In an emergency meeting of the FAMU Board of Trustees today, trustees passed a resolution unaminously asking that the Legislature cease actions to transfer the budget authority of the FAMU/FCU College of Engineering from FAMU to FSU. This resolution supports efforts currently underway by Sen. Al Lawson that would remove such efforts from proposed legislation.
The current E-School agreement was negotiated by former Presidents (FAMU) Humphries and (FSU) Sliger.
After listening to the Board of Trustees meeting, I have a good sense that the problems with FAMU probably begin with ill-informed members of that Board, which are wasting a lot of time trying to micromanage employees on campus -- for example, why would FAMU trustees be asking their employees to pay for employee prescriptions in violation of state law? It is clear that many of the questions asked by trustees are ill-informed and dance around the serious financial problems on campus, rather than tackling them head on. It is as if they are holding this meeting just to "buy time" until Ammons comes in, as if he will be a great messiah who saves the university. As a FAMU grad,, it could not be clearer to me that it is past time for a change in the guard. I think it is obvious to anyone who listened to that meeting that those changes need to begin with the trustees themselves.
ReplyDeleteWe could definitely stand to rid ourselves of four more.
ReplyDeleteI agree with 3:11's assessment that everyone is holding their collective breaths, waiting on James Ammons to come save the uiversity from itself. He is seen as the great black hope, and folks will expect miracles as soon as he sets up shop. I'm afraid, however, that as soon as he gets here and realizes the magnitude of problems that exists on this campus, he will need more than his years as provost and six-year at presidency at NCCU to even begin to resolve these problems. FAMUans are a restless lot. Everyone wants a quick, fast and jet-like resolution. The university is in turmoil. I also fear that if he does not move quickly enough toward the resolution of the university's problems, folks will begin a different hue and cry and start calling for his head. Remember, there were plenty alumni cheering Castell Bryant's arrival and look what's happened. On the other hand, I have a gut feeling that whatever Ammons does or does not do, his feet may not be held as closely to the fire as they should. He will be damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. Whatever he does, however, will be an improvement over what we have going on now. We all will just have to wait and see.
ReplyDeleteOf course, now, to add to my 3:46 post, he will most definitely earn every dime of that $325K salary. His hair may be black now, but give him a couple years. It'll be the color of snow.
ReplyDeleteThe man look-a-like in Black - Jackie Maxey.
ReplyDeleteThe lady in orange - I don't have a clue Provost Debra Austin.
The lady in red - WGAF Castell "Tyrant" Bryant
The lady in gray - I can't find the $39M, but I do know where the $26M deficit is Grace Ali
The lady looking like Rufus in a black suit with a ruffled collar - Cuzzin like a sailor and sounding like a man - Liz McBride
The Alums that cheered Castell's return were a misinformed bunch. There are those of us closer to the ground and more educated on the in's and outs and issues with FAMU. We don't and Do NOT need Juco leaders to run our university. We have huge problems and we need principled and experienced leadership.
ReplyDeleteCan the student Body bring a suit against this administration? SGA or otherwise?
ReplyDeleteGret Black hopes do exist. I am one.
ReplyDeleteI think the FAMU community will give Ammons the proper time to get-r-done. The reason being is that unlike his many predecessors, he's dealt with this problem very recently and handled it masterfully (at NCCU).
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget that the Taskforce and likely criminal investigation will end up doing a lot of work for JA Rule b4 his first day of office. These studies will likely expose pretty much everything, and JA Rule can come in there and start off with all the facts in front of him. A luxury Castell neither Gainous had.
Let me see if I understand. The state-wide Board of Governors supports having FSU take over fiscal control, as does the lead committee in the legislature. After they have made decisions, FAMU's governing board is weighing in to say that it supports FAMU controlling the COE. First, why are swe so late? Second, do we have to worry about their seeing us as arrogant in rejecting their decision and retaliating against us? Third, is it a little risky to come up with proactive approaches to this without also presenting proactive approaches to address the audit problems? I hope that we succeed, but the Johnny-come-lately-politics here concerns me a bit.
