Holmes exit is a step forward for restructuring process

The restructuring process is on at FAMU and no part of the university needed to be restructured more badly than the Board of Trustees. The exit of former Trustee R.B. Holmes, Jr. is a step forward in moving FAMU in the right direction.

R.B. recently bashed President James H. Ammons for his handling of FAMU’s shrinking budget. But R.B. did not say anything about his role in creating the budget squeeze that is about to lead to huge job losses at the university.

FAMU underwent big budget cuts two years before the national economic crisis began in 2007. Back in 2005, R.B. and other trustees let then-Interim President Castell Bryant destroy the university’s recruitment program and send FAMU’s student numbers into a nosedive. FAMU went from 13,070 students in Fall 2004 to only 11,567 students in Fall 2007.

During the Castell years, the majority of public universities in Florida were actually bringing in new revenue with enrollment increases. They have since used that money to help soften the blow from legislative across-the-board cuts.

FAMU took a multi-million dollar hit in state enrollment funding because of its failure to meet its legally required student numbers.

Starting with his first day as president in 2007, Ammons worked to save jobs by rebuilding the recruitment program and putting numerous salary lines on temporary federal stimulus dollars. But now that the stimulus is drying up, there is no choice but to begin eliminating positions. FAMU is getting ready to let go of 110 employees who are being paid with stimulus dollars and 86 additional workers whose positions are funded through other monetary sources.

DRS supporters rally to rescue school, 2010-2011

February 22, 2010

A Rattler Nation report points out on how dirty politics on the FAMU Board of Trustees (BOT) might be playing a role in protecting Developmental Research School (DRS) Superintendent Ronald Holmes.

Not long after Trustee R.B. Holmes threw his support behind Trustee Bill Jennings’ 2009 reelection bid for the board chairmanship, word spreads on campus that there’s an understanding that R.B.’s brother (Ronald) will not be summoned before the BOT to answer tough questions about the increasingly bad situation at DRS.

Jennings fails to call the DRS superintendent before the BOT for any type of public questioning throughout the remainder of Ronald's tenure.

Holmes crisis begins at DRS, 2007-2010

Today and tomorrow, Rattler Nation will take a look back at the Holmes years at FAMU’s Developmental Research School (DRS).

December 31, 2007

The FAMU Board of Trustees votes to approve a three-year contract for Ronald Holmes, the newly hired DRS superintendent and brother of Trustee R.B. Holmes, Jr. Ronald’s salary is $110,000, annually.

Many Rattlers openly question whether President James H. Ammons actually had a choice when it came to the hiring decision. There was no doubt that as one of the seven critical votes that Ammons needed to become FAMU’s president, R.B. had the power to twist Ammons’ arm and make personal demands during the selection process.

Ronald had no experience as the chief administrator of any K-12 school.

Rattlers hold first scrimmage

The Florida A&M Rattlers Football Team recently held their first scrimmage of the spring at the Rattler practice field. The scrimmage of all units took place at the lower field, dubbed "The Pit," during the Jake Gaither years.

The offensive and defensive unites were divided into three units each, that each saw action is planned segments. Head Coach Joe Taylor barked combinations from the field as to which groups he wanted to see matched against one another. Taylor said today's scrimmage carried more importance than just another practice.

"Today was our first game of the 2011 season," Taylor exclaimed. He went on to explain the importance scrimmages are to what the coaches can expect on Saturdays. He also said with confidence, "We are farther along at this point this year, than we were at this point last year for sure."

Taylor was pleased with the overall activity of the team. "I saw guys flying around, being active," Taylor said. "That is a good sign. When you get that type of activity...whenever you are a contact team, you will always be competitive. We appreciate our veterans and their leadership and their growth," he added.

Austin Trainor took the first snaps from center with the first team offense. Trainor was methodical in his approach, and guided the offense with precision. The offense moved up and down the field on the second and third teams, but had much more difficulty sustaining drives on the veteran first string defense.

Incoming quarterback Tyler Bass was plagued with stalled drives in the first segment. Several miscommunicatons with receivers left passes floating to empty spots. During the break, Coaches Lawrence Kershaw and Steven Jerry adjusted their offense to what Bass was comfortable with, and his success was immediate. His confidence and productivity increased dramatically, showing the allstar form he posseses.

Third string quarterback Dane James from Boyd-Anderson High School, had some impressive sets himself. He moved the third offense with confidence. He showed the quickness of his feet and his good decision making.

Taylor expressed to the guys the importance of continuing to take care of business in the classroom. "If you don't take care of business up there (classroom), this has no meaning," Taylor added. He stressed the mandate to continue to help the team's APR.

FAMU to host Weekend of Rededication

FAMU will host its Weekend of Rededication (WORD) and spring Alumni Meeting April 28 through 30.

“It is always so heartwarming to see alums from days gone by return to the ‘Hill,’” said Executive Director for the Office of Alumni Affairs Carmen Cummings-Martin. “They are really interested in seeing the great strides over the years here on campus. I believe Weekend of Rededication is a gem of a chance for them to reconnect with classmates from the good ole days and to give back via their talents and treasure to help sustain our beloved alma mater.”

The celebration will honor the university’s Golden Anniversary Class of 1961 and Legends in the classes of 1951, 1956 and 1966 for WORD. Several activities have been planned including the Gaslight Renaissance: A Tribute to the Arts featuring moments from the stage classic: “Ain’t Misbehavin,” and a talent show featuring alums from the 1950s and 1960s at Charles Winter Wood Theatre.

