SBI alum gets big promotion from Bausch and Lomb

FAMU School of Business and Industry (SBI) alumnus Javonté Anyabwelé continues to make big moves. Anyabwelé, 30, was recently appointed director of productivity for the Asia Pacific region for Bausch Lomb, and said he has FAMU to thank for his achievement.

“From the words on the school crest — Heart, Head, Hand, Field, and ‘Excellence With Caring’—to the core competencies taught in SBI, FAMU taught me how to convey these things and the importance of these principals to broader audiences. All of the aforementioned tangible and intangible ideals are paramount to the success I’ve had and will have in the future.”

In his new role, Anyabwelé, a native of North Minneapolis, Minn., will focus on operations planning and control and the sales and operations planning process with improvement targets on: realizing operations planning and control reduction, creating a robust and accurate forecasting model, which will work across Asia Pacific.

FAMU Law opens new plaza in Orlando

The FAMU College of Law has opened a new "FAMU Plaza" at the south-end of its Orlando campus. An area formerly used as a pass-through to downtown eateries has now been converted to an outdoor lounge area for the College of Law community.

The gate-less area includes three 42” round tables with three backless seats and an umbrella at each table; seven 42” round tables with four backless seats; three 6’ benches with a backless-seating capacity of three each, and arms in between; and seven lighted ballards that will display the history of FAMU and the College of Law.

FAMU should keep R.B. at arm's length

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.

Rattler Nation: 2,000,000 hits strong and counting

As this blogging team catches its breath from the extra hours we’ve put in over the last five weeks, we’d like to pause and thank our readers for helping us reach another huge milestone.

Rattler Nation, your top source for no-holds-barred editorials and insider’s information on FAMU, recently crossed the 2,000,000 hit benchmark. We celebrated our 1,000,000th page visit back on December 5, 2008.

We know you count on us to tell it like it is and we remain 100 percent dedicated to that mission.

Wilson to introduce anti-hazing bill in Congress

Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, who succeeded FAMU alumnus Kendrick B. Meek in the U.S. House of Representatives, will introduce a bill to make hazing a federal offense. She says the new law will combat hazing incidents like the tragedy that claimed FAMU drum major Robert Champion’s life on November 19.

“Hazing is demeaning, dangerous, and, sadly, deadly,” Wilson said. “It’s time that we put an end to this horrible and humiliating ritual once and for all, so that no more students suffer the way that Robert and others have.”

A press release from Wilson's office highlights her efforts to fight hazing throughout her four-year tenure as the South Atlantic Regional Director for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. A Miami Herald reporter nicknamed her “The Haze Buster” because of her very public stance to stamp out hazing on college campuses.

FAMU professor accepted into National Food Systems Leadership Institute

Moses Kairo, professor and director, Center for Biological Control in the FAMU College of Agriculture & Food Safety (formerly CESTA) was accepted into the National Food Systems Leadership Institute (FSLI), an executive leadership development program for academia, industry and government.

The FSLI enhances personal and professional development by emphasizing leadership competencies, skills for organizational change and a broad, interdisciplinary perspective of food systems. The FSLI experience prepares scholars for upper-level leadership roles in food system programs, and to assume broader leadership responsibilities within their organizations.

“Food is central to our very existence, and the development and implementation of sustainable food systems remains a top priority, amidst growing system complexity and many existing or emerging challenges,” Kairo said. “The Food System Leadership Institute has provided me with a unique opportunity to not only expand my knowledge and perspectives, but also to grow and enhance my personal leadership skills which I have no doubt will allow me, to be more effective in doing my job in support of delivering on FAMU’s multifunctional role as a land grant institution.”

During the FSLI program, scholars work with expert instructors, leadership development coaches and an upper level mentor to help increase their leadership abilities. They meet with leaders of universities, political leaders, industry leaders and others who have advanced to the highest levels of leadership. Leadership theory is combined with practical experience, often in the context of food systems and higher education.

Dance Theatre of Harlem springs its way to FAMU

FAMU's Lyceum Series will present the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble on January 27, 2012 in Lee Hall Auditorium.

The Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) is a leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim. The organization boasts a touring professional ensemble, a community and pre-professional school for young dancers, and an arts-education program that serves the Harlem community and beyond.

Have a Merry Christmas!

The Rattler Nation team wishes you and your family a Merry Christmas! May the season bring happiness, joy and peace to you and your loved ones.

And a special holiday greeting and virtual hug to the dynamic advertisers who help make Rattler Nation happen.

Tallahassee children receive holiday gifts from FAMUans

It may not have been the night before Christmas, but judging by the faces of more than 300 children from the Tallahassee community it could have been. The Christmas cheer filled Gaither Gymnasium during the Florida A&M University (FAMU) holiday celebration, which was hosted by President James H. Ammons and Mrs. Judy Ammons.

The program benefited children from New Beginnings Child Development Center and Bond Elementary, Fairview Middle, the FAMU Developmental Research School, Oak Ridge Elementary, Griffin Middle, J. G. Riley Elementary, Nims Middle and Pineview Elementary Schools.

FAMU faculty and staff donated the gift cards, books and consoles.

