Kyle, you had the right idea when you said that Agnew needs to be impeached! I hate to call a child an idiot but come on lil man is wild. I have to wonder what the student body was thinking when they elected that clown as SGA President. I have read the previous comments on other blogs throughout the site stating that it is too late in the school year to have him impeached and that is just untrue. It is not too late until the school year has ended and he has left office. In my opinion I believe it is the best thing to do even if you are unsuccessful because you will send a clear message to future SGA Presidents, that they will be held accountable for their actions or the lack thereof.
P.S. It sounds like Kyle needs to be the SGA President!
Kyle as SGA president isn't gonna happen. Its amazing you students wait until the end of the semester to voice your concerns about Mr. Agnew. Get over it and save your concerns for the newly elected SGA president.
It's blatantly obvious that Agnew is an apologist for what's currently going on at FAMU, making excuses for financial aid, Castell Bryant, and the misappropriation of funds that resulted in the eradication of the SAFE team. I don't care if the kid has three days left in office; impeach his short ass.
Why is there talk of Agnew being impeached? Why does Washington need to be the SGA president? Because he, Kyle, yells and screams and stirs up folk on the set??? What has he done to be SGA president, beside have a big mouth? Before folk attack me like a bad habit, I'm simply asking for an explanation about Agnew and Kyle Washington. Someone, please respond and tell me what's up. I think if Agnew had his cranium up or near or in CVB's rear, he would've voted to have that Thompson woman to become president. Somebody, please school a sister on the issues here.
Nah, because he is standing up to the lies and more lies and trying to get the answers to questions that students have been asking for almost a year.
If Monique Gillum is going to follow in this same vein, they should impeach her as well.
We have no time for more sell outs. We are fighting for the survival of our university and Agnew is making excuses. Well if Castell can't answer the damn questions, then who? Soultrain!
Wait, I'm sorry but did I watch the same video as you all? He made one comment supporting Castell and then he went on to say that the administration doesn't have all the answers and "that is a problem." Granted, Kyle was on his best behavior that day but in no way would I want that man to ever represent my alma mater. Also, these students asked Agnew all sorts of questions that really he has nothing to do with. Get a grip and stop being such critics.
If Phillip Agnew is an uncritical support of Castell, then why did he vote for James Ammons instead of Thelma Thompson?
Phillip was the one who called Thelma out after she lied about the 2005 state audit findings at UMES.
Phillip also called for an emergency meeting of the FAMU BOT to make sure that FSU doesn't take the E-School.
If Phillip is so out-of-touch with the student body, then why was his VP -- Monique Gillum -- elected in a landslide?
Don't be fooled by the vocal minority that insists on attacking Phillip every chance they get. Phillip has provided strong representation and leadership for the student body.
Anyone who understands anything about the FAMU student body knows that Kyle will NEVER be SGA president.
He's a JOKE! You saw how the young woman majoring in mathematics called him out. He complains about not knowing any graduate students.
SGA has a Department of Graduate Student Affairs that is headed by a gradaute student. The Graduate Council Class officers are also part of SGA. What's Kyle's excuse for not knowing people in an organization that he's a part of?
Kyle just says whatever he can to get attention. FAMU students can see right through him.
Listen to the clip again. Agnew is clearly trying to muffle the cries of the students.
1)How is voting for Ammons proof that he is a proponent to Castell?
2)Doesn't Phillip, by virtue of being a member of the BOT, realize that he is Castell's boss? If so, why would he tolerate her having him wait 5 hours to speak with her about the student's concerns?
3) Given that Phillip is one of Castell's bosses, why was he quoted saying "I didn't want to burn any bridges" when asked by the student body to explain his failure to challenge her actions? What kind of boss is afraid to offend his employees?
4) If Monique Gillum is any kind of a leader, why is she silent regarding what's going on at FAMU. Afterall, isn't she currently the student body vice-president? Why wait until your term as president begins to fight for the students?
5)Where the hell are the rest of the SGA elected officers in this clip?
It just seems to me that students like Agnew and Gillum are interested only in titles, not the responsibility that comes with them.
How is voting for Ammons proof that he is a proponent to Castell?
Phillip's vote for Ammons is proof that he has stood up to Castell throughout his tenure as SGA president. Castell was lobbying hard for Thelma Thompson. Phillip drew the line in the sand and said no.
His vote for Ammons is proof that he is not a tool for her administration.
Doesn't Phillip, by virtue of being a member of the BOT, realize that he is Castell's boss? If so, why would he tolerate her having him wait 5 hours to speak with her about the student's concerns?
Phillip cannot micromanage the interim president and tell her where to be and when. A trustee's job is to set policy and annually evaluate the interim president. Trustees cannot make changes in the interim president's schedule.
Given that Phillip is one of Castell's bosses, why was he quoted saying "I didn't want to burn any bridges" when asked by the student body to explain his failure to challenge her actions? What kind of boss is afraid to offend his employees?
Again, no trustee can micromanage the interim president. He cannot tell her what to do.
As an SGA president, Phillip has to negotiate with the university president. He cannot simply give her orders. For example, the A&S, health, and athletic fees are set by committees that are jointly appointed by the SGA president and university president. In order to keep those committees from increasing student fees, Phillip has to try and find common ground with the university administration. If he doesn't, then there will be a standstill.
Also, Phillip has to lobby the administration to make sure that student input is considered in the Campus Master Plan, Housing Master Plan, and annual legislative funding request. This requires him to have a strong working relationship with the administration.
But still, Phillip has never to stand up against any threat to FAMU, regardless of Castell's personal feelings. Hence, Phillip's statement in 4/4/07 edition of the FAMUan that: ""This is a blatant attempt by T.K. Wetherell and the legislature to take the engineering school and we will not stand for it."
If Monique Gillum is any kind of a leader, why is she silent regarding what's going on at FAMU. Afterall, isn't she currently the student body vice-president? Why wait until your term as president begins to fight for the students?
It's obvious that you don't read The FAMUan or the Tallahassee Democrat. If you did, you would have seen that Agnew and Gillum have launched a very aggressive lobbying campaign to challenge FSU's efforts to steal the E-School.
The 4/4/07 edition of The FAMUan stated that Phillip and Monique have scheduled a meeting with Florida Senate President Ken Pruitt to lobby against the FSU takeover of the E-School (and to discuss other pertinent issues pertaining to FAMU). Phillip and Monique also asked the entire student body to join them in asking state legislators to block the proposal to transfer the E-School's financial control to FSU.
The full text is here: http://media.www.thefamuanonline.com/media/storage/paper319/news/2007/04/04/News/Reactions.Students.Upset.Over.Engineering.School.Budget.Transfer-2822447-page2.shtml
Monique has also spoken out about the E-School issue in the Tallahassee Democrat. The full text is here: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070407/NEWS01/704070327/1010
Phillip and Monique are supporting Al Lawson's efforts to fight FSU in the Florida Senate. What are you doing to help save the E-School?
Where the hell are the rest of the SGA elected officers in this clip?
Monique Gillum was present in the clip. She and Phillip are the head of the student government and should be in the front of any effort to voice student concerns.