ReplyDeleteFAMU should take over the COE. I am a student there and the FSU faculty are racist and do not treat the FAMU students very well. They grade us harder than the other students.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteFAMU should take over the COE. I am a student there and the FSU faculty are racist and do not treat the FAMU students very well. They grade us harder than the other students.
4/09/2007 7:15 PM
Hang in there. Prayer really works!
Anonymous 3:36 said, "I'm afraid, however, that as soon as he gets here and realizes the magnitude of problems that exists on this campus, he will need more than his years as provost and six-year at presidency at NCCU to even begin to resolve these problems."
ReplyDeleteHe's been here already, frequently. And unlike CVB, he's asking intelligent and probing questions and taking time to consider the answers he's getting. James Ammons is VERY different from those who've been sitting in Lee Hall the past couple of years. I think he will be demanding of us all, but also wise and fair. What more could we ask for? I say get your own house in order, be patient, be supportive. Greater days lie ahead for FAMU.
I think it was slimey as hell the way all this is turning out concerning the E-school. Not once have I heard anything negative concerning the way FAMU handles the E-school finances. That was a coward ass move on the Legislature's part. No matter what, FAMU will prevail.
ReplyDeleteOn another note....The problem is quite simple at FAMU. Get rid of all the folks that constantly complain about how much they hate their jobs. Perform better background checks on people. Institute drug testing. Perform more desk audits. Implement a customer service training module for all employees. Quit paying these VP's $160,000 and up that don't deserve it. Get out of Lee Hall more often and visit other departments around campus and listen to your staff and students. Start prosecuting and making examples out of these individuals that steal from the University. Pay your staff better salaries.
Truly, the E-School budget is seperate. FAMU just controls it. No problem. Let it say that way.
ReplyDeleteNEWS FLASH: FAMU's trustees support FAMU. I am relieved! ;)
ReplyDeleteMaybe this whole COE thing is a bargaining chip? FAMU knows it is going to lose it to FSU, so by fighting for it we put ourselves in a better position to getg some legislative funding for other programs? I sure was a little alarmed by the lack of discussion about the COE at the trustees meeting. They all seem to be acting as if it is a done deal, just regiustering a symbolic vote.
ReplyDeleteFuck Roberts!! Fuck Representative Lynne! Fuck TK Wetherell! Go FAMU College of Engineering. Let's close down FSU and stuff their AAU ambitions up their tight white asses.
ReplyDelete4:14--what in the world is YOUR problem?
ReplyDelete7:26--When Dr. Ammons was provost at FAMU, that was a different thing. As president for six years at NCCU, that, too, is a different thing. Sure, he's "been here," of late, as a "visitor," and is listening to the people, but he's yet to assume the role. Visiting is not the same being in place and assuming the task for which you have been selected and are being paid. People "visit" places all the time, but visiting and living there are apples and oranges.
ReplyDelete4:12, I reviewed the photo. You mean to tell me that person in black with the earring is a lady.?? I thought it was an unattractive man with an earring. But now, you tell me it's an unattractive woman with an earring?? Damn. Girlfriend needs to step up her glam game.
ReplyDeleteRe. the photo: Talk about nappy-headed, sister Lizzie needs to step up her hair game or Imus is going to call her out too, on that head thang. Damn. No wonder girlfr. ain' winning no cases. Takes too much time to comb that 'fro and get to the court on time.
ReplyDelete5:21 - CVB's been here "...in place and assuming the task for which (she has) been selected and (is) being paid" and she's never asked anybody anything! When your an arrogant fool, you think you know better and don't need to ask. When you are self confident and wise, you ask people what they need and try to provide it to them. That's a BIG difference!
ReplyDeleteYeah. James Ammons is certainly going to listen to the people. That's the first thing. But listening and acting are different things. James Ammons is smart, charismatic, charming, knowledgeable and mentally prepared to assume the tasks at hand. Let us not all be blindsided by all of these things under the guise of actually doing something. Plenty folk listen. Folk listen all the time. But listening and actually acting on the listening are two separate and distinct things. I know that Castell Bryant didn't ask anybody anything. But let us not fool ourselves into thinking that the simple task of listening will yield results that we want to see.
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