Mrs. Ammons participated in the program by reading the “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

“This is wonderful and really nice,” said Twan Jackson, a parent who has a son that attends Oak Ridge Elementary. “It is a blessing to watch all of the kids receive a gift.”

JET names FAMU one of America's most affordable colleges

JET Magazine recently applauded FAMU for its commitment to providing a high-quality education at a reasonable cost.

“An education is the key to changing one's socioeconomic status,” FAMU Vice President for Student Affairs William Hudson Jr. said. “It is important that we do not price out students who want a quality education. An education is truly something that no one can take from you.”

Fleming receives Gaither Sportsmanship Award

The Tallahassee Quarterback Club has honored FAMU freshman quarterback Damien Fleming with its Jake Gaither Sportsmanship Award.

Accompanied by his uncle, who drove from Jacksonville to attend the ceremony, Fleming thanked his teammates as he received the shiny trophy.

"I want to thank my lineman, because without them, none of this would be possible," he said, drawing a chorus of laughter from the audience.

FAMU Athletic Director Derek Horne and Head Football Coach Joe Taylor were both on hand to support Fleming.

"He's wise beyond his years," Taylor told the crowd. "With players like Damien, folks are saying the future is so bright at FAMU you need sunglasses."

Investigators questioning more than 30 people in Champion case

On Monday’s CBS Evening News, Anchor Scott Pelley reported that “investigators are talking to more than 30 students and alumni who they believe may have participated in the hazing that killed a member of the [FAMU] marching band.”

Drum major Robert D. Champion died on November 19 after the Florida Classic in Orlando. Medical examiners declared the incident a homicide that resulted from hazing.

The Orange County Florida Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday that “homicide investigators have interviewed the vast majority of the individuals present during this incident.” Charges will be filed in the upcoming weeks.

Orlando Sentinel editorial board rips Scott for "nosing in" at FAMU

The Orlando Sentinel's editorial board slammed Gov. Rick Scott's actions against FAMU with the strongest language that has appeared in any statewide newspaper. Its position is a 100 percent contrast to that of the St. Petersburg Times' editorial board, which cheered on the governor's attempt to strong-arm FAMU trustees into suspending the university president (without regard for the potential harm to FAMU's accreditation).

Make sure to vote on the quality of what the Sentinel wrote here.

From the editorial "Gov. Scott should nose out of school business:"

With a probe under way into the alleged hazing-related death of Florida A&M University drum major Robert Champion, Gov. Rick Scott last week stuck his gubernatorial nose where it didn't belong.

Supposedly concerned over the probe's transparency, Scott called for FAMU President James Ammons' temporary ouster.

FAMU trustees stand up to governor

The FAMU Board of Trustees declined Gov. Rick Scott’s recommendation to suspend President James H. Ammons while state officials continue various investigations at the university.

“We will stand firm against outside influence no matter how well intended,” Chairman Solomon L. Badger, III said during a morning teleconference meeting.

He concluded with a recommendation that the president’s status remain the same. None of the board members objected and no vote was taken on the issue.

Rivers: FAMU’s strongest presidents thrive in spite of factionalism

The Tallahassee Democrat ran an opinion column by former FAMU trustee and Student Body President Larry O. Rivers that placed FAMU’s current challenges into a historical context. Rivers says President James H. Ammons is part of a long line of FAMU leaders who confronted the university’s factional infighting head-on and found ways to succeed in spite of it.

From the column: “FAMU doesn’t need a peacemaker”:

The tendency to view African-Americans as a largely undifferentiated group that shares a single set of ethics, habits and politics remains one of the foremost obstacles to fact-based dialogues about race. Black civic society — the body of voluntary organizations and institutions created in response to social challenges faced by Americans of African descent — is not and never has been dominated by a single way of thinking. It is a contested space.

In contested spaces, unity comes from the lowest common denominator. For most black civil institutions, and especially public historically black colleges and universities such as Florida A&M, that lowest common denominator is race.

During times in which a perceived threat from whites seems imminent, FAMUans quickly circle wagons, take up picket signs, march in the streets and flood elected officials with letters. But as soon as that immediate danger is gone, the crisis-induced unity dissolves and gives way to the day-to-day norm of pandemic factionalism.

A vote with Scott is a vote to close FAMU

The FAMU Board of Trustees must either rebuff the attempted interference of the Florida governor or risk creating an accreditation problem that will very likely be impossible to fix.

Gov. Rick Scott began strong-arming the FAMU trustees to suspend President James H. Ammons on Thursday. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) says if trustees bend to pressure from the governor, it be might be the end of FAMU’s accreditation.

“Should the Board decide to suspend the President that is well within their role as members of the governing board,” SACS President Belle S. Wheelan said in a letter to Scott on December 16. “If, however, they do so at your direction, they will jeopardize the accreditation of the University as well as its ability to provide federal aid to their students.”

Trustees Must Not Bow Down to "Massa Scott"

The fate of FAMU President James H. Ammons lies squarely in the hands of the FAMU Board of Trustee who on Monday will decide whether or not to heed Gov. Rick Scott's "strong recommendation to place Ammons on suspension while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) continues its investigations into the university."