"Phillip's vote for Ammons is proof that he has stood up to Castell throughout his tenure as SGA president. Castell was lobbying hard for Thelma Thompson. Phillip drew the line in the sand and said no."
Voting for Ammons does not constitute standing up to Castell. Standing up to Castell means publicly denouncing her actions. What Phillip is currently doing is standing up to Castell only because students are now lighting a fire under his ass because he has been virtually silent on these matters throughout his tenure. Had students not embarassed him in the town hall meeting and the rally on the set Phillip would still be quiet.
"Phillip cannot micromanage the interim president and tell her where to be and when. Trustees cannot make changes in the interim president's schedule."
Castell reports to the board of trustees. We have seen her ignore the trustees since her tenure as interim president began at FAMU. Phillip and everyone on the BOT are responsible for allowing their subordinate [Castell] to blow them off. Phillip and the BOT are guilty of not utilizing the subordinate/superordinate relationship between the BOT and Castell to hold her accountable. If anybody should have direct and unfettered access to the president, the student body president should. Afterall, he represents [or is supposed to represent] the students. The fact that he stands for being treated like a damn errand boy shows that he was never ready to be SGA president to begin with.
"A trustee's job is to set policy and annually evaluate the interim president."
LOL. A trustee's job also includes looking out for the well-being of the university. If you're a member of the BOT and one of your employees is running the university into the ground, and this employee, whose job is to run the university, answers to you, and you allow this employee to run ramshot over the university for 2 plus years, you should be fired. The BOT has allowed Castell to fuck FAMU up. Where was Phillip while this was happening? On tv promoting himself by using the Martin Lee Anderson case, and at a Alpha party shaking his ass.
"As an SGA president, Phillip has to negotiate with the university president. He cannot simply give her orders."
He's not only the SGA president. He's also a BOT member. BOT members don't have to tip toe around Castell like little children afraid to challenge adults. Larry Tate, SGA president 1995-1996, wasn't afraid to challenge Humphries. He staged a sit-in right in Lee Hall. Fuck being afraid of burning bridges.
You want to give Agnew and Gillum props for being reactionaries. The events leading up to the problems going on today went unchallenged by these two. They are only now reacting due to the pressure imposed on them by students and bad media exposure. What did they and the BOT do last year when Castell falsely claimed she created a 8 million surplus? What did they do when she was tearing the band down? What about when she fired Michael Brown, who was preparing to dismantle her claims of having a 8 million dollar surplus? Where were they then? Why weren't they proactive?
In sum, their efforts remind me of the cliche, "Too little, too late." They should both be impeached and the BOT should be fired. It's called supervisory liability: you're responsible for the actions of those you supervise.
Only an elitist would say that ALL student protest should be led by SGA elected leaders. In the case of FAMU, the SGA elected leaders aren't doing their job and have been bribed, so the students are right in organizing and protesting on their own.
^^^^^ SGA is just as muck up as CVB. Both Agnew and Gillum are clueless, arrogant clowns who have spent more time politicking and enjoying the lime light than they have at being students. Hell Agnew is a 4th year SBIan and still no internships (What the hell is up with that)
Like CVB, neither Gillium nor Agnew seem to understand that it is bigger than them, and that their terms are limited and that shit does hits the fan its just a matter of time.
The shit is hitting the fan in SGA, the kid is lucky it took so long. The Agnew Administration, like CVB, was awful for FAMU. Arrogant fools that can't see pass the hand on their arms. They just don't get it. It's all about them, all the time.
SGA has an 3 million dollar budget that they spend on food, parties, and .... more food and parties. Anything that get's them in front of a crowd sitting next to someone perceived to be important.
As to support for Ammos, He's incompetent not stupid. Funding the strikers and dance troupe but not funding the "Safe Team" a group of students that escort students from the cafeteria and library to their dorms to make sure they are safe is absolutely indefensible. And to hear this fool to blame the safe team and pass the buck to the senate. Hell isn’t he the President.
And yeah where was the Student Senate and the rest of SGA. I bet they all show up at Be-Out day. Listen to how this guy responds to the student questions. Arrogant. Nothing like Rivers, Miller, Alexander and challengers like Alston.
Voting for Ammons does not constitute standing up to Castell. Standing up to Castell means publicly denouncing her actions.
Voting for Ammons was an example of Agnew standing up to Castell. Castell launched a very bitter and nasty smear campaign against Ammons. She tried to strong-arm trustees into voting against him with scare tactics, half-truths, and lies.
Agnew stood tall and refused to be moved from his convictions. His vote for Ammons was a very public statement that he, as SGA president, does what he thinks is right for the university -- regardless of what Castell thinks.
If you had actually seen the BOT's presidential selection interviews, you would have seen that Phillip was the one who called Thelma out on her poor financial management of UMES. Thelma claimed that she'd received clean audits throughout her tenure there. Phillip countered by pulling out a copy of UMES's 2005 state audit and then racked her over the coals.
Castell has hated Phillip ever since that meeting. However, Phillip's not concerned about pleasing her. His only concern was with getting the best possible leadership to Lee Hall.
The fact that he stands for being treated like a damn errand boy shows that he was never ready to be SGA president to begin with.
Phillip is not anyone's errand boy. An errand boy would not publicly challenge Castell's effort to give the E-School away to FSU.
Phillip stated quite clearly he will not stand for the E-School being given away. That is a very clear, public rebutall to Castell's statement that FSU should be given financial control of the E-School.
Phillip and Monique have been dissatisfied with the responses from the administration. As a result, they have gone over Castell's head to Florida Senate President Ken Pruitt and Senator Al Lawson. Phillip and Monique are out lobbying with the real power-brokers who have the authority to make the final decision on the E-School. They're not content to simply gripe and complain without any follow-up.
If you're a member of the BOT and one of your employees is running the university into the ground, and this employee, whose job is to run the university, answers to you, and you allow this employee to run ramshot over the university for 2 plus years, you should be fired.
You're trying to blame Phillip for what's happened over the span of 2 years although he's only been SGA president for one year. Phillip does not have a time machine and he cannot go back and erase all the damage Castell has done since she arrived in 2005.
If you'd listened to any of the BOT meetings, you would know that Phillip was asking tough questions about the university's financial status and was demanding full compliance with state accounting standards.
Where was Phillip while this was happening? On tv promoting himself by using the Martin Lee Anderson case, and at a Alpha party shaking his ass.
Pushing for justice in the Anderson case and fighting for FAMU are not mutually exclusive. FAMU students have a responsibility to stand up for all African Americans in Florida. FAMU is sits right beside the state capitol. Phillip was right to push the Governor, Attorney General, and State Legislature to make amends for the act of racial terrorism.
Furthermore, Phillip's to be a FAMU Alpha simply reflects his decision to walk in the footsteps of Daryl Parks and many other fine SGA presidents. Parks balanced fraternity activities (such as meetings, parties, and community service) with his duties as SGA president. Phillip has done the same.
You want to give Agnew and Gillum props for being reactionaries. The events leading up to the problems going on today went unchallenged by these two.
Castell gave no warning about her plans to hand away the E-School to FSU. However, now that she's announced her support for that dangerous measure, Phillip and Monique have moved to action by lobbying state legislators and speaking out in public. That's what the SGA president and VP are supposed to do.