FAMU, FSU SGA Co-Sponsor the State of the Student Summit

FAMU has teamed up with Florida State University (FSU) for the second annual State of the Student Summit. The summit will bring together a diverse compilation of today’s top leaders from around the nation in business, academia, media, politics and education to attack major issues affecting America's students domestically and globally.

The Summit is scheduled for Sunday, March 27, at 6 p.m. at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center.

“The purpose of the Student Summit is to bring a variety of panelist to empower students on various issues such as budget cuts, health care, entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability. It’s imperative that we keep our students up-to-date with current issues not only in the U.S. but the world,” said Breyon Love, a junior accounting student and vice president of FAMU’s Student Government Association.

The event will feature a panel discussion and open-dialogue with the audience. The panelists for the Summit are as follows:

Kirk Franklin – seven-time GRAMMY® Awards winning gospel music artist and host of SUNDAY BEST, Black Entertainment Television’s original series.

Mike Huckabee – former governor of Arkansas, former Republican presidential candidate, author and the host of Huckabee on FOXNews.com.

Van Jones – environmental activist, attorney and professor

Kelly Layman - executive director of Communications and Development for the State University System, Florida Board of Governors

Dom Sagolla – co-founder of the social media website Twitter

The discussion is one way to bridge the gap between FAMU and FSU students, and to hear how they feel about the issues affecting the student body.

General admission for the Summit is free and open to the general public.

Ain't Misbehavin "Swings" into Essential Theatre

FAMU Essential Theatre’s guest director and choreographer Harry Bryce will showcase his version of the reputable Tony Award© winning musical revue “Ain’t Misbehavin’: Fats Waller Musical Show” starting Friday, April 1 through Sunday, April 3 in the Charles Winter Wood Theatre in Tucker Hall.

The show features 30 Thomas “Fats” Waller’s classics-- some comical like “Your Feets Too Big,” some poignant and some political like “Black and Blue,” which is a commentary on racism, and others are just toe-tappers like his famous “The Joint is Jumpin.” The show will be nostalgic for those who are familiar with Waller’s music. The revue is a way to exposing “swing” music to a new generation, and like most songs, the messages in the lyrics are relatable to everyone.

“These are all songs this generation would not naturally know,” said Bryce.

The original play is a lightly staged Broadway production without a plot. However, Bryce created a storyline for “Ain’t Misbehavin’” that involves a love triangle between three women and two men. He has included a few additional characters specifically for the FAMU production.

“If you like good music and like to have fun, then this will be the place to be,” said Kimberly Harding, associate professor of theatre. “This will be a taste of the sounds of the Harlem Renaissance, but more importantly a good time.”

According to Bryce, this will be a high-energy production that will keep the audience on the edge of their seat.

“Ain’t Misbehavin’ is filled with gallivanting, strutting and a bunch of lies and propaganda because you can’t believe a thing they are saying,” said Bryce. “The storyline is built around this Fats Waller boisterous character.”

Eminent historian to keynote Women's History celebration

In honor of National Women’s History Month, Florida A&M University (FAMU) History and African-American Studies Department and the Meek-Eaton Black Archives Research Center and Museum will host the “African-American Women: Their Struggles, Achievements and Contributions” forum Thursday, March 24 at 6 p.m. in Lee Hall Auditorium.

Eminent historian and scholar Darlene Clark Hine will serve as the keynote speaker. Hine is the chair of the Department of African American Studies Board of Trustees Professor of African-American Studies and professor of history at Northwestern University. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, past president of the Organization of American Historians and of the Southern Historical Association.

Hine received her bachelor’s degree at Roosevelt University in Chicago, Ill., her master’s degree and Ph.D. from Kent State University, Kent, Ohio. Hine has taught at South Carolina State University and at Purdue University. She was a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University and at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies at Harvard University.

She is the author and/or co-editor of 15 books, most recently The Harvard Guide to African-American History. She coedited a two volume set, A Question of Manhood: A Reader in Black Men’s History and Masculinity; and with Jacqueline McLeod, Crossing Boundaries: Comparative History of Black People in Diaspora.

She won the Dartmouth Medal of the American Library Association for the reference volumes coedited with Elsa Barkley Brown and Rosalyn Terborg-Penn, Black Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia. She is the author of Black Women in White: Racial Conflict and Cooperation in the Nursing Profession, 1890–1950. Her forthcoming book is entitled The Black Professional Class: Physicians, Nurses, Lawyers, and the Origins of the Civil Rights Movement, 1890–1955.

Scott replaces Holmes, Parks, and Rouson

R.B. Holmes, Daryl Parks, and Angela Rouson are all off FAMU's Board of Trustees. Their replacements are Kelvin L. Lawson, Rufus N. Montgomery Jr., and Belinda R. Shannon, respectively.

Gov. Rick Scott announced the trustee shake-up earlier today, March 23, in a press release.

Lawson, 47, of Jacksonville, is a national client services director for Acosta Sales and Marketing. He succeeds Holmes and is appointed for a term beginning March 23, 2011, and ending January 6, 2016.

Montgomery, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, is the managing director of governmental affairs for Hall Booth Smith and Slover P.C. He succeeds Parks and is appointed for a term beginning March 23, 2011, and ending January 6, 2016.

Shannon, 50, of Wake Forest, North Carolina, is the vice president of corporate human resources for GlaxoSmithKline. She succeeds Rouson and is appointed for a term beginning March 23, 2011, and ending January 6, 2016.