Trustees should take no further action against Ammons.

Scott's unusual recommendation comes despite not having any evidence that Ammons has acted inappropriately or been uncooperative with the investigation. "I’ve not seen anything to suggest that he’s done the wrong thing,” Scott said. A reporter asked if anyone (including FDLE) had told Scott that Ammons was being uncooperative with the investigation. Scott said,” I have not heard that. No."

Then why is Scott attacking the leadership of Florida's only public historically Black university?

Scott's request of the FAMU Board of Trustees is unprecedented, and he likely would not have made such a request of any other university board of trustees. And, he's provided few public details on why such a request should be entertained.

Scott has no constitutional authority to remove a college president that authority lies solely with the Boards of Trustees. Scott knows that is now attempting to "punk" FAMU Trustees into doing his dirty work for him.

A faction of trustees, as recently as, two weeks ago failed in their attempts to place Ammons on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

FAMU trustees must "man up", remain strong and vigilant and not bow down to "Boss Scott".

Rattlers must stop second coming of Castell

If Rufus Montgomery and Rick Scott succeed in pressuring the FAMU Board of Trustees to suspend President James H. Ammons on Monday, you can bet that the next motion before the board will be to hire Barbara Barnes as interim president, effective immediately.

Rattlers fought too hard to get rid of the original Castell Bryant to now let a Castell clone take control of Lee Hall.

Barnes was the back-up choice for most of the Jeb Bush-appointed trustees on the “transition committee” who banded together in 2004 to bring Castell in as interim president. There is little chance that she would have gotten their support if she had not been willing to follow the same harmful agenda that Castell did.

Montgomery, a former hired hand of Jeb, is now at FAMU doing the will of Jeb-buddy Rick Scott rather than what is right for his own alma mater. It looks like Scott has finally stepped into the fight to push Ammons out of FAMU because Montgomery failed to get the job done on his own back on December 8.

Scott has said that he knew nothing about any threat of FAMU being merged with Florida State University. But if FAMU gets another weak interim president like Castell, the university will have a hard time defending itself from anything FSU might try, like taking complete control of the joint College of Engineering in Innovation Park.

Scott is using FDLE as his political tool

When Florida Gov. Rick Scott spoke to FAMU Thursday night, he spoke of his desire to protect FAMU's "fine reputation". Yet, it is Scott and his law enforcement agency the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) that is causing damage with innuendo by strategically and intentionally releasing bits and pieces of information.

First, there were the FDLE allegations of uncovering "financial fraud", which news reports said were likely into band finances. Then when it appeared that there was nothing there the FDLE quickly released details of a mid-October arrest of a former FAMU Development Research School (DRS) student on possible child molestation charges on the DRS campus, an investigation initiated by the FAMU Police with the assistance of several law enforcement agencies.

If there wasn't a strategic move by Scott and his FDLE, to release this information, then what happened? This is what you call classic "Chinese water torture".

It kind of makes you wonder if the FDLE is even interested in conducting any kind of fair and impartial look into the death of Robert Champion, which they were supposed to be assisting in, or are they doing a carefully orchestrated witch hunt on FAMU.

It may be time for FAMUans to call on the U.S. Department of Justice to defend the university against the attacks from Rick Scott and his FDLE. Scott's actions appear to be politically, if not, racially motivated.

You may also be interested in: We ARE Not Penn State !!!

U.S. Rep. Brown criticizes Governor for actions against FAMU

U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown late Friday criticized Gov. Rick Scott for pushing Florida A&M President James Ammons to step down from his post amid hazing investigations, joining a chorus of angry students and alumni who say Scott is exceeding his authority.

"By carrying out this action, you may very well jeopardize the academic accreditation of FAMU, one of our nation's finest Historically Black Colleges and Universities," she said.

Brown said the death of Robert Champion -- officially ruled a homicide on Friday -- is tragic but "needs to be put into perspective" because other universities have had problems with hazing too.

"Yet focusing excessively on one incident at just one school is not the answer or the proper path towards correcting this problem," she said.

Scott met with Ammons on Friday after students protested at his mansion the night before.

Scott’s interference might cost FAMU its accreditation

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools says Gov. Rick Scott’s push to place FAMU President James H. Ammons on suspension could violate accreditation standards.

FAMU Chief of Staff Rosalind Fuse-Hall told the Tallahassee Democrat that SACS President Belle Wheelan communicated this message to the university on Friday morning. Wheelan will also write a letter to the Florida governor’s office with this same information.

SACS Standard 3.2.4 states that each member institution’s governing board must be “free from undue influence from political, religious, or other external bodies and [protect] the institution from such influence.”

The governor’s chief of staff, Steve MacNamara, defended his boss’ actions in the newspaper.

FAMU alumni join students in speaking out against Scott's actions

On the heels of a FAMU student protest against Gov. Rick Scott’s request for President James H. Ammons’ suspension, numerous alumni have also called for the governor to back off.

"I think there's going to be a tremendous backlash on the governor," former state Sen. Alfred “Al” Lawson told the Tallahassee Democrat.

