By Michael Peltier
TALLAHASSEE | Wed Jul 11, 2012 3:16pm EDT
TALLAHASSEE (Reuters) - Florida A&M University President James Ammons announced on Wednesday he will resign from the post, following June's no-confidence vote by the university's board of trustees after the hazing death of a university drum major.
The announcement came shortly before parents of Robert Champion, a FAMU marching band member who died in November after being hazed, were expected to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the university.
Ammons said his last day would be October 11, but he would like to remain as a tenured professor after that date.
Champion, 26, died on a band charter bus in November after the university's renowned Marching 100' band performed at the annual Florida Classic football game in Orlando. Officials determined he died after being brutally hazed.
Thirteen band members have been charged in Champion's death. Of those, 11 face felony hazing charges and could face up to six years in prison. Two others were charged with misdemeanors.
In June, the Board of Trustees gave Ammons a vote of no-confidence, with eight of 12 trustees saying they had lost faith in Ammons ability to lead the historically black college during the tumultuous times.
"Now there are new challenges that must be met head on," Ammons said in his resignation a letter to FAMU Board of Trustees chairman Solomon Badger. "I am determined to move all of the major challenges toward resolution and move our university toward success."
FAMU Board of Trustees chairman Solomon Badgers praised Ammons' decision, which he said was in the university's best interest.
"I am saddened by President Ammons' decision to resign, but it is his choice to do so," Badger said in a statement. "Given all that has transpired, it seems to be in the best interest of the University and I applaud him for putting FAMU ahead of his personal goals."
(Editing by David Adams and Vicki Allen)
TALLAHASSEE | Wed Jul 11, 2012 3:16pm EDT
TALLAHASSEE (Reuters) - Florida A&M University President James Ammons announced on Wednesday he will resign from the post, following June's no-confidence vote by the university's board of trustees after the hazing death of a university drum major.
The announcement came shortly before parents of Robert Champion, a FAMU marching band member who died in November after being hazed, were expected to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the university.
Ammons said his last day would be October 11, but he would like to remain as a tenured professor after that date.
Champion, 26, died on a band charter bus in November after the university's renowned Marching 100' band performed at the annual Florida Classic football game in Orlando. Officials determined he died after being brutally hazed.
Thirteen band members have been charged in Champion's death. Of those, 11 face felony hazing charges and could face up to six years in prison. Two others were charged with misdemeanors.
In June, the Board of Trustees gave Ammons a vote of no-confidence, with eight of 12 trustees saying they had lost faith in Ammons ability to lead the historically black college during the tumultuous times.
"Now there are new challenges that must be met head on," Ammons said in his resignation a letter to FAMU Board of Trustees chairman Solomon Badger. "I am determined to move all of the major challenges toward resolution and move our university toward success."
FAMU Board of Trustees chairman Solomon Badgers praised Ammons' decision, which he said was in the university's best interest.
"I am saddened by President Ammons' decision to resign, but it is his choice to do so," Badger said in a statement. "Given all that has transpired, it seems to be in the best interest of the University and I applaud him for putting FAMU ahead of his personal goals."
(Editing by David Adams and Vicki Allen)
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