What did they and the BOT do last year when Castell falsely claimed she created a 8 million surplus? What did they do when she was tearing the band down? What about when she fired Michael Brown, who was preparing to dismantle her claims of having a 8 million dollar surplus?
You have mentioned things that all happened before Phillip and Monique entered office. Phillip wasn't SGA president when Castell submitted the false information about the so-called $8M surplus. All he could do was speak out as a BOT member for the need for her to fully comply with the state's audit findings -- which he did.
Castell's audit this is indeed worse than the one last year. However, there are not enough votes to fire her. Phillip knows this. The best thing that we as FAMUans can do is to lobby the Governor and Board of Governors to appoint better trustees.
As for Michael Brown, the BOT cannot punish Castell for firing him until he actually proves his case in court. That litigation is still pending.
His excuse for not challenging her, which was recorded in the Tallahassee Democrat, was "I didn't want to burn any bridges". That doesn't sound like someone that isn't concerned with staying on her good side.
Nobody's knocking his fraternal affiliations. However, his loyalty as student body president lies with the students, not the Alphas. Daryl Parks, Larry Tate and Reginald Mitchell knew this; Phillip doesn't. When you see a SGA president expending more effort on his frat or a case like the Martin Lee Anderson case while his school is falling apart, something's wrong. If your house is falling apart, you have no business trying to fix someone elses, especially when people elected you to take care of your own house.
Everything I've seen from Phillip has been in the service of promoting himself. He's been in Journey magazine talking about his early experiences dating and on a panel with black intellectuals, hoping to be seen. The kid's heart isn't in the right place. He ran for SGA president for the clothing allowance and a chance to be in the limelight.
And Phillip has been in office for two years, first under Ramon Alexander as Vice President(2005-2006), and then as President (2006-2007). As the situation was developing at FAMU, he never spoke out. You still continue to cite his recent efforts to speak out to get the students off his a** and save face. But while Castell was running wild all over FAMU, the kid said nothing. And I'm sorry, asking a question at a BOT meeting (what was the question?) and voting for Ammons doesn't count as speaking out against Castell.
When students asked Phillip why dance troupes are being funded while the SAFE team, an organization purposed to protect students, isn't, his response was that he doesn't know what funding dance troupes are receiving, and then instructed the student to attend a budget meeting later in the evening. You're the SGA president and you don't know how funds are being allocated? If that isn't a CVB knock-off I don't know what is.
Then, in defending the eradication of the SAFE team, Phillip says they didn't stop any crimes. How in the hell does he know how many crimes were and were not prevented? Now he's psychic?
You're the SGA president and you don't know how funds are being allocated? If that isn't a CVB knock-off I don't know what is.
The SGA president does not have any authority over the allocation process for the $3.2M Activity & Service Fee Budget. The Florida Statutes give that budgetary allocation power exclusively to the Student Senate.
The Student Senate builds the A&S budget based on recommendations from a campus wide committee. Phillip simply advised the students to attend those committee meetings. Phillip has no authority to allocate A&S funds.
Furthermore, Phillip explained in the video that the Student Senate zero-funded the S.A.F.E. team because it was not doing its job to protect students. If the S.A.F.E. team wants to clean up its act and convince the Student Senate that it is capable of fulfilling the role it was created to do, then it is free to do so.
And I'm sorry, asking a question at a BOT meeting (what was the question?) and voting for Ammons doesn't count as speaking out against Castell.
Phillip's style might not satisfy you, but it proved effective in the drive to seat Ammons as president.
At the presidential selection meeting, Phillip asked Thelma if there had been any negative findings in any of her audits. She responded "No." When she did, Phillip pulled out the 2005 UMES audit and pulled her to pieces.
The looks in the faces of Castell, Challis, and Liz McBride said it all. Despite Castell & Co.'s wishes, Phillip publicly discredited their favored candidate.
Phillip's public thrashing of Thelma and affirmative vote for Ammons both undermined Castell's plot to continue her reign of terror. Clearly, Phillip is not being strung along by Castell. He's his own man and stands up for what's right for FAMU.
But while Castell was running wild all over FAMU, the kid said nothing.
That simply isn't true. As SGA VP, Phillip joined Ramon Alexander's efforts to demand an immediate start to the presidential search. Castell and Challis were trying to delay the search as long as possible. Ramon and Phillip stood up and said "No" to them.
Both Ramon and Phillip understood that the best way to get rid of Castell was to get the presidential search going. There were not enough votes to fire Castell outright. Thus, the best strategy was to start the search for her replacement.
Ramon and Phillip also spoke out against Castell's decision to destroy the university's recruitment program. Castell had stopped recruiting students and offering presidential scholarships. As a result, enrollment began to plummet.
Ramon and Phillip responded by calling her out and then doing everything within their power to use SGA as a recruitment vehicle.
If your house is falling apart, you have no business trying to fix someone elses, especially when people elected you to take care of your own house.
Student leaders always have a responsibility to speak out on issues that affect all African Americans. They must do this while simultaneously balancing their leadership duties at FAMU.
Andrew Gillum started a march against One Florida when he was FAMU's Student Senate President. As SGA president, he continued to speak out and lead demonstrations against One Florida.
FAMU student leaders have to have a perspective and consciousness that reach beyond the university's campus. FAMU's SGA must be involved in the struggles that affect all African Americans in Florida and the United States.
Phillip, you're making no sense! LOL! We know this is you, making excuses for your slothfulness!
"Phillip's style might not satisfy you, but it proved effective in the drive to seat Ammons as president."
If seven trustees voted in favor of Ammons, how is it that you give yourself the pat on the back for his selection? Was your vote the last vote tossed in the hat? Was it the tie breaking vote? You give yourself credit for everything but now you're just going to randomly give yourself credit for putting Ammons in office?
"The SGA president does not have any authority over the allocation process for the $3.2M Activity & Service Fee Budget."
This response still didn't answer my question as to why you didn't know about how funds are allocated. What, it's not your responsibility to know? Just like it's not your responsibility to inform students and hold Castell accountable, right?
"Phillip's public thrashing of Thelma and affirmative vote for Ammons both undermined Castell's plot to continue her reign of terror."
So, basically anybody that opposed Castell's favored candidate is now a hero worthy of being SGA president, even though you haven't done anything in the way of halting her for two years? There's no logic behind that at all, Phillip.
"Ramon and Phillip responded by calling her out and then doing everything within their power to use SGA as a recruitment vehicle."
Where's the proof of all this calling out you're talking about, Phillip?
"Student leaders always have a responsibility to speak out on issues that affect all African Americans. They must do this while simultaneously balancing their leadership duties at FAMU."
That's just my point, Phillip. You never balanced your obligations to FAMU and Martin Lee Anderson. While you were hobnobbing with Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, FAMU was under seige. You were not on television at the time saying anything about what was happening at FAMU or challenging Castell. You weren't doing anything on campus either regarding these problems. You were in Panama City trying to get your boy, Ramon Alexander, elected and get yourself some television and news exposure, all the time using the tragic death of Martin Lee Anderson as a vehicle for advancing your political career.
"Andrew Gillum started a march against One Florida when he was FAMU's Student Senate President. As SGA president, he continued to speak out and lead demonstrations against One Florida."