State Rep. Alan Williams, FAMU Trustee Spurgeon McWilliams, and FAMU National Alumni Association President Tommy Mitchell also told the newspaper that they were troubled by Scott’s recommendation.

"You can't just say, in a crisis, put the president on the sideline without anyone to act in his stead," McWilliams said." Most of the board just doesn't feel like Ammons has done that bad a job. The other thing is you don't know who's coming next."

"I don't think Ammons needs to be suspended because of hazing,” Mitchell added. “I'm concerned what the agenda is to remove a Florida A&M president at a time like this."

Ammons speaks with press after meeting with Scott

Following a meeting with Gov. Rick Scott at the Florida Capitol, FAMU President James H. Ammons reaffirmed that he will abide by whatever decision the university's Board of Trustees makes on Monday.

As he headed away from the Capitol building, a reporter asked him if he agreed with the governor's recommendation for him to temporarily step aside while the state continues a number of investigations at FAMU, Ammons politely answered: "I'm considering it."

Some newspapers have taken that quote as an indication that Ammons may go on a voluntary leave of absence before Monday's board meeting. But minutes earlier, Ammons made it clear that he does not plan to go anywhere before talking things over with all the trustees during Monday's teleconference.

"The Board of Trustees and I are going to have a conversation about where the university goes and what I will do," Ammons told reporters.

Scott requested the meeting with Ammons after some 1,200 FAMU students woke him up last night to protest his attempt to pressure trustees to suspend Ammons.

Sheriff: Charges coming in Champion homicide

Today, the Orange County Florida Sheriff's Office announced it will soon file charges in the homicide case of FAMU student Robert D. Champion.

The public statement followed the office's receipt of the final autopsy report from Jan Garavaglia, chief medical examiner for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Garavaglia ruled that Champion died as a result of injuries he "sustained during a hazing incident."

"Homicide Investigators have interviewed the vast majority of the individuals present during this incident," a press release from Sheriff Jerry L. Demings' office read. "In the coming days and weeks investigators will be working with the State Attorney’s Office to identify the charges that are applicable."

Robert Champion’s death ruled a homicide

The District Nine Medical Examiner's Office of Florida has issued its official ruling on Robert D. Champion's cause of death. Champion, a drum major in FAMU's Marching 100, was the victim of a homicide caused by injuries he sustained while being hazed.

The full text of the medical examiner's press release appears below.

RE: Robert Champion, deceased
(ME 2011-001392)

DATE OF DEATH: November 19, 2011

MANNER OF DEATH: Homicide

CAUSE OF DEATH: Hemorrhagic shock due to soft tissue hemorrhage
due to blunt force trauma sustained during a hazing incident.

CONCLUSION: Mr. Robert Champion, a previously healthy 26-year-old member of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University marching band, collapsed and died within an hour of a hazing incident during which he suffered multiple blunt trauma blows to his body.

Scott to meet with Ammons at 3:30 p.m.

After some 1,200 outraged FAMU students confronted him on his front lawn last night, Gov. Rick Scott agreed to schedule a meeting with President James H. Ammons, today. That talk will take place at 3:30 p.m.

The protest, led by Student Body President Breyon Love, told Scott to "stay the hell out" of FAMU following his public attempt to pressure the university's Board of Trustees to place Ammons on administrative leave while the state continues several investigations on the campus. The students demanded that he immediately withdraw his recommendation for the president's suspension.

Scott did not rescind the request for suspension, even though he has admitted that he has no evidence that Ammons did anything wrong. He also said no one has told him that the FAMU president was being uncooperative with the probes.

The governor did say that he would make sure to speak with Ammons about what is best for the school.

TV 20: FAMU students tell Scott he overstepped his boundaries

FAMU Student Protest from Turner Cowles on Vimeo.

FAMU trustees need to see through Scott’s political stunt

Rick Scott has the worst approval rating of any governor in the country and seems desperate to pull it up. Only one out of every four Florida voters thinks he’s doing an adequate job.

A Public Policy Polling survey says former Gov. Charlie Crist would defeat Scott by 55-32 if he ran against him as a Democrat. Florida Democrats are already considering recruiting Crist to be their 2014 gubernatorial nominee.

Scott knows he's in big trouble and has begun pulling out some smoke and mirrors to try and save his political career. Floridians saw some of this last week when Scott said he didn't want any more cuts to public education and asked for $1 billion more in school spending. But public schools took a $1.3 billion gutting from the budget Scott signed last year. And a big chunk of that new money comes from cuts to the Medicaid program that the state’s poorest children depend on.

The governor is now taking another step to improve his worst-in-the-nation poll numbers by jumping into the headlines of FAMU’s public crisis. He says the Board of Trustees should put FAMU President James H. Ammons on administrative leave until “investigations at the university are completed.”

Scott told reporters that he has "not seen anything to suggest that he’s done the wrong thing." He also admitted that no one told him that Ammons is being uncooperative.

The governor is looking more and more like Donald Trump and the other “carnival-barkers” who will do anything for attention.