FAMU to host Cyber Crime Prevention forum

Regarded as the “World’s No. 1 Hacker,” Gregory D. Evans will conduct a Cyber Crime Prevention Forum for the general public at FAMU on today, March 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Perry-Paige Auditorium. Evans, who will also speak to students, is scheduled to discuss: identity theft, online predators and computer hacking.

Founder of LIGATT Security, Evans is currently on a college speaking tour around the nation. He has authored eight books on laptop security and spyware amongst other topics. He has also been a contributor to several magazines and televisions programs speaking on cyber crimes and security.

Evans was a hacker in the 1990s and broke into the systems of AT&T, MCI, and Sprint and served a 24-month sentence in federal prison and repaid nearly $10 million in damages. After his release, he became a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), and has taught several hi-tech crime continuing education courses with universities and government agencies. Evans is also credited with creating the first wireless tracking device for computers called the e-Snitch (electronic snitching device). The e-Snitch allows the user to track a stolen computer from anywhere in the world.

Evans has dedicated himself to giving back to the community with his campus college tours, youth program and various forums and seminars he presents on cyber crime.

QB battle emerges between Trainor, Bass

The FAMU Rattlers Football Team opened camp for spring practice yesterday in "the pit." Coach Joe Taylor and his staff took the first step in their goal toward claiming an outright MEAC football championship inth fall.

The Rattlers, who finished 8-3, and just missed the NCAA FCS playoff, won a share of the MEAC football championship, along with South Carolina State University and Bethune-Cookman University.

The Rattlers look to have an experienced team on the field this season, as only nine players exhausted their eligibility on last season.

Austin Trainor comes in at No.1 on the depth chart at quarterback. Trainor took over the helm for the Rattlers' last three games of 2010 and guided them to three straight victories. With the departure of Martin Ukpai, who started the season as the No.1 quarterback, the Rattlers look to a group of individuals who could vie for that position.

Memphis University transfer quarterback Tyler Bass, could push Trainor for that top spot. Taylor has expressed his need to have quality backups in order to achieve championship level success. Bass could provide that quality.

The Rattlers look to fill the shoes of Philip Sylvester on the offensive side of the ball. Sylvester ended his career as the third leading rusher in FAMU history. Eddie Rocker assumes the top spot on the Rattler depth chart.

On the defensive side, the Rattlers look to replace defensive linemen Marquiste Ramos and Kendrick Washington. Padric Scott had a stellar offseason and looks to step up for the Rattlers in 2011.

Practice was in shorts and shoulder pads. The team went through several cycles of drills ans special teams segments.

FAMU introduces payout proposal as stimulus dries

FAMU’s stimulus dollars are drying up and painful personnel cuts lie ahead. The university has now introduced a payout proposal for 110 workers who are being paid with stimulus dollars that will expire on June 30, 2011.

As Rattler Nation previously reported, FAMU used all of its federal unrestricted stimulus dollars to save employee jobs. This approach was very different from the one used by Florida’s other public land grant university, the University of Florida.

According to the Gainesville Sun, “UF used $6.4 million for final payouts to laid-off faculty and staff, and another $7.6 million was paid for early retirement incentives meant to prevent layoffs.”

UF used about $10M stimulus dollars to hire new faculty members in areas such as medicine which attract big research grants. Next year, UF will start using tuition dollars to pay those salaries.

On March 3 the FAMU Board of Trustees gave university attorneys the authorization to initiate discussions with the bargaining units that would allow for a one-time lump sum separation incentive for eligible employees. After the unions are provided with the opportunity to weigh in on the proposal, the proposal will go before the BOT for consideration.

The proposed program has been named the Voluntary Retirement Option (VRO) Plan.
Eligible employees will receive lump sum payments that will be equivalent to their current annual twelve-, ten- or nine-month base rates of pay. The lump sum payment will exclude all summer semester and other forms of compensation.

VRO participants must be at least 62 years of age, have 30 years of service to the State of Florida, have at least six years of such experience at FAMU, and must be employed in a 1.00 FTE (Full-Time Equivalency) position funded 100 percent by Education and General (E&G) Funds; and

Employees who have previously retired from State of Florida, ever enrolled in the Deferred Retirement Option Program, or have received a notice of non-renewal will not be eligible for VRO.

Ammons awards $1.5M to future Rattlers

Life got a little better for some of the State of Florida’s best and brightest students as FAMU President James H. Ammons awarded more than $1.5 million in scholarships during its fourth annual President’s Tour: FAMU Up Close and Personal. During his seven-city tour, Ammons visited The Villages, Leesburg, Winter Haven, St. Petersburg, Naples, Ft. Myers and Miami.

Accompanying Ammons on the tour were university recruiters, administrators, student leaders and members of the FAMU Connection, a group of talented students who tell the university’s story through song and dance.

At the Seabreeze Recreation Center in The Villages, Fla., Ammons awarded $168,000 in scholarships to students including two Distinguished Scholarship Awards.

“At FAMU, we are going to put you on a path to the good life,” said Ammons. “We are here today to recognize and acknowledge you [students].”

In Leesburg, Ammons awarded the first Life-Gets-Better (LGB) Scholarship to Lachonda Lacey, a sophomore at South Sumter High School in Bushnell, Fla.

The LGB scholarship pays for tuition and fees, room and board, books, provides a $500 stipend per semester, a PC notebook, an iPad and a guaranteed summer internship.

Ammons stated that he wanted to be the first to offer Lacey a scholarship. When asked how does she feel to be offered a scholarship while being a sophomore, Lacey said, “It is so amazing that it is indescribable,” while smiling from ear to ear.