You're forgetting one big thing, Phillip: FAMU wasn't being destroyed at the time Gillum organized his march. FAMU was being destroyed while you were trying to get tv time on the Anderson case. You never had the breathing room to be off campus playing-acting as a actual leader for Civil Rights. Moreover, the One Florida Initiative directly influenced the state of higher education and FAMU. The Martin Lee Anderson case, in no way, jeopardized the well-being of FAMU.
The SGA president does have allocation influence. If I am not mistaken they can veto the budget and work with the President through the VP of Student Affairs, in this case Dr. Junie to negotiate a more resonable allocation. Under Phillip and Moniques leaderships, not only did SGA reduce funding to the SAFE team, they reduced funding to the Presidential Ambassadors, the university's student recruitment team.
SGA is comprised of a bunch of out of touch, arrogrant students that make major decisions based exclusively on personal relationships, mostly greek affiliations, or the allure of being greek.
Remember, Phillip & Monique ran unchallenged. Tory Alston would have made much better president, but he could not run because his brother was on the board and you can not have family members sharing the board.
The SGA president does have allocation influence. If I am not mistaken they can veto the budget...
The SGA president can issue line item vetoes for the budget. However, the Senate can simply override the vetoes with a 2/3 vote. With the Senate's current composition, there's no way a veto could be sustained.
and work with the President through the VP of Student Affairs, in this case Dr. Junie to negotiate a more resonable allocation.
The VPSA has zero authority over the A&S Budget. Neither the Florida Statutes nor the SGA Constitution and By-Laws give him any role. He is absolutely powerless.
Under Phillip and Moniques leaderships, not only did SGA reduce funding to the SAFE team, they reduced funding to the Presidential Ambassadors, the university's student recruitment team.
Phillip and Monique had nothing to do with cutting the budgets for the SAFE team, Presidential Ambassadors, or the student recruitment team. SGA is operating on a budget that was developed by the outgoing Student Senate during the Spring of 2006.
Phillip will only have signing/veto authority for the A&S Budget for the 2007-2008 fiscal year. He had nothing to do with the composition of the current 2006-2007 fiscal year budget.
Furthermore, Castell Bryant is the one who shut down the recruitment program. The recruitment program sponsored by the University President's Office is the one that paid for the recruitment fairs that the Presidential Ambassadors attended. The PAs did not have enough money in their budget keep that going after Castell destroyed the recruitment program. The other student recruitment teams (from the Office of New Student Orientation and the FAMU Connection) were also hindered as a result of those Castell-inflicted budget cuts.
Both Ramon and Phillip both challenged Castell's decision to dismantle the recruitment program. The Capital Outlook editorialized in favor of their position. However, the Democrat and other newspapers across the state did not cover the issue.
Tory Alston would have made much better president, but he could not run because his brother was on the board and you can not have family members sharing the board.
Florida law does not prohibit people with family relationships (e.g.: mother, father, sister, brother, husband & wife) from serving on governing boards. The law simply states that the MAJORITY of board members cannot have a family-relationship.
Additionally, Corey Alston did indeed file to run against Phillip. However, he ran into trouble when his runningmate quit on him shortly before the candidate filing deadline. Since Corey was unable to secure another runningmate in time to meet the deadline the Electoral Commission had no choice but to leave his name off the ballot.
Corey did publicly state that he was considering a run as a write-in candidate. However, he later dropped the idea knowing that this was a complete long-shot.
^^^^^^^ Ignoring what your dissenters say and going on to something else is another technique often used by politicians of all stripes when uncomfortable questions are asked. Way to go, Phillip!
The ONLY reason why Phil called a BOT meeting, had a Town Hall Meeting, Addressed the students at the rally, and made ANY attempt to do anything, is because Kyle FORCED him to DO HIS JOB. I personally was shocked and OFFENDED when Phillip told the audience to only ask "relevent" questions. As a stakeholder in this University, i.e. STUDENT, I have the RIGHT TO KNOW WHATEVER I FEEL I HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW. And I'm not going to even START on him being at the ALPHA PROBATE the EXACT same time a RALLY FOR YOUR SCHOOL IS GOING ON!!!! He is a disgrace for a leader. He has lied. He has made this out to be the "Pity Phillip" show. (Having SGA officials who are supposed to represent the STUDENT BODY walking around the campus wearing homemade shirts that say 'i suppor my president-do you PHIL me.' It was pretentious. It was arrogant. And most importantly, it was in direct violation of the SGA. (LOOK IT UP.) Phillip is a man of words who hides behind his charisma and is skating it out and praying that he can get out of these last 3 weeks with his job. KUDOS for EVERYBODY making him do his job. If they didn't speak up, THIS WOULDN'T BE A DEMOCRACY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I cannot speak for Phillip. I can only speak for what I've personally observed. If you have questions for Phillip, then his office number and email address are public information. You're free to use them.
You give yourself credit for everything but now you're just going to randomly give yourself credit for putting Ammons in office?
When a presidential candidate receives a victory by a margin of one, every vote is decisive.
Phillip refused to be intimidated or strong-armed by Castell. His vote for Ammons proved it.
So, basically anybody that opposed Castell's favored candidate is now a hero worthy of being SGA president, even though you haven't done anything in the way of halting her for two years?
You've constructed an argument around the premise that Phillip is out of touch with the student body and a blind supporter of Castell.
Phillip's vote for Ammons is proof that all of those charges are false. The student body was practically unanimous in its support of Ammons. If Phillip was out-of-touch with the student body and simply wanted to do Castell's bidding, he would have voted for Thelma.
Castell argued that Thelma was the best person to manage FAMU's finances. Phillip publicly discredited Castell's assertion by calling Thelma to carpet and forcing her to account for the dismal financial condition at UMES.
Your claim that Phillip hasn't done anything for the past two years also lacks substantiation. As SGA vice-president during 2005-2006, Phillip helped successfully lobby Jeb Bush to create the First Generation Matching Grant Program. That program created additional need-based financial to help students who are the first in their family to attend college. Thousands of FAMU students are already benefiting from that effort.
Additionally, Phillip has worked with the Florida Student Association to protect the Bright Futures Scholarship. There are a large number of Bright Futures Scholars at FAMU. Additionally, Bright Futures forces Florida to remain a low tuition state (which helps the more than 80% of FAMU students who are on need-based financial aid).
Where's the proof of all this calling out you're talking about, Phillip?
Phillip and Ramon's efforts to counter the harm Castell inflicted on the recruitment program were chronicled by the Capital Outlook newspaper. The Outlook is Tallahassee's black-owned and operated paper and is available to FAMU students free-of-charge as a result of the readership program that Ramon and Phillip initiated.
You're forgetting one big thing, Phillip: FAMU wasn't being destroyed at the time Gillum organized his march.
It's clear that you have not spoken to Andrew Gillum about the state of affairs at FAMU while he was a student leader. If you had, he would have told you that FAMU was indeed under siege during his tenure there.
While Andrew was a student leader, he faced off regularly with Castell and Jame Corbin -- struggling to keep them from taking control of the university.
