FAMU President May Be Suspended Monday
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) – The Board of Trustees of Florida A&M University could decide as early as Monday if they will comply with Gov. Rick Scott's request and suspend school President James Ammons while authorities investigate the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion.
Scott called the chairman of the FAMU board, Solomon Badger, last week and asked him to suspend Ammons immediately. The board discussed suspending Ammons, but instead voted to publicly reprimand him.
On Monday, the board will hold a conference call, three days after the state medical examiner ruled Champion's death a homicide. Officials say he was beaten so severely internal bleeding caused him to go into shock and die.
Badger has expressed his support for Ammons; other trustees defer to Badger. Ammons also has a powerful ally in alumnus Al Lawson, a former state legislator whose name adorns the school's new multipurpose center and gymnasium.
"Just by removing the president you don't solve the problem," said Lawson earlier this month. "They need to give him a chance to rectify and clean up the situation."
Lawson also noted the school recently signed Ammons to a new five-year contract and that any buyout at this point would be costly.
Four students were expelled for their alleged roles in Champion's death.
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