What makes the sophomore so unique is that she is in the process of trying to get a patent on a new treatment of a staph infection called MRSA (Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), which is an infection that is caused by a strain of staph bacteria that’s become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat ordinary staph infections.

“My project, the tea tree test, was designed to find a more natural and applicable way to treat staph infections,” said Lacey.

After 48 hours of testing, Lacy stated she measured the area that the remedy killed off the bacteria. After obtaining the results, she shared her results with a scientist she was working with and the scientist was so surprised by the results that she sent the remedy to a corporate lab to test on MRSA, which came back to verify the results.

In his hometown of Winter Haven, Ammons awarded another LGB Scholarship to Stephon Mikell, a senior at International Baccalaureate Bartow High School. Mikell, who scored a 34 on the ACT and maintains a 4.3 grade point average, was in shock when his name was called as a LGB scholarship recipient.

“When I heard my name, I started to shake,” said Mikell, who plans to major in mathematics. “It is good to know that they [FAMU] cared enough to come. I didn’t consider FAMU but my mindset has changed. I am still shaking.”

Steeve Pierre-Lewis, a senior at Blanche Ely High in Miami, Fla. and a recipient of the LGB scholarship, expressed his thoughts about being awarded the scholarship.

“FAMU was not on my list before, but now it is,” said Pierre-Lewis, showcasing an award-winning smile. “This [LGB scholarship] is a great incentive. Also, another turning point was hearing the student’s perspective.”

“Our corporate partners provide the money for these scholarships awarded because they want FAMU talent,” said Ammons. “Our best scholarship, the Life-Gets-Better Scholarship, is so good that life for the entire family gets better.”

Persaud elected Faculty Senate President

FAMU Faculty Senate has elected a new president, Narayan Persaud, chair of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice.

“I am humbled by the election,” said Persaud. “We need to bring our campus back to a unified force because in this trialing time, we need the support of everybody with nobody excluded.”

In addition, Dreamal Worthen, professor in the College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture, was elected as vice president.

As Faculty Senate vice president, Worthen will be responsible for assisting Persaud in carrying out the policies, initiatives and directives of the Senate.

Persaud and Worthen will begin their post on July 1, 2011.

“I am elated,” said Worthen. “This gives me a sense of trust. I’ve been down this road before, and I am excited to be able to help a new president in terms of facing a lot of the challenges we are facing here in the state of Florida, higher education in particular.”

The Faculty Senate is the highest legislative body within FAMU, and advises the president on academic matters and other concerns affecting more than one school or college. The Faculty Senate considers, legislates and advises on all matters of general University interest.

The Faculty Senate is the supreme legislative body on internal policy and other matters within the university and is the principal advisory body to the president on all matters external to the university.

Faculty Senators are elected annually for two-year staggered terms in March of each year by the faculty of each college or school including the Environmental Sciences Institute. New senators take office at the initial fall meeting of the Faculty Senate. In addition, various members of the university administration may be ex-officio members, and the Student Government Association elects two student members. The Faculty Senate elects its officers, sets its own rules of procedure, and establishes committees to perform Senate functions.

Willis leaving for new job at Ohio State

FAMU Vice President for University Relations Carla Willis submitted her letter of resignation today effective April 15, 2011. She has accepted a new position as assistant vice president at The Ohio State University Medical Center.

“Mrs. Willis has helped us to reassess our development efforts and position the university for a new comprehensive fundraising campaign,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “She has achieved several milestones during her career here and will leave us with a solid fund-raising operation. She helped to increase alumni participation rates significantly during her tenure. I wish her the best in her new position.”

During her tenure at FAMU, Willis launched a mobile giving campaign, making FAMU one of the first universities in the nation to use cellular telephones for solicitations. Willis also successfully managed the FAMU Foundation through the economic downturn and established the infrastructure to launch a $50 million comprehensive campaign for FAMU.

In her new post, Willis will have development management responsibility for several units including Heart, Neurosciences, Transplants, Ob/Gyn, Women’s Health, Personalized Medicine and Sports Medicine. She starts her new job on May 2.

“I have truly enjoyed my professional experience at FAMU,” said Willis. “The University Relations team is a team of hard working professionals who time and time again, rise to accomplish the goals and objectives that have been set by the University; I know they will continue to excel. It has been an honor and privilege to service this fine institution.”

Harris out as basketball coach

FAMU Athletic Director Derek Horne has issued a letter of nonreappointment to Eugene Harris, head coach of the Rattler Men’s Basketball Team.

Harris, who is in the fourth year of his five-year contract, has been placed on administrative leave with pay. He makes $150,000 per year. Harris’ employment with the university will end on June 10, 2011.

“We have decided to move in a different direction,” said Horne. “We would like to thank Coach Harris for his effort in support of Rattler basketball.”

Harris has been at FAMU for four seasons and has amassed a record of 46 wins, and 80 losses. Harris has served as head coach of the men’s basketball program since 2007. Prior to accepting the FAMU appointment, Harris was a member of the men’s basketball staff at Georgia State University in Atlanta. He also served as coach at South Alabama (1983-1984), Clemson University (1984-1994), Auburn University (1994-2001) and the University of Alabama (2005-2006). He also served as Assistant Athletic Director at Auburn from 2001 to 2005.

“I support Mr. Horne in his decision,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “We want only the best for our student athletes and our program. We believe that this change will help us to meet the goals that we have set for the program.”

According to Horne, a search committee will be appointed immediately to begin a search for a new coach. Assistant Coach Maurice “Tony” Sheals will handle the day-to-day operations of the basketball team until a new coach is appointed.