Corbin is a FAMU graduate and was appointed by Jeb Bush to the Florida Board of Regents in 2000. As a regent, Corbin played an instrumental role in building up enough political support from Bush and his fellow regents to force President Fred Humphries out of office in 2001.
When Humphries resigned, Corbin tried to get the regents to appoint him interim president. That effort fell through due to a backlash from the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators. Still, Corbin managed to get Bush to appoint him and Castell (one of his close friends) to FAMU's newly created Board of Trustees.
As members of the BOT, both Castell and Corbin working to try and rig the presidential search process. They wanted a puppet president who would let them control FAMU's internal operations.
Andrew fought vigorously against Castell and Corbin's backdoor manipulation. However, that did not stop him from also being an activist against One Florida and other issues outside FAMU.
Student body presidents must be able to be effective leaders for both FAMU and the larger African American community.
Moreover, the One Florida Initiative directly influenced the state of higher education and FAMU. The Martin Lee Anderson case, in no way, jeopardized the well-being of FAMU.
The Anderson case affected FAMU and every other black institution in Florida. During the Civil Rights Movement, blacks were attacked in the street with police dogs, fire houses, and cattle prods. They did so to force the U.S. government to uphold the citizenship rights of blacks against the threat of white supremacist violence.
The Anderson case was clear example of white supremacist violence in our own time. The boot camp officers who beat Anderson to death were no different from the police like Bull Connor who brutally assaulted nonviolent marchers in the Civil Rights Movement-era South.
When blacks refuse to stand up against such racially-motivated injustice and mistreatment, it simply emboldens those who wish to use government power to oppress us. Being silent on such issues also betrays the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., Ralph Abernathy and others who took beatings so we wouldn't have to.
We should be applauding Phillip for taking on the mantle of civil rights leadership. We must remember that we are not just FAMUans; we our members of the larger African American and world community.
Dr. King stated that: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Thus, FAMU students have a responsiblity to challenge injustice where ever they find it -- even if it goes beyond the borders of campus.
The Agnew supporter is doing a piss-poor job at addressing the concerns about Phillip's character that are being posted here. Any rational person viewing the clip of Phillip chastizing the student body for doing what he's afraid to do, wouldn't support him. There's no excuse for a SGA president to be at a probate while civic activity is taking place on campus. And, in no way, should a vote for Ammons substitute tending to your presidential duties. Phillip is a class A clown.
Mr. Agnew should be applauded for his leadership with the Anderson case, and we should be grateful for his support of Ammos, which frankly was a no brainer.
Mr. Agnew is not anti-famu nor anti-african americans for sure. To the extent that he can, he supports the interest of student body. The point here is the "extent" that he can and that's what's in question, not his heart and intentions but his judgment and competency.
Phillip can't claim the victories of Ramon Alexander. There's no comparison. The Accomplishments during the 05-06 year were those of Mr. Alexander.
This SGA is surface level deep on the issues and they seemed to only respond when shit hits the fan. Where was SGA on the front end of any of these issues?
As for civil rights, African-Americans don't need more Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton, show me the cameras, the white man is the devil leadership.
Bottom-line, SGA should have been on the front end and they should have been present during this rally. The fact that they were not, speaks volumes about this administration's effectiveness.
I've seen Phillip engage with students and others and he's a charismatic party animal. He is not as serious as Rivers, Alexander, Alston, Miller, Andrew Gillium, and other recent SGA presidents.
He was elected to serve the student body, not showboat in the Anderson case. Everything he's recently done has been out of fear of retribution by the students, not concern for FAMU.
9:22 get off his cl!t! It IS a little late to miss classes and to miss group sessions daily at the END of the semester. As a student, you can do a lot. SGA president can be, and in this case, IS a very demanding duty. This kid wants power(attention). We the students at FAMU ask our leaders to offer duty. Don't think that for a minute that I have not kept my eye on the student administration. Agnew is constantly making sacrifices without asking anyone to pet him. We all have broom closets that we didn't get to clean like we want(one year terms). You run, Ky-uul (as I've heard it put around the community). Great leaders are great followers. I have personally seen the late nights turn into new days, wtih classes to attend and excel in. I too have observed you.., and I must say that you sure do point a lot of fingers. Are they stuck that way? If so, that wouldn't be odd at all. What we really want to know is who and how? You gonna complain about him not endorsing your Dreadful Dreamgulz. NOBODY WILL! No dance HOZ(as I understand the term to be in the band world)in the band at FAMU! Yes, this INCLUDES(apparently) YOU. At Florida's first co-ed state university, I know it would be yet another BET moment for black women, blacks and FAMU to have them on the sideline trying to out-coon and ho the hoin'dancin' 'coons on BET videos and halftime band features. The skill is never highlighted for what it is. The blueprint for bands across the globe is here , and YOU don't know anything about that. Yea, we quizzed you up back in 2004 when you got run up out of the stadium. Give it a rest. "The Lena Horne of Bands", does not want or need that in her show. It is overkill and I hope that this is enough to have ya'll let it go with Castell. Hell, I'd change the conversation of students to an intellectual one and just out-do the nay-sayers. Problems have been identified and solutions need to be forthcoming. Choose your battles wiser. Most of us don't have a sense of responsibility to the University and that makes no sense. I don't abhor you or your supporters. If you have a worthy cause I will listen , research and decide to help your charge- this is not the best way to do it. We are seemingly fragmented enough. Your credibility is at stake-even if I scratch ALL of your previous outbursts. Some think you have turrets syndrome or are a tinge bit bi-polar. Direction, maturity, organization and guidance are key. If your usual supporters are the majority of the minority(your support), you have failed as a leader here at FAMU to do what WE need. Rattlers Round-up and Unite. Let's prove to ourselves that we can do better, together.
Kyle, you had the right idea when you said that Agnew needs to be impeached! I hate to call a child an idiot but come on lil man is wild. I have to wonder what the student body was thinking when they elected that clown as SGA President. I have read the previous comments on other blogs throughout the site stating that it is too late in the school year to have him impeached and that is just untrue. It is not too late until the school year has ended and he has left office. In my opinion I believe it is the best thing to do even if you are unsuccessful because you will send a clear message to future SGA Presidents, that they will be held accountable for their actions or the lack thereof.
ReplyDeleteP.S. It sounds like Kyle needs to be the SGA President!
Phillip has his head so far up Castell's ass its a shame!
ReplyDelete^^^^ I second that!
ReplyDeleteKyle as SGA president isn't gonna happen. Its amazing you students wait until the end of the semester to voice your concerns about Mr. Agnew. Get over it and save your concerns for the newly elected SGA president.
ReplyDeleteIt's blatantly obvious that Agnew is an apologist for what's currently going on at FAMU, making excuses for financial aid, Castell Bryant, and the misappropriation of funds that resulted in the eradication of the SAFE team. I don't care if the kid has three days left in office; impeach his short ass.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry fsu wants control of the SGA'S A&S Fees, fsu just can't stop til their controlling our whole school
ReplyDeleteWhy is there talk of Agnew being impeached? Why does Washington need to be the SGA president? Because he, Kyle, yells and screams and stirs up folk on the set??? What has he done to be SGA president, beside have a big mouth? Before folk attack me like a bad habit, I'm simply asking for an explanation about Agnew and Kyle Washington. Someone, please respond and tell me what's up. I think if Agnew had his cranium up or near or in CVB's rear, he would've voted to have that Thompson woman to become president. Somebody, please school a sister on the issues here.
