His is ultimately responsible for putting students at risk, so is Dr. White. regardless of the numerous resports submitted to the president’s office, he should have gone before the The Florida State Department of HIgher Education Board to plead his case when there was no action from school admininstration. Unfortunately a student died becuase of the lack of policy enforcement and failure to protect the student during academic activity. I believe that Ammons should resign and drastic change be made immediately — an overhaul is needed, new adminstration with zero tolerance for hazing and any student found guilty of hazing to be expelled without hesitation.