Screenwriter, actress to facilitate J-School workshop

“A Crash Course in Writing for the Screen” is a three-day workshop hosted by the Florida A&M University (FAMU) School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC), March 24 through 26. Accomplished screenwriter and actor Kelsey Scott will facilitate the workshop intended to teach aspiring screenwriters how to develop a story concept into a completed screenplay.

Scott, a FAMU alumna, is based in Los Angeles. Among her credits are the Sony Pictures thrillers Motives and Motives 2, starring Vivicia A. Fox (Kill Bill, Two Can Play That Game), Shemar Moore (Criminal Minds, Diary of a Mad Black Woman), and Brian White (Stomp the Yard, Daddy’s Little Girls). Her impressive acting credits include Grey’s Anatomy, House M.D. and The Young and the Restless – along with a host of stage and musical theatre credits. She is currently at work on the harrowing true story of former Hampton University student Kemba Smith for Rainforest Films.

“SJGC is pleased to host this screenwriting workshop,” said James Hawkins, SJGC’s dean. “Kelsey brings an impressive list of experiences that will be valuable to our students as well as the Tallahassee community.”

FAMU vying to "retool" New Beginnings

FAMU needs the community’s votes as it competes against other historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to win $150,000 in campus improvement grants from The Home Depot. One $50,000 major grant and 10 $10,000 minor grants will be awarded.

The competition is part of The Home Depot’s long-standing efforts in support of the black community. The grant money will go towards a school improvement project that “will have an enduring impact on the lives of students, faculty and alumni for generations to come.”

For the $50,000 grant, FAMU’s New Beginnings Childcare Facility proposes to install the first solar energy system on campus. For the $10,000 grant, FAMU’s New Beginnings intends to install outdoor lighting, make interior building repairs and expand and enhance the outdoor learning area.

To win either the $50,000 or one of the $10,000 grants, FAMU must receive more online votes than any other HBCU in the competition. Last spring, the university was awarded a $10,000 grant, which assisted in the creation of FAMU’s first “Green Space.”

Online voting is now open and ends Friday, April 22, at 11:59 p.m. Each individual may vote only one time per day until the deadline. To vote for FAMU’s grant proposals, go to http://retoolyourschool.com.

Gray hired as assistant FAMU football coach

Former FAMU gridiron star Quinn Gray is returning to The Hill to coach quarterbacks.

In an interview with the Jacksonville Times-Union, Gray spoke about his recent decision to step down as the head football coach at Jackson High School and return to his alma mater. He said his decision was prompted by the severe budget cuts that await Duval County’s public school athletic programs next year.

"It's a great opportunity to coach on the collegiate level," Gray told the Times-Union. That's ultimately where I wanted to be. There are things going on in Duval. A meeting we had with [Duval County athletic director] Jon Fox on Thursday woke me up to the fact that I may not have a coaching job. Then, that same day, I got a call from Tallahassee [FAMU]. I thought I'd better take advantage of the opportunity.

Gray entered the NFL in 2002 as an undrafted free agent. He played as a quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars for five seasons. He also had brief stints with the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, and Kansas City Chiefs.

Williams voices opposition to clemency rule changes

Last week, Gov. Rick Scott and members of the Cabinet voted unanimously to eliminate automatic restoration of rights for convicted felons.

Rep. Alan Williams voiced his strong disagreement with the Florida Cabinet’s decision.

“I am deeply disappointed in the decision by Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet to approve new clemency policies that require ex-felons to wait five to seven years before they can seek restorations of civil rights in order to vote and hold public office,” Williams said.

Williams and several other members of the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators publicly announced their opposition to the proposal and urged the Cabinet to keep in place clemency rules that began in 2007 under Governor Charlie Crist.

“Changing the rules will only add barriers to those who have paid their debt to society,” Williams said. “I believe the Governor and Cabinet made a rush decision and, in turn, have turned back the clock.”

Lewis unveils Vision 2020 to FMU supporters

Former FAMU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Dean Henry Lewis, III, the new president of Florida Memorial University (FMU) recently unveiled “Vision 2020” to reporters, students, administrators on the campus. The document is an ambitious 10-year plan for the Miami school.

“My job, as they have charged me to do is to make Florida Memorial University, not the best-kept secret, but the best-known entity of higher education in the state of Florida,” Lewis.

From spiritual growth to enhancing their classroom experience, the president focused on his goal to make FMU a student-focused, “World Class University.”

“Vision 2020” outlines goals to grow FMU’s grant funding, increase the university’s awareness both locally and nationally and spur enrollment through middle and high school partnerships. The plan’s 40 objectives are designed to move FMU from “Good to Great,” and make the school noted for successful graduates, a first-class faculty, and economic impact on the surrounding community.

“Dr. [James] Ammons (president of Florida A&M University) said ‘this man brings in $21 million-a-year for us,’” recalled Charles W. George, Florida Memorial University Board of Trustees chairman. “So, I knew it was going to be tough for us to get him, but here he is.”

Auditor: Enrollment growth key to FAMU’s financial stability

The Florida auditor general recently gave FAMU President James H. Ammons a big pat on the back for using enrollment increases to offset budgetary losses resulting from legislative cuts.

“Improving the economic outlook will require a legislative commitment to ensure proper funding of higher education,” Florida Auditor General David W. Martin wrote in FAMU’s recent financial audit. “The growth in enrollment will play a key role in continuous financial stability for [FAMU].”