Students tell Scott to “stay the hell out” of FAMU

This evening, FAMU Student Body President Breyon Love led close to 1,200 students to the Florida Governor’s Mansion to send Rick Scott a message.

"The Governor needs to stay the hell out of our institution,” Love told WCTV-6.

The students marched up to the governor's residence on North Adams Street to protest Scott's attempt to pressure to the FAMU Board of Trustees to place President James H. Ammons on administrative leave.

Scott told reporters he wants Ammons to temporarily step aside until the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) completes its investigations at the school. When further questioned by reporters, the governor clumsily admitted that he had no evidence that Ammons has done anything wrong or has failed to cooperate with the probes.

Scott requests Ammons' suspension, admits having no evidence he did anything wrong

Gov. Rick Scott called FAMU President James H. Ammons today and asked him to temporarily step aside while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) continues its investigations into the university. He also recommended that Chairman Solomon L. Badger and the Board of Trustees place Ammons on suspension.

“If I was in his position I’d say, look, I want a, uh, a thorough investigation. I want to make sure everybody feels comfortable that I’m cooperating because I want to come back and continue to build the university,” Scott said.

But when reporters followed up with questions about why Scott felt Ammons needed to take a leave of absence, the governor gave a long string of clumsy answers.

He admitted that he has no evidence that Ammons has acted inappropriately.

“I’ve not seen anything to suggest that he’s done the wrong thing,” Scott said.

DeKalb suspends high school marching bands after finding “inappropriate activity”

The DeKalb County (Ga.) School System has suspended all marching band activities after district officials found “documented evidence of inappropriate activity that took place over the summer,” a district spokeswoman told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

District officials started asking questions after they becoming worried about possible connections to hazing in the FAMU Marching 100.

According to the newspaper: “Robert Champion, who died Nov. 19, was a Southwest DeKalb High School graduate. FAMU clarinetist Bria Hunter, injured in an earlier alleged hazing incident, was also a Southwest DeKalb graduate, as were two of the three bandmates who were charged with punching her hard enough to break her leg. (The third defendant is a Druid Hills High School graduate.)”

FDLE opens second investigation at FAMU

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has initiated a new investigation into “possible employee fraud and misconduct” at FAMU, according to the Associated Press.

FDLE officials informed FAMU Board of Trustees Chairman Solomon L. Badger and State University System of Florida Chancellor Frank Brogan about the probe on Tuesday. The letters did not provide specific details about the potential violations of law, but said they were discovered during the course of the investigation into the November 19 death of drum major Robert D. Champion.

"I didn't know anything about the fraud and I still don't," Badger told reporters.

The FDLE says it is looking at actions by certain FAMU personnel and “persons associated” with the school. The new investigation will be separate from the current one on Champion's death.

The Tallahassee Democrat has reported that "high-ranking sources" in the Florida governor's office stated that the probe is "into suspected fraud involving the finances" of the Marching 100.

Last week, FAMU halted all disciplinary penalties in connection to the Champion incident at the request of the FDLE. This led FAMU to place former Director of Bands Julian White on paid leave on an indefinite basis rather than moving forward with plans to let his termination go into effect on December 22, as originally scheduled.

Badger has promised FAMU’s continued full cooperation with FDLE officials.

Former band member goes toe-to-toe with Fox anchor in ATL

FOX FOCUS: Former FAMU Band Member: MyFoxATLANTA.com

Rashad Brown, an Atlanta elementary school teacher and former member of the FAMU band, provides and insightful look into the FAMU band and hazing.  He also points out the band, and FAMU's "zero tolerance" for hazing, much to the anchor's displeasure.  Mr. Brown holds his own.

Looks like Barbara Barnes is at it again

Rattler Nation has learned that in the weeks leading up to last Thursday's buffoonery-filled FAMU trustees meeting, Professor Barbara Barnes reached out to certain board members and State University System of Florida (SUS) officials for closed conversations. The purpose of those communications, we're told, was to offer herself as a possible interim replacement for President James H. Ammons.

Barnes previously served as Ammons' interim provost and dean of the now-defunct School of General Studies.

This is not the first time Barnes’ name has surfaced during talks regarding a FAMU interim presidency. Back in 2004 Barnes was on the short list of former FAMU Board of Trustees Chairman Jim Corbin, who initiated the start of the post-2001 FAMU decline that led to the university being placed on probation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 2007.

Trustee Rufus Montgomery, a former director of African American outreach for the Jeb Bush for Governor campaign, now seems to have taken up Corbin's mantel by using his connection with Jeb to try and pressure fellow trustees to vote his way. It appears that Barnes' prospective candidacy has gained some traction with Montgomery and Bill Jennings, the last remaining FAMU trustee who was appointed by Jeb. Last week, they attempted to place Ammons on indefinite administrative leave, which would have made an interim presidential appointment necessary.

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FAMU grads unite to tell our story

A group of recent FAMU graduates have teamed up to share their stories of how the sound academic foundation that they received at the university has helped to prepare them for meaningful careers and grad school.

"We simply want to empower those who want to be a positive voice for FAMU," said James Bland, a 2008 graduate,  who's primarily responsible for the idea. "We don't want to see our university's image completely tarnished during this time of turmoil. We recognized that there are things with in the FAMU culture that needs to be addressed and corrected. However, we also know that there are great things going on at FAMU, and no one will know that side of the story unless we tell it."

