After all the hard work that supporters of FAMU’s Developmental Research School (DRS) did to put the painful Holmes-era behind the university, it is a sad sight to see R.B. Holmes trying to mount a comeback as a FAMU “leader.”Back when he was a university trustee, R.B. demonstrated a lack of objectivity that raises serious questions about his ability to be fair when it comes to FAMU matters. The FAMU student body and administration should think twice before granting any legitimacy to R.B.’s latest attempts to brand himself as an individual who is sincere about helping the school.
R.B. has been scrambling to get a piece of the media spotlight ever since FAMU's hazing problem became national news. He has appointed his own “National Historically Black College and University Task Force” and is trying to pressure the FAMU administration to send a representative.
“Knowing the leadership of FAMU, I think they will gladly support this effort,” R.B. told the Tallahassee Democrat.
R.B. was also quick to jump out in front of the television cameras covering the FAMU students who marched in protest of Gov. Rick Scott's call for President James H. Ammons' suspension. His renewed interest in "helping" Ammons seems to fit into his long track record of cheering on competent FAMU leadership when it is convenient for him and then aiding bad leadership when it fits his purposes.
The nearly one year since R.B. left the FAMU Board of Trustees (BOT) is not long enough to forget his less-than-genuine criticism against Ammons' handling of the budget.
In 2010, R.B. bashed Ammons for planning to hire three new employees for an information technology degree program at a time when many professors and staffers are in danger of being laid off. FAMUans started asking how R.B. could claim to be truly concerned about job cuts when he never publicly criticized his brother, former DRS Superintendent Ronald Holmes, for trying to lay off nine teachers at the K-12 school. Ronald attempted to slash the jobs after he failed to boost DRS’ student numbers enough to bring in the money required for the 2009-2010 year’s budget.
Some FAMUans openly wondered whether R.B. was trying to get Ammons back for accepting Ronald’s resignation. How can FAMU supporters be sure that R.B. will not use his “task force” to grandstand and settle some old score with the FAMU president?
There is also the question of whether R.B. will join in with some of his former buddies on the BOT who appear to be interested in appointing Barbara Barnes as interim president. R.B. previously supported Barnes' candidacy during the 2004 interim presidential search.
R.B. was not a good trustee while he was on FAMU's board and has yet to give any reason why he should be trusted on FAMU issues. The university should feel no obligation to endorse or participate in his "task force."