Martin highlighted the fact that FAMU has achieved its highest-ever fall headcount number.

“Currently, University enrollment has shown an upward turn with a high quality student enrollment,” Martin said. “Enrollment reached approximately 12,261 students for the Fall 2009. Preliminary headcount for Fall 2010 is 13,284, which is the highest enrollment reported in the history of the University.”

According to Martin, FAMU’s must continue seeking new sources of revenue in order to remain on solid financial ground.

“The future outlook for increases in State support still remains grim due to the economic conditions of the State,” Martin said. “To provide quality education, the University must look for other sources of revenues such as student fees, auxiliary operations, research grants and fundraising. Also, the University must continue to minimize operating costs and insure an efficient use of scarce resources.”

Ammons aims to increase FAMU’s enrollment to at least 15,000 in the near future. As Rattler Nation reported back in December, the university is already on track to hit the 14,000 student mark as early as summer 2011.

A recent article in the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel stated that Florida International University is also planning a dramatic enrollment boost to help pump new revenue into the institution. The FIU Board of Trustees has approved a plan to add 20,000 new students over a period of 10 years. FIU currently has 42,287 students.

“This is about keeping our doors open,” FIU President Mark Rosenberg told the Sun-Sentinel.

Moran elected president of Tallahassee NAA chapter

FAMU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences coordinator of advancement alumni affairs James Moran Jr. was recently elected to serve as the president of the FAMU Alumni Association Tallahassee Chapter until December 2012.

Moran’s qualifications and commitment exceeds expectations. He has supported the university for the past 26 years and has been a life member of the Alumni Association for more than 15 years. It was his aunts and uncles – FAMU alumni who strongly support the university – who instilled in him the importance of giving back.

“They have been life members since the 50s,” said Moran. “They raised my level of attention on how important it was for them to support the university. I want to emulate them.”

Moran’s objectives for his two-year term are to support the president in his mission, increase enrollment, provide scholarship dollars, create visibility and engage in community service in Leon, Gadsden and other surrounding counties.

Wiggins selected for NCAA rules committee

FAMU softball coach Veronica Wiggins has been appointed to the NCAA softball rules committee. She will begin service in September of this year and serve a four year term.

Wiggins is no stranger to accolades. She is fastly approaching 600 career wins as the Lady Rattlers’ head coach. With nine MEAC titles and seven NCAA tournament appearances, Wiggins has seen many changes come and go, including the transition from slow pitch to fast pitch.

Wiggins has served on the NCAA tournament selection committee for the past four years (2008-2011),

The opportunity to be a part of the NCAA’s governance is an honor not taken lightly. “This will give me more insight into the sport and the rules and regulations that govern it. It’s exciting to be a part of the body that examines the current rules and makes recommendations for changes to those rules as they may benefit the future of our sport,” she said.

“Give me a young woman who has goals, who wants something out of life, and I can teach her the game,” Wiggins said. Her dedication to academics has contributed to her longevity. She says she gets even more joy when her young ladies mature and graduate as she does when they excel on the field.

Rattlers, Lady Rattlers bounced from MEAC Tourney

The Florida A&M Men’s Basketball team dropped a heart breaker in the opening round of the 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament, as Maryland Eastern Shore downed the Rattlers 87-85 in double overtime. A day later, the Lady Rattlers exited the tournament after getting whopped by Coppin State 76-64 in the first round.

The Rattlers were paced by freshman guard Avery Moore who nailed five three pointers in 11 attempts for a team high 21 points. Senior Larry Jackson finished with a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Jeremy Dean added 10.

The FAMU men finished the season (12-20).

The Lady Rattlers ended the season with a 15-15 record after the loss.

Coppin didn't let the Lady Rattlers get into an offensive rhythm and pounded the Rattlers on the boards (51-39). FAMU also had ball-control issues that resulted in 19 turnovers that accounted for 22 of CSU's points.

The loss marked the second consecutive year the Lady Rattlers went one-and-done in the tournament, and gives coach LeDawn Gibson a 2-3 postseason record. It was CSU's first tournament victory over FAMU in three meetings, the last coming in 2009.

Moore named to All-MEAC Rookie squad

FAMU's Avery Moore was named to the 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) All-Rookie team announced by the conference office, voted on by the conference head coaches and sports information directors.

Moore, a 5-10 freshman guard from Tallahassee, Fla., is currently averaging 9.5 points per game and has connected on 71 three pointers in the 223 attempts, ranking fifth in the conference in three pointers made.

Moore becomes FAMU’s second all-rookie performer in four seasons. Larry Jackson, a 6-4 senior forward from Chattahoochee, Fla., was named the 2008 conference all-rookie team.

The Rattlers will take on arch rival Bethune-Cookman in their final game of the season, on Thursday, March 3 at the Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, Fla.

FAMU cheerleaders win MEAC title

The Florida A&M Cheerleaders placed first in the co-ed division of the MEAC Cheerleading Competition at the Joel Coliseum. Head coach Brandi Tatum's squad overcame dominance in the division by North Carolina A&T, to take first place. Last season, the Rattlers finished in third place, behind the Morgan State Bears.

The MEAC cheerleading competition is one of the most highly competitive cheerleading events in the country. There are two divisions, the general division and the co-ed division, which FAMU has been in for the past four years.

"I think this year's improvement definitely came from having the tumbling mats at Gaither Gym, which allowed us to practice on the surface we were going to perform on," said Tatum. Last season, the mats weren't available and the team just practiced on the gym floor. That led to the team having to make adjustments at the actual competition.