The website www.wearefamunited.com seeks to help spread some of the positive attributes of a FAMU education through youtube, facebook, and other social media outlets.

Three students booked for “Red Dawg Order” hazing

Three male FAMU students are behind bars tonight after being charged with hazing a female student.

James Harris, 22, (pictured on top), Aaron Golson (pictured below on top) 19, and Sean Hobson (picture below on bottom) 23, were arrested for allegedly hazing Bria Hunter. Hunter suffered a broken thigh and blood clouts after being fist-punched and beaten with a metal ruler during an unauthorized initiation process for an underground group called the “Red Dawg Order.”

The alleged victim and three suspects are all members of the Marching 100. The “Red Dawg Order” is said to consist of band students from Georgia.

Hunter filed a battery report with the FAMU Police Department on November 8. FAMU police turned the case over to the Tallahassee Police Department, as the assult reportedly took place at Harris' off-campus apartment. The alleged hazing happened about three weeks before the death of drum major Robert D. Champion, which also has a suspected link to hazing.

2007: Hazing victim blasts Alston in news report

Last week, FAMU Trustee Torey Alston introduced the motion to reprimand President James H. Ammons during the Board of Trustees meeting. Alston said Ammons did not do enough to communicate with trustees following the November 19 death of Marching 100 drum major Robert D. Champion, which has a suspected link to hazing.

Alston is no stranger to FAMU hazing controversies. In 2007, he was publicly criticized by a victim of hazing.

Former FAMU student Marcus Jones, who attempted to join the Alpha Xi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi while Alston was the chapter president, was paddled with wooden canes and punched during unauthorized rituals.

Jones did not directly accuse Alston of participating in the hazing. But he did mention Alston’s name in an account of the early stage of the pledging process that he told the St. Petersburg Times:

Castell has Gabordi's ear

The former FAMU interim president who nearly drove the university into the ground is currently a telephone pal of Bob Gabordi, executive editor of the Tallahassee Democrat.

In the print version of the Saturday, December 10 Democrat, Gabordi wrote: "As editor of the daily newspaper in Tallahassee, I can tell you I've spoken more to his predecessor Castell Bryant in recent weeks than with [President James] Ammons. Say whatever else you want about Bryant, she knew how to get her message across.  And she sure knew how to dial a phone or answer one when it rings."

Gabordi is absolutely right that Castell “knew how to get her message across.” She knew how to persuade editorial boards to print information about FAMU that did not square with the facts.

Castell has serious problems with the truth. She told the state’s newspapers that she created an $8M surplus and then basked in their editorial praises. But when the state auditors took an objective look at her financial books, they found that the “surplus” was nothing but a fairy tale. There was really a $10.4 million deficit.

Packer, Hardy release trailer for "Think Like a Man"

Rainforest Films, the movie company founded by FAMU alumni Rob Hardy and Will Packer, has released the trailer for its latest film: "Think Like a Man." The movie is a big screen adaptation of comedian Steve Harvey's best-selling book of the same name.

The film makes its national debut on March 9, 2012. Visit the official website here.

Scott’s budget spares FAMU from cuts

Gov. Rick Scott is asking the Florida Legislature to keep its knife away from the state’s public education institutions. His budget recommendations for the 2012-2013 fiscal year exempt FAMU and the ten other State University System of Florida (SUS) schools from any further cuts.

The governor also strongly discouraged the legislature and SUS boards of trustees from dumping additional tuition hikes on students.

“With level funding of the universities, they shouldn’t be increasing tuition,” Scott said.

K-12 schools would receive a $1 billion increase under Scott’s plan. The governor warned lawmakers that: “I will not sign the budget if it does not significantly increase the funding for education.”

FAMU working to raise cardiopulmonary licensure passage rate

The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Therapy (CoARC) has placed FAMU's Cardiopulmonary Science Program on probation for not meeting the required 80 percent three-year average based on the 2010 Annual Report of Current Status benchmark on the national licensure examination. The program remains accredited.

The program’s two-year rate was 89.5 percent and 90.0 percent for 2009 and 2010, respectively. Its 2008 passage rate of 50 percent reduced the three-year average to 71 percent, which led to the probation status.

The CoARC probationary accreditation is usually limited to one year. But the program may apply for an extension up to two years before any further adverse action is taken.

During this week's Board of Trustees meeting, Provost Cynthia Hughes-Harris explained that a number of FAMU's cardiopulmonary science students decline to take the licensure exam because they opt to go on medical school or graduate school instead of becoming respiratory therapists. This counts against FAMU's overall passage rate.

Jennings’ clash with Ammons has nothing to do with justice for Robert Champion

Bill Jennings made a weak attempt to hide behind Rufus Montgomery during yesterday’s trustee meeting, but it did little to mask who was really leading the move to place FAMU President James H. Ammons on administrative leave.

