Florida A & M University’s embattled president, Dr. James H. Ammons, abruptly announced his resignation Wednesday, further complicating the institution’s scramble to restore its tarnished reputation in the aftermath of the hazing death of a drum major in the university’s once-prestigious marching band last fall.
Ammons, 59, told university board members in a brief, one-page note, he was resigning his post, effective October 11. He said he intended to continue working at the university following the presidency as a “tenured full professor” focusing on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) “initiatives.” He became president in July, 2007. The university’s board of trustees, which had a scheduled telephone conference call meeting Wednesday, took no action on the president’s announcement, deciding instead to consider it Monday morning during a conference call meeting.
Ammons’ announcement was among the latest in a head-spinning series of dramatic developments at the university since 26-year-old band drum major Robert Champion died from body blows from some fellow band members during a hazing incident on a chartered bus after a college football game in Orlando.
In addition to the Ammons’ resignation, Champion’s parents on Wednesday sued Florida A&M University (FAMU) alleging that, among a number of claims, school officials did not take sufficient action to stop hazing even though a school dean had proposed suspending the band last year over hazing concerns.
Hazing is illegal in Florida and is considered a criminal offense. Thirteen members of the band have since been charged by a state prosecutor and arrested on criminal hazing charges related to Champion’s death.
After receiving a hail of criticism over his initial handling of the tragic death, Ammons took a variety of actions over the past six months. In December, he placed the FAMU band on suspension for the rest of the school year and put veteran band director and music department chair, Dr. Julian White, on leave (White, who contested the decision, resigned in late May). In January, Ammons imposed a sweeping ban on campus club intake for the remainder of the school year. In March, he announced sweeping changes in the university’s leadership team, including brining former Provost Dr. Larry Robinson back to his old post and dispatching Dr. Cynthia Hughes to her old post as Dean of the School of Allied Health Services.
In May, Ammons placed the university marching band on suspension through the 2012-2013 school year. He fired two music teachers who worked closely with the band and issued a detailed set of rules that would govern band activity in the future and created several new jobs directly responsible for rooting out hazing at FAMU. He also reassigned several top aides.
