Nearly 1,800 individuals have signed on to an online petition asking that Shelby Chipman, PhD, an associate professor in the FAMU Department of Music, be appointed Director of Marching and Pep Bands at Florida A&M University. Dr. Chipman was one of the three finalist for the position before university leaders decided to reopen the search, a third time, after negotiations with a lesser qualified candidate broke down.
Many believe that Dr. Chipman's high school bands at Miami Central H.S. are superior to the bands led by the other finalist in the most recent search. Here's footage of the 1997 Miami Central H.S. Marching Rocket Band and Symphonic band under Dr. Chipman's direction.