Jennings has been hard at work trying to a build a pathway to Ammons’ exit for well over a year. He tried unsuccessfully to remove the super-majority clause from Ammons’ contract, which remains his biggest hurdle to pushing Ammons out of office. The super-majority clause requires a vote of two-thirds (or nine members) of the Board of Trustees in order to terminate the president with or without cause.

The fallout from the November 19 death of Marching 100 drum major Robert D. Champion created an opportunity for Jennings to try and get around his super-majority problem. Yesterday, Montgomery and Jennings asked trustees to place Ammons on an indefinite administrative leave while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) investigates what happened to Champion. A vote for forced leave would only require a simple majority of seven votes.

Adam Herbert’s name circulating as a possible replacement for Ammons

On Wednesday, Rattler Nation reported about the renewed efforts by certain self-described “FAMUans” to garner support for a proposed Adam W. Herbert presidency. This behind-the-scenes lobbying was still somewhat quiet and careful earlier this week but became much louder and obvious in the days leading up to Thursday’s Board of Trustees meeting.

The failed attempt to place FAMU President James H. Ammons on an indefinite administrative leave has turned the internal fight over the possibility of a Herbert presidency into a context for what is becoming increasingly bitter public struggle.

Herbert, a former State University System of Florida (SUS) chancellor, is currently back in Florida working as an independent consultant after leaving the presidency of Indiana University in 2007. As SUS chancellor, he introduced a “three tier plan’ that attempted to classify FAMU as a bottom-tier “Comprehensive” university that would focus mainly on teaching undergraduate students.

The argument being used by those interested in Herbert seems to focus on Ammons’ apparent unpopularity with the Florida Board of Governors (BOG). It is being said that FAMU needs a president who can actually get along with them. Rattler Nation is hearing that there is also strong pressure coming from certain elements with ties to the BOG to move in the direction of a presidential change.

Jennings backs down, settles for reprimand of Ammons

Bill Jennings lost his nerve once it became clear that the majority of trustees did not want to place President James H. Ammons on administrative leave.

Trustee Torey Alston introduced a substitute motion to Rufus Montgomery’s motion that Ammons be placed on an indefinite administrative leave. It stated that the Board of Trustees would officially reprimand Ammons for the lack of communication with the board regarding his response to the Robert D. Champion incident between November 19 and December 8.

After looking around and seeing that most trustees were against the original administrative leave motion, Jennings seconded.

The votes in favor were: Torey Alston, Bill Jennings, Solomon Badger, Narayan Persaud, Kelvin Lawson, Karl White, Spurgeon McWilliams and Richard Dent.

The votes against were: Marjorie Turnbull, Breyon Love, Belinda Shannon, Rufus Montgomery, and Charles Langston.

Turnbull, Love, and Shannon all made it clear that they were against both the proposed reprimand and the proposed administrative leave.

Jennings took another jab at Ammons shortly before the meeting concluded. While acknowledging First Amendment rights, he asked Ammons and former Director of Bands Julian E. White to avoid making any further statements to the media while Champion’s death is being investigated.

Jennings renews battle with Ammons, pushes to place president on administrative leave

Some of the key trustees who pushed to remove the super-majority clause from FAMU President James H. Ammons’ contract are now attempting to place the university’s chief executive on administrative leave.

Former Chairman Bill Jennings, who spent months trying to strong-arm Ammons into giving up the super-majority clause behind-the-scenes, said that the Board of Trustees should put Ammons on administrative leave while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) continues its investigation into the death of Marching 100 drum major Robert D. Champion.

Charles Langston, who also fought fought bitterly against the super-majority clause as a member of the recent Ad Hoc Committee on the presidential contract, agreed.

The original super-majority clause from Ammons's 2007 employment agreement required nine votes to terminate the president without cause. Trustees kept the clause in place after finding out that Ammons was not the only State University System of Florida president with that type of contractual provision (contrary to what Trustee Karl White led some to believe). Ammons’ super-majority protection was amended in a manner that parallels that of Florida Atlantic University President Mary Jane Saunders, whose contract requires a super-majority vote for termination with or without cause.

Placing Ammons on indefinite administrative leave would permit the trustees who want him gone to get around the super-majority vote requirement for an actual termination.

Trustees question Scott’s different treatment of BOG, FAMU hazing probes

Yesterday, FAMU trustees questioned why Gov. Rick Scott’s office pressured FAMU to suspend its task force on hazing while throwing its support behind the Florida Board of Governor’s (BOG) probe into FAMU hazing.

“I am questioning the directive we received to stand down on our investigation,” FAMU Trustee Belinda Shannon asked university administrators during the meeting.

On November 23, FAMU President James H. Ammons appointed an independent task force following the November 19 death of Marching 100 drum major Robert D. Champion. The task force was not charged with duplicating the law enforcement investigation into what happened to Champion. Its assignment was to "to review issues related to the death," particularly the university-wide problem of hazing. The task force would then "recommend any appropriate disciplinary action, policies and procedures to put FAMU on a stronger path to its future."

Ammons placed the Marching 100 and all other Department of Music performing groups on an indefinite suspension following Champion's death. The task force was to receive an opportunity to make recommendations about possible long-term penalties.