ReplyDeleteNah, because he is standing up to the lies and more lies and trying to get the answers to questions that students have been asking for almost a year.
ReplyDeleteIf Monique Gillum is going to follow in this same vein, they should impeach her as well.
We have no time for more sell outs. We are fighting for the survival of our university and Agnew is making excuses. Well if Castell can't answer the damn questions, then who? Soultrain!
Hopefully, Monique won't follow in Phillips butt licking footsteps, if so students should move to impeach her before the summer.
ReplyDeleteWait, I'm sorry but did I watch the same video as you all? He made one comment supporting Castell and then he went on to say that the administration doesn't have all the answers and "that is a problem." Granted, Kyle was on his best behavior that day but in no way would I want that man to ever represent my alma mater.
ReplyDeleteAlso, these students asked Agnew all sorts of questions that really he has nothing to do with. Get a grip and stop being such critics.
If Phillip Agnew is an uncritical support of Castell, then why did he vote for James Ammons instead of Thelma Thompson?
ReplyDeletePhillip was the one who called Thelma out after she lied about the 2005 state audit findings at UMES.
Phillip also called for an emergency meeting of the FAMU BOT to make sure that FSU doesn't take the E-School.
If Phillip is so out-of-touch with the student body, then why was his VP -- Monique Gillum -- elected in a landslide?
Don't be fooled by the vocal minority that insists on attacking Phillip every chance they get. Phillip has provided strong representation and leadership for the student body.
Anyone who understands anything about the FAMU student body knows that Kyle will NEVER be SGA president.
ReplyDeleteHe's a JOKE! You saw how the young woman majoring in mathematics called him out. He complains about not knowing any graduate students.
SGA has a Department of Graduate Student Affairs that is headed by a gradaute student. The Graduate Council Class officers are also part of SGA. What's Kyle's excuse for not knowing people in an organization that he's a part of?
Kyle just says whatever he can to get attention. FAMU students can see right through him.
aganew aganew agnew nothing but a puppet for the higher ups.....
ReplyDeleteListen to the clip again. Agnew is clearly trying to muffle the cries of the students.
ReplyDelete1)How is voting for Ammons proof that he is a proponent to Castell?
2)Doesn't Phillip, by virtue of being a member of the BOT, realize that he is Castell's boss? If so, why would he tolerate her having him wait 5 hours to speak with her about the student's concerns?
3) Given that Phillip is one of Castell's bosses, why was he quoted saying "I didn't want to burn any bridges" when asked by the student body to explain his failure to challenge her actions? What kind of boss is afraid to offend his employees?
4) If Monique Gillum is any kind of a leader, why is she silent regarding what's going on at FAMU. Afterall, isn't she currently the student body vice-president? Why wait until your term as president begins to fight for the students?
5)Where the hell are the rest of the SGA elected officers in this clip?
It just seems to me that students like Agnew and Gillum are interested only in titles, not the responsibility that comes with them.
11:54 PM -- You are so on point!
ReplyDeleteHow is voting for Ammons proof that he is a proponent to Castell?
ReplyDeletePhillip's vote for Ammons is proof that he has stood up to Castell throughout his tenure as SGA president. Castell was lobbying hard for Thelma Thompson. Phillip drew the line in the sand and said no.
His vote for Ammons is proof that he is not a tool for her administration.
Doesn't Phillip, by virtue of being a member of the BOT, realize that he is Castell's boss? If so, why would he tolerate her having him wait 5 hours to speak with her about the student's concerns?
Phillip cannot micromanage the interim president and tell her where to be and when. A trustee's job is to set policy and annually evaluate the interim president. Trustees cannot make changes in the interim president's schedule.
Given that Phillip is one of Castell's bosses, why was he quoted saying "I didn't want to burn any bridges" when asked by the student body to explain his failure to challenge her actions? What kind of boss is afraid to offend his employees?
Again, no trustee can micromanage the interim president. He cannot tell her what to do.
As an SGA president, Phillip has to negotiate with the university president. He cannot simply give her orders. For example, the A&S, health, and athletic fees are set by committees that are jointly appointed by the SGA president and university president. In order to keep those committees from increasing student fees, Phillip has to try and find common ground with the university administration. If he doesn't, then there will be a standstill.
Also, Phillip has to lobby the administration to make sure that student input is considered in the Campus Master Plan, Housing Master Plan, and annual legislative funding request. This requires him to have a strong working relationship with the administration.
But still, Phillip has never to stand up against any threat to FAMU, regardless of Castell's personal feelings. Hence, Phillip's statement in 4/4/07 edition of the FAMUan that: ""This is a blatant attempt by T.K. Wetherell and the legislature to take the engineering school and we will not stand for it."
If Monique Gillum is any kind of a leader, why is she silent regarding what's going on at FAMU. Afterall, isn't she currently the student body vice-president? Why wait until your term as president begins to fight for the students?
It's obvious that you don't read The FAMUan or the Tallahassee Democrat. If you did, you would have seen that Agnew and Gillum have launched a very aggressive lobbying campaign to challenge FSU's efforts to steal the E-School.
The 4/4/07 edition of The FAMUan stated that Phillip and Monique have scheduled a meeting with Florida Senate President Ken Pruitt to lobby against the FSU takeover of the E-School (and to discuss other pertinent issues pertaining to FAMU). Phillip and Monique also asked the entire student body to join them in asking state legislators to block the proposal to transfer the E-School's financial control to FSU.
The full text is here: http://media.www.thefamuanonline.com/media/storage/paper319/news/2007/04/04/News/Reactions.Students.Upset.Over.Engineering.School.Budget.Transfer-2822447-page2.shtml
Monique has also spoken out about the E-School issue in the Tallahassee Democrat. The full text is here: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070407/NEWS01/704070327/1010
Phillip and Monique are supporting Al Lawson's efforts to fight FSU in the Florida Senate. What are you doing to help save the E-School?
Where the hell are the rest of the SGA elected officers in this clip?
Monique Gillum was present in the clip. She and Phillip are the head of the student government and should be in the front of any effort to voice student concerns.
"Phillip's vote for Ammons is proof that he has stood up to Castell throughout his tenure as SGA president. Castell was lobbying hard for Thelma Thompson. Phillip drew the line in the sand and said no."
ReplyDeleteVoting for Ammons does not constitute standing up to Castell. Standing up to Castell means publicly denouncing her actions. What Phillip is currently doing is standing up to Castell only because students are now lighting a fire under his ass because he has been virtually silent on these matters throughout his tenure. Had students not embarassed him in the town hall meeting and the rally on the set Phillip would still be quiet.
"Phillip cannot micromanage the interim president and tell her where to be and when. Trustees cannot make changes in the interim president's schedule."
Castell reports to the board of trustees. We have seen her ignore the trustees since her tenure as interim president began at FAMU. Phillip and everyone on the BOT are responsible for allowing their subordinate [Castell] to blow them off. Phillip and the BOT are guilty of not utilizing the subordinate/superordinate relationship between the BOT and Castell to hold her accountable. If anybody should have direct and unfettered access to the president, the student body president should. Afterall, he represents [or is supposed to represent] the students. The fact that he stands for being treated like a damn errand boy shows that he was never ready to be SGA president to begin with.
