Students protest as Scott prepares to make appointments that will decide Mangum’s fate

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Back in 2011, FAMU Student Body President Breyon Love led close to 1,200 students in a march to the Florida Governor’s Mansion to protest Gov. Rick Scott’s request for the university Board of Trustees to suspend President James H. Ammons. Scott asked the board to take that action seven days after it rejected a motion by Trustee Rufus Montgomery to place Ammons on administrative leave.

Yesterday, Rufus’ attempt to get rid of the president who succeeded Ammons led to another student protest and a march to the governor’s office.

On Thursday, about 200 students led by Student Body President Tonnette Graham staged a rally in front of Lee Hall at 12:30 p.m. The group spoke out against Rufus’ support of two unsuccessful motions that proposed firing Mangum during a Board of Trustees conference call that morning.

“It is the position of the Student Body of Florida A&M University that this action is premature and driven by ulterior motives,” Graham’s office stated in a press release. “It seems that the newly elected Chairman of The Board, Mr. Rufus Montgomery, is on a witch-hunt to remove Dr. Mangum due to personal vendettas and partisan politics…Therefore, we believe that it may be in the best for our Board chairman, Mr. Rufus Montgomery, to step down and allow an unbiased leader to rise and lead our Board.”

Around 100 students then marched to Florida Capitol to take their message to the governor. Scott was out-of-town, but the student officials met with members of his staff.

Gubernatorial spokeswoman Jackie Shutz released a statement saying that: “We understand that many FAMU students and board of trustee members are concerned, and we appreciate the passion of those students who came to our office today.”

The next round of appointments that Scott makes to the FAMU Board of Trustees will likely be the deciding factor in whether Mangum will be able to finish her three year contract.

The term of Torey Alston, who Scott appointed in 2011, expired on January 6. The governor also has the option to fill the vacancy left by Lucas Boyce, who resigned earlier this month.

Alston voted in support of an unsuccessful 6-6 motion to terminate Mangum “without cause” and with “no confidence” this morning. The vacancy created by Boyce’s exit left the BOT with an even number of trustees.

Scott will also decide whether Rufus Montgomery and Kelvin Lawson will be reappointed after their terms end on January 6, 2016.

The odds don’t appear to be in favor of Scott appointing trustees who will support Mangum.

Back on August 23, 2014, the Tallahassee Democrat ran a story that included the following comments that Mangum made about Trustee Rufus Montgomery: “Reminded that Montgomery is closely affiliated with Gov. Rick Scott, who appointed him to FAMU’s board, Mangum responded: ‘What does that say about the people that appointed him?’”

The governor replaced Mangum-supporter Chuck Badger, then chairman of the FAMU BOT, with Robert Woody in March. Woody later gave Mangum a “Does Not Meet Expectations” rating for every question in his individual evaluation of her. He referred to the complaints about what Mangum had said about Rufus even though his comments seemed to suggest that he hadn’t personally read the quote.

Woody was also the trustee who made the motion to terminate Mangum “without cause” and with “no confidence” yesterday morning.

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