Six days after Ammons made the task force appointments, BOG Chairwoman Ava Parker informed FAMU that her board planned to launch its own probe into former Director of Bands Julian E. White’s allegations that the FAMU administration did not do enough to help him fight hazing.

On that same day, Scott’s chief of staff released a memorandum stating that FAMU’s task force was an unnecessary “duplication.”

FAMU halts disciplinary actions against four students, band director at FDLE's request

At the request of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), FAMU has halted all disciplinary penalties in connection to drum major Robert D. Champion’s death.

The four band students that FAMU dismissed for actions related to the “Champion incident” remain enrolled and are on campus taking their final examinations. Former Director of Bands Julian White, whose termination was to go into effect on December 22, will remain on paid leave on an indefinite basis.

The FAMUan newspaper reported that it received official university documents confirming the identities of three of the four students. According to FAMUan staffers, the students are: “Head Drum Major Jonathan Boyce, a 24-year-old senior from Marietta, Ga., along with fellow drum majors Shawn Turner, 25 of Atlanta, and Rikki Willis, 23 of Miami.”

FAMU spokeswoman Sharon Saunders said that the university administration did not release the names and is legally prohibited from confirming or denying the student newspaper’s report.

During an appearance at today’s FAMU Board of Trustees meeting, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said that his deputies will likely wrap up their investigation in a few weeks.

"We have tried to interview the various witnesses and/or suspects in the case," Demings said. "Most of them, I would say, have made themselves available. There are a few who have not."

Demings added that the Orange County medical examiner could take about another month to determine Champion's cause of death. The sheriff said that "hazing was a part of a part of what occurred" on November 19 but declined to comment about what role, if any, hazing played in the death.

SBI falls short on accreditation try

Update 2:40 p.m.: During today's Board of Trustees meeting, Provost Cynthia Hughes-Harris explained that the School of Business and Industry has "had many, many years of success without accreditation."

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools does not require business programs to be accredited by any specialized body. Such distinctions are entirely voluntary.

Hughes-Harris said that the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) wants SBI to have more faculty with doctoral degrees.

SBI's founding dean, Sybil C. Mobley, designed a non-traditional curriculum that has a strong emphasis on professional development. She picked professional development faculty members mainly based upon their success in corporate America rather than their graduate training.

Hughes-Harris added that when Mobley applied for AACSB accreditation years ago, the organization responded to her with a rejection letter that "was almost a carbon copy" of what current Dean Shawnta Friday-Shroud just received.

FAMU will reapply in 2014.

FAMU should not have to re-fight old internal power struggles as it fights hazing

Back during the presidential search in 2006, Rattler Nation first learned about certain “FAMUans” who wanted to encourage former State University System of Florida (SUS) Chancellor Adam W. Herbert to apply for FAMU’s top job. That small group sat down and shut up after it became clear that most of the FAMU interim administration’s supporters were going to back then-University of Maryland Eastern Shore President Thelma Thompson.

But now that more than five years have passed and the Marching 100 controversy is creating headlines, there are some who are quietly reintroducing the idea of a Herbert presidency in certain circles. This has the potential to turn into a bitter fight that FAMU doesn't need right now.

Herbert is currently back in Florida working as an independent consultant after leaving the presidency of Indiana University in 2007. Retired FAMU Journalism Professor Roosevelt Wilson did the best job of summing up the case against Herbert in an editorial that ran on November 2, 2006.

“And as for Herbert, I don’t think the [Board of Trustees] would go there,” Wilson wrote. “There would be angry protests in the streets if the BOT seriously considered him. He became perhaps the most reviled person in FAMU’s history for campaigning while he was chancellor to relegate FAMU to the bottom tier of Gov. Jeb Bush’s discriminatory three-tiered system.”

Karl White should remember importance of getting his facts straight

Of FAMU’s 13 trustees, Karl E. White stands out as a board member who has recently had some serious trouble getting important facts straight. When the trustees convene in Orlando on Thursday, White should come prepared to make factually accurate contributions to the conversation.

Back at the August 4, 2011 FAMU trustees meeting, White showed that he knew about as much about presidential contracting in the State University System of Florida (SUS) as Sarah Palin knows about Paul Revere.

During the meeting White said he wanted an ad hoc committee to work to remove the clause in President James H. Ammons’ contract that required a super-majority vote to terminate the president without cause. He justified his position by saying that it was his understanding that Ammons was the only SUS president with such a clause.

White’s “understanding” turned out to be 100 percent wrong. Florida Atlantic University (FAU) President Mary Jane Saunders’ contract requires a super-majority vote for termination with or without cause. Former FAU President Frank Brogan, the current SUS chancellor, also had the same super-majority clauses in his contract with the university.

White still has not explained why his “understanding” was inconsistent with the facts. Did he simply choose to speak without knowing what he was talking about? If so, he can still take comfort in knowing that he is not the most clueless trustee in FAMU history.

Finally!!!

The FAMU Rattler basketball team chalked up its first win, 94-65,  in eight tries this evening. The Rattlers won 94-65 against Allen University. FAMU improved to 1-7 on the season while Allen dropped to 3-10.