"A trustee's job is to set policy and annually evaluate the interim president."
LOL. A trustee's job also includes looking out for the well-being of the university. If you're a member of the BOT and one of your employees is running the university into the ground, and this employee, whose job is to run the university, answers to you, and you allow this employee to run ramshot over the university for 2 plus years, you should be fired. The BOT has allowed Castell to fuck FAMU up. Where was Phillip while this was happening? On tv promoting himself by using the Martin Lee Anderson case, and at a Alpha party shaking his ass.
"As an SGA president, Phillip has to negotiate with the university president. He cannot simply give her orders."
He's not only the SGA president. He's also a BOT member. BOT members don't have to tip toe around Castell like little children afraid to challenge adults. Larry Tate, SGA president 1995-1996, wasn't afraid to challenge Humphries. He staged a sit-in right in Lee Hall. Fuck being afraid of burning bridges.
You want to give Agnew and Gillum props for being reactionaries. The events leading up to the problems going on today went unchallenged by these two. They are only now reacting due to the pressure imposed on them by students and bad media exposure. What did they and the BOT do last year when Castell falsely claimed she created a 8 million surplus? What did they do when she was tearing the band down? What about when she fired Michael Brown, who was preparing to dismantle her claims of having a 8 million dollar surplus? Where were they then? Why weren't they proactive?
In sum, their efforts remind me of the cliche, "Too little, too late." They should both be impeached and the BOT should be fired. It's called supervisory liability: you're responsible for the actions of those you supervise.
ReplyDeleteOnly an elitist would say that ALL student protest should be led by SGA elected leaders. In the case of FAMU, the SGA elected leaders aren't doing their job and have been bribed, so the students are right in organizing and protesting on their own.
ReplyDelete^^^^^
ReplyDeleteSGA is just as muck up as CVB. Both Agnew and Gillum are clueless, arrogant clowns who have spent more time politicking and enjoying the lime light than they have at being students. Hell Agnew is a 4th year SBIan and still no internships (What the hell is up with that)
Like CVB, neither Gillium nor Agnew seem to understand that it is bigger than them, and that their terms are limited and that shit does hits the fan its just a matter of time.
The shit is hitting the fan in SGA, the kid is lucky it took so long. The Agnew Administration, like CVB, was awful for FAMU. Arrogant fools that can't see pass the hand on their arms. They just don't get it. It's all about them, all the time.
SGA has an 3 million dollar budget that they spend on food, parties, and .... more food and parties. Anything that get's them in front of a crowd sitting next to someone perceived to be important.
As to support for Ammos, He's incompetent not stupid. Funding the strikers and dance troupe but not funding the "Safe Team" a group of students that escort students from the cafeteria and library to their dorms to make sure they are safe is absolutely indefensible. And to hear this fool to blame the safe team and pass the buck to the senate. Hell isn’t he the President.
And yeah where was the Student Senate and the rest of SGA. I bet they all show up at Be-Out day. Listen to how this guy responds to the student questions. Arrogant. Nothing like Rivers, Miller, Alexander and challengers like Alston.
Voting for Ammons does not constitute standing up to Castell. Standing up to Castell means publicly denouncing her actions.
ReplyDeleteVoting for Ammons was an example of Agnew standing up to Castell. Castell launched a very bitter and nasty smear campaign against Ammons. She tried to strong-arm trustees into voting against him with scare tactics, half-truths, and lies.
Agnew stood tall and refused to be moved from his convictions. His vote for Ammons was a very public statement that he, as SGA president, does what he thinks is right for the university -- regardless of what Castell thinks.
If you had actually seen the BOT's presidential selection interviews, you would have seen that Phillip was the one who called Thelma out on her poor financial management of UMES. Thelma claimed that she'd received clean audits throughout her tenure there. Phillip countered by pulling out a copy of UMES's 2005 state audit and then racked her over the coals.
Castell has hated Phillip ever since that meeting. However, Phillip's not concerned about pleasing her. His only concern was with getting the best possible leadership to Lee Hall.
The fact that he stands for being treated like a damn errand boy shows that he was never ready to be SGA president to begin with.
Phillip is not anyone's errand boy. An errand boy would not publicly challenge Castell's effort to give the E-School away to FSU.
Phillip stated quite clearly he will not stand for the E-School being given away. That is a very clear, public rebutall to Castell's statement that FSU should be given financial control of the E-School.
Phillip and Monique have been dissatisfied with the responses from the administration. As a result, they have gone over Castell's head to Florida Senate President Ken Pruitt and Senator Al Lawson. Phillip and Monique are out lobbying with the real power-brokers who have the authority to make the final decision on the E-School. They're not content to simply gripe and complain without any follow-up.
If you're a member of the BOT and one of your employees is running the university into the ground, and this employee, whose job is to run the university, answers to you, and you allow this employee to run ramshot over the university for 2 plus years, you should be fired.
You're trying to blame Phillip for what's happened over the span of 2 years although he's only been SGA president for one year. Phillip does not have a time machine and he cannot go back and erase all the damage Castell has done since she arrived in 2005.
If you'd listened to any of the BOT meetings, you would know that Phillip was asking tough questions about the university's financial status and was demanding full compliance with state accounting standards.
Where was Phillip while this was happening? On tv promoting himself by using the Martin Lee Anderson case, and at a Alpha party shaking his ass.
Pushing for justice in the Anderson case and fighting for FAMU are not mutually exclusive. FAMU students have a responsibility to stand up for all African Americans in Florida. FAMU is sits right beside the state capitol. Phillip was right to push the Governor, Attorney General, and State Legislature to make amends for the act of racial terrorism.
Furthermore, Phillip's to be a FAMU Alpha simply reflects his decision to walk in the footsteps of Daryl Parks and many other fine SGA presidents. Parks balanced fraternity activities (such as meetings, parties, and community service) with his duties as SGA president. Phillip has done the same.
You want to give Agnew and Gillum props for being reactionaries. The events leading up to the problems going on today went unchallenged by these two.
Castell gave no warning about her plans to hand away the E-School to FSU. However, now that she's announced her support for that dangerous measure, Phillip and Monique have moved to action by lobbying state legislators and speaking out in public. That's what the SGA president and VP are supposed to do.
What did they and the BOT do last year when Castell falsely claimed she created a 8 million surplus? What did they do when she was tearing the band down? What about when she fired Michael Brown, who was preparing to dismantle her claims of having a 8 million dollar surplus?
You have mentioned things that all happened before Phillip and Monique entered office. Phillip wasn't SGA president when Castell submitted the false information about the so-called $8M surplus. All he could do was speak out as a BOT member for the need for her to fully comply with the state's audit findings -- which he did.
Castell's audit this is indeed worse than the one last year. However, there are not enough votes to fire her. Phillip knows this. The best thing that we as FAMUans can do is to lobby the Governor and Board of Governors to appoint better trustees.
As for Michael Brown, the BOT cannot punish Castell for firing him until he actually proves his case in court. That litigation is still pending.