The cheerleading squad didn't want to feel cheated. They set a goal to win it all and not suffer the disappointment they endured last season. "Our mindset was not to leave feeling cheated, we wanted to push to win first place. We were able to maximize our co-ed stunts. We wanted to show our collegiate skills, and we were successful in doing that," Tatum added.

The trip was not without its share of drama though. Co-captain Blayre Barlow, a huge part of the team, tore her ACL and was ruled out of competition by doctors on Tuesday. That didn't stop the focus of the FAMU Cheerleaders. Tatum said it was unnerving, but the team knew it had to step up. "We had to tweak things to work around not having our co-captain in just a few days before the competition, because she was a big part of the routine, and our personality," Tatum said.

Homecoming 2011 set for Oct 8 against Howard

The FAMU Department of Athletics announced that the Oct. 8 game against Howard University will be slated for homecoming. The MEAC battle between the Rattlers and Bison will headline an exciting week of activities on and around campus.

FAMU is 27-6 all-time against Howard. In last year's game in Washington D.C., the Rattlers defeated the Bison 50-7 in a runaway game.

Adding to the excitement of the game is Howard's recommitment to its athletics programs. Their new head coach is Gary Harrell, a 1994 graduate of Howard University, who also served as wide receivers coach at FAMU from 2006-2008.

Last season the Rattlers finished with a record of 8-3 overall. They compiled a 7-1 record in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play by winning their last six of seven games and handing the Bethune- Cookman University Wildcats their only regular season loss in Florida Classic XXXI. The Rattlers, Wildcats and S.C. State Bulldogs were deemed co-champions of the MEAC.

Ammons kicks off President's Tour

The stage was set and the lights were on FAMU at the Seabreeze Recreation Center in The Villages, Fla., as FAMU awarded $168,000 in scholarships to students including two Distinguished Scholarship Awards.

With a room filled with students, parents and alumni, FAMU President James H. Ammons shared with the audience his mission for his tour.

“At FAMU, we are going to put you on a path to the good life,” said Ammons. “We are here today to recognize and acknowledge you [students].”

The parents of Alex Hull, a Distinguished Scholarship recipient, stated they were surprised their son was presented with a scholarship.

“We decided to come today to get more information,” said Alicia Hull, mother of Alex. “We are very proud of him.”

Her husband, Kenneth, expressed his thoughts.

“This [scholarship] shows that his hard work is finally paying off,” said Hull.

Alex is interested in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. Ammons shared with Alex that if he takes the SAT or ACT again and get a slightly higher score, he could be eligible for the Life-Gets-Better Scholarship valued at more than $70,000.

“I am taking the ACT next month,” said Hull, with a smile on his face.

Sydney McCullough-Stevenson, who also received the Distinguished Scholarship Award, was surprised.

“I’m still in awe,” said Stephenson. “I had to do a double take when they called my name. I didn’t expect to receive a scholarship this big. Today, I saw a different side to FAMU. I saw FAMU as welcoming and fun. I plan to go to FAMU to study psychology.”

Ammons is traveling throughout the state of Florida offering scholarships to some of the state’s best and brightest students.

The FAMU president awarded $238,000 in his hometown of Winter Haven, $168,000 in St. Petersburg, and $104,000 in Fort Myers.

Accompanying Ammons on the tour were university recruiters, administrators, student leaders and members of the FAMU Connection, a group of talented students who tell the university’s story through song and dance.

Funds for the tour came from private donations.

Ammons administration earns third consecutive clean financial audit

On February 22, Florida Auditor General David W. Martin released the third financial audit of the FAMU President James H. Ammons’ administration. Once again, there were no findings.

The audit covered the fiscal year that that began on July 1, 2009 and ended on June 30, 2010.

In a newsletter, Ammons extended a special thanks to Teresa Hardee, chief financial officer and vice president for administrative and financial services. He also applauded the work of Charles O’Duor, vice president for the office of audit and compliance.

“We have received clean financial audits at FAMU for the past three years,” Ammons said.

Lewis hires CESTA dean as FMU provost

Makola Abdullah, dean of the FAMU College of Engineering, Sciences, Technology, and Agriculture (CESTA), is leaving Tallahassee to serve as provost and vice-president for academic affairs at Florida Memorial University (FMU) in Miami. He was hired by new FMU President Henry Lewis, III, the former dean of FAMU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Abdullah has served as dean of CESTA since 2008. During his tenure, CESTA contributed over $75,000 to the FAMU Faculty Staff Endowment, increased enrollment to 445 students, and increased external funding to $9.5 million.

From his perspective, Abdullah expects the future of the college to be bright. “Given the commitment of a passionate faculty, staff and student base,” Abdullah commented, “I expect the college’s excellence to become even greater at the University, within the land-grant institutional community and beyond.”

Abdullah will begin his new position at FAMU on Monday, March 7, 2011.

Bennett, McKelton earn All-MEAC first team honors

The FAMU Women’s Basketball team had a pair of Lady Rattlers to earn First Team All-Conference honors, announced by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Office, voted on by the conference sports information directors and head coaches.

Tameka McKelton and Antonia Bennett become the first Lady Rattlers to earn first team all-conference honors since the 2003-04 season, when FAMU’s Yolanda Dixon earned first team all-conference honors.

McKelton, a 5-8 junior guard from West Palm Beach, Fla., is currently averaging 16.9 points per game and 3.3 rebounds per game, ranking her second in the conference scoring and leads the conference in free throw percentage (.858). In addition, McKelton became a member of the FAMU 1,000 point club on February 5, 2011 against Morgan State.

