The FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communication
(SJGC) postponed the first spring edition of The FAMUan in the wake of a libel
lawsuit against the university and the student newspaper.
The lawsuit, filed by former Marching 100 drum major Keon
Hollis, says that The FAMUan hurt his reputation by incorrectly reporting on
Dec. 3, 2011 that he was among four students whom FAMU expelled in connection
to the hazing death of band member Robert Champion. The FAMUan amended the
article later that day by removing Hollis' name and stating that it "unable
to confirm the name of the fourth student."
FAMU is requiring the student newspaper’s staff member to undergo a round of extensive training and reapply for their positions.
Ink and Fang’s writers posted the joint statement on their
blog that called the postponement of The FAMUan "ungrounded and arbitrary." They
also said: "We apologize to anyone adversely affected by any past coverage."