Bennett, a 6-0 junior guard/forward from Lakeland, Fla., finished the season averaging 16.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, ranking her third in the conference in scoring and rebounding. Bennett became a member of the Lady Rattler 1,000 point club on February 12 against Maryland Eastern Shore.

The Lady Rattlers will conclude their 2010-2011 season on Thursday, March 3 against Bethune-Cookman at Moore Gymnasium.

FAMU football team receives MEAC co-championship rings

Head Football Coach Joe Taylor and Athletic Director Derek Horne were presented with their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference co-championship rings during the FAMU vs S.C. State basketball game earlier this week. The assistant coaches, players and support staff also received their rings that evening.

MiLB CEO speaks at SBI

Minor League Baseball’s (MiLB) Chief Executive Officer and President Patrick O’Conner bridged the gap between the industry and the FAMU School of Business and Industry (SBI) students. O’Conner was the guest speaker at the SBI’s Distinguished Entrepreneurs forum.

“This is our second trip to FAMU,” said O’Conner. “We were here a year ago. We thought it was important to reach out to HBCUs as a source for motivated, energized and talented young men and women of color specifically. Being in Florida and understanding FAMU’s tradition and reputation, we thought it was one of our must stop campuses.”

During the forum, students received insight on how imperative it is for the industry to incorporate savvy ready-to-work minority businessmen and women.

In December, O’Conner invited a group of FAMU students to the MiLB’s winter meetings. FAMU students Jimarcus Vickers and Gavin Molden, who were both present at the forum, received numerous offers during the winter meetings.

“The forum today was very important for the sport of baseball and blacks,” said Molden, a fourth year business administration and marketing major and native of Birmingham, Ala. “For the longest we [African Americans] were excluded from the organization and the sport, but now with Mr. O’Conner’s initiatives we will be able to impact the sport and the world on a larger scale.”

As part of the MiLB’s diversity initiative, MiLB has identified five pillars in the industry that are susceptible to influence on a diversity front. Those areas are ownership, executive level management, mid- and entry-level management, staffing, fans and business-to-business.

“For us to influence and move the needle along this diversity issue, we need a more diverse workforce,” said O’Conner. “The young men and women at FAMU are in a position where they are job ready.”

Vickers received five offers with MiLB.

“The forum went well,” said Vickers. “I received everything I expected from Mr. O’Conner. You can tell he is passionate about what he does and he loves what he does, which makes us all feel welcome.”

O’Conner shared with the students some advice that would help them excel.

“The biggest piece of advice I can give is to not narrow your scope, think broad-based,” said O’Conner. “There is much more to a career in sports than playing, coaching and selling tickets.”

O’Conner spent 29 years in professional baseball including the last 18 in the MiLB office. He joined the Minor League staff in May 1993 as chief operating officer and added the title of vice president for administration in December 1995. He was elected the 11th president of MiLB in December 2007.

FAMU hosts Safety Awareness Day

FAMU will sponsor its annual Spring Break Safety and Awareness Day today, Wednesday, March 2.

The awareness day will provide important safety information to students before leaving for Spring Break vacation.

Beginning at 10 a.m., several activities are planned throughout the day including table displays and demonstrations from the FAMU Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol and the Tallahassee Fire Department on The Set, which is located in front of the H. Manning-Efferson Student Union Complex.

“The message to our students is to ‘Be safe, enjoy Spring Break and return safe and sound,’” said Robert Carroll, Jr., interim director of the Office of Student Activities. “Our goal is to reach as many students as possible to educate them on the adverse results of carelessness during Spring Break.”

Other activities include the staging of a ‘mock wreck’ on the corner of Wahnish Way and Gamble Street. In addition, at 11:30 a.m., a ‘mock funeral’ will begin in front of the old FAMU-DRS building and proceed to The Set for the ‘eulogy’ of the fallen Rattler with the ‘repast’ for students immediately following.

FAMU video featured at Smithsonian

FAMU Environmental Science Institute (ESI) students are featured in the video “From Education to Exploration: Students at Sea,” which is on display at the Smithsonian Ocean Hall of the Museum of Natural History. The video, which has been on display since November, will continue to be available through March.

Jennifer Cherrier, ESI associate professor and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/FAMU Environmental Cooperative Science Center (ECSC) deputy director, produced the video through funding from NOAA and NSF. The video was adapted and is now being shown in NOAA’s Ocean Today Kiosk, a multi-media interactive exhibit that is at 15 museums and aquariums around the country including The Smithsonian-Ocean Hall in Washington D.C. After its rotation, the video will go into the archive and will rotate on-and-off with the rest of the videos.

“Students at Sea” is a three-day research cruise that takes place off the Florida panhandle in the Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of these cruises is to give FAMU students a hands-on field research experience.

The video showcases students and professors carrying out an ecosystem inventory and collecting samples from the water — such as plankton. The video also highlights the group taking part in a sediment grab sample, which helps the students to see what the water column productivity looks like and how it affects the sediments.

“This trip in particular has helped me to realize a couple of things that I hadn’t noticed in the past,” one student said. “It brings me closer to the ocean and allows me to see up close what I study in the classroom and textbooks.”

FAMU’s ESI is one of several innovative programs at the university. Environmental science is a discipline that offers many opportunities for students in the field such as researchers, lawyers, teachers, professors, medical professionals and government and industry workers. The ESI is a multidisciplinary unit that offers a wide range of services to students, governmental agencies, private sector companies, communities and other organizations.

The video can be viewed at here.