"Phillip's not concerned about pleasing her."
ReplyDeleteHis excuse for not challenging her, which was recorded in the Tallahassee Democrat, was "I didn't want to burn any bridges". That doesn't sound like someone that isn't concerned with staying on her good side.
Nobody's knocking his fraternal affiliations. However, his loyalty as student body president lies with the students, not the Alphas. Daryl Parks, Larry Tate and Reginald Mitchell knew this; Phillip doesn't. When you see a SGA president expending more effort on his frat or a case like the Martin Lee Anderson case while his school is falling apart, something's wrong. If your house is falling apart, you have no business trying to fix someone elses, especially when people elected you to take care of your own house.
Everything I've seen from Phillip has been in the service of promoting himself. He's been in Journey magazine talking about his early experiences dating and on a panel with black intellectuals, hoping to be seen. The kid's heart isn't in the right place. He ran for SGA president for the clothing allowance and a chance to be in the limelight.
And Phillip has been in office for two years, first under Ramon Alexander as Vice President(2005-2006), and then as President (2006-2007). As the situation was developing at FAMU, he never spoke out. You still continue to cite his recent efforts to speak out to get the students off his a** and save face. But while Castell was running wild all over FAMU, the kid said nothing. And I'm sorry, asking a question at a BOT meeting (what was the question?) and voting for Ammons doesn't count as speaking out against Castell.
When students asked Phillip why dance troupes are being funded while the SAFE team, an organization purposed to protect students, isn't, his response was that he doesn't know what funding dance troupes are receiving, and then instructed the student to attend a budget meeting later in the evening. You're the SGA president and you don't know how funds are being allocated? If that isn't a CVB knock-off I don't know what is.
ReplyDeleteThen, in defending the eradication of the SAFE team, Phillip says they didn't stop any crimes. How in the hell does he know how many crimes were and were not prevented? Now he's psychic?
You're the SGA president and you don't know how funds are being allocated? If that isn't a CVB knock-off I don't know what is.
ReplyDeleteThe SGA president does not have any authority over the allocation process for the $3.2M Activity & Service Fee Budget. The Florida Statutes give that budgetary allocation power exclusively to the Student Senate.
The Student Senate builds the A&S budget based on recommendations from a campus wide committee. Phillip simply advised the students to attend those committee meetings. Phillip has no authority to allocate A&S funds.
Furthermore, Phillip explained in the video that the Student Senate zero-funded the S.A.F.E. team because it was not doing its job to protect students. If the S.A.F.E. team wants to clean up its act and convince the Student Senate that it is capable of fulfilling the role it was created to do, then it is free to do so.
And I'm sorry, asking a question at a BOT meeting (what was the question?) and voting for Ammons doesn't count as speaking out against Castell.
ReplyDeletePhillip's style might not satisfy you, but it proved effective in the drive to seat Ammons as president.
At the presidential selection meeting, Phillip asked Thelma if there had been any negative findings in any of her audits. She responded "No." When she did, Phillip pulled out the 2005 UMES audit and pulled her to pieces.
The looks in the faces of Castell, Challis, and Liz McBride said it all. Despite Castell & Co.'s wishes, Phillip publicly discredited their favored candidate.
Phillip's public thrashing of Thelma and affirmative vote for Ammons both undermined Castell's plot to continue her reign of terror. Clearly, Phillip is not being strung along by Castell. He's his own man and stands up for what's right for FAMU.
But while Castell was running wild all over FAMU, the kid said nothing.
That simply isn't true. As SGA VP, Phillip joined Ramon Alexander's efforts to demand an immediate start to the presidential search. Castell and Challis were trying to delay the search as long as possible. Ramon and Phillip stood up and said "No" to them.
Both Ramon and Phillip understood that the best way to get rid of Castell was to get the presidential search going. There were not enough votes to fire Castell outright. Thus, the best strategy was to start the search for her replacement.
Ramon and Phillip also spoke out against Castell's decision to destroy the university's recruitment program. Castell had stopped recruiting students and offering presidential scholarships. As a result, enrollment began to plummet.
Ramon and Phillip responded by calling her out and then doing everything within their power to use SGA as a recruitment vehicle.
If your house is falling apart, you have no business trying to fix someone elses, especially when people elected you to take care of your own house.
Student leaders always have a responsibility to speak out on issues that affect all African Americans. They must do this while simultaneously balancing their leadership duties at FAMU.
Andrew Gillum started a march against One Florida when he was FAMU's Student Senate President. As SGA president, he continued to speak out and lead demonstrations against One Florida.
FAMU student leaders have to have a perspective and consciousness that reach beyond the university's campus. FAMU's SGA must be involved in the struggles that affect all African Americans in Florida and the United States.
Phillip, you're making no sense! LOL! We know this is you, making excuses for your slothfulness!
ReplyDelete"Phillip's style might not satisfy you, but it proved effective in the drive to seat Ammons as president."
If seven trustees voted in favor of Ammons, how is it that you give yourself the pat on the back for his selection? Was your vote the last vote tossed in the hat? Was it the tie breaking vote? You give yourself credit for everything but now you're just going to randomly give yourself credit for putting Ammons in office?
"The SGA president does not have any authority over the allocation process for the $3.2M Activity & Service Fee Budget."
This response still didn't answer my question as to why you didn't know about how funds are allocated. What, it's not your responsibility to know? Just like it's not your responsibility to inform students and hold Castell accountable, right?
"Phillip's public thrashing of Thelma and affirmative vote for Ammons both undermined Castell's plot to continue her reign of terror."
So, basically anybody that opposed Castell's favored candidate is now a hero worthy of being SGA president, even though you haven't done anything in the way of halting her for two years? There's no logic behind that at all, Phillip.
"Ramon and Phillip responded by calling her out and then doing everything within their power to use SGA as a recruitment vehicle."
Where's the proof of all this calling out you're talking about, Phillip?
"Student leaders always have a responsibility to speak out on issues that affect all African Americans. They must do this while simultaneously balancing their leadership duties at FAMU."
That's just my point, Phillip. You never balanced your obligations to FAMU and Martin Lee Anderson. While you were hobnobbing with Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, FAMU was under seige. You were not on television at the time saying anything about what was happening at FAMU or challenging Castell. You weren't doing anything on campus either regarding these problems. You were in Panama City trying to get your boy, Ramon Alexander, elected and get yourself some television and news exposure, all the time using the tragic death of Martin Lee Anderson as a vehicle for advancing your political career.
"Andrew Gillum started a march against One Florida when he was FAMU's Student Senate President. As SGA president, he continued to speak out and lead demonstrations against One Florida."
You're forgetting one big thing, Phillip: FAMU wasn't being destroyed at the time Gillum organized his march. FAMU was being destroyed while you were trying to get tv time on the Anderson case. You never had the breathing room to be off campus playing-acting as a actual leader for Civil Rights. Moreover, the One Florida Initiative directly influenced the state of higher education and FAMU. The Martin Lee Anderson case, in no way, jeopardized the well-being of FAMU.
The SGA president does have allocation influence. If I am not mistaken they can veto the budget and work with the President through the VP of Student Affairs, in this case Dr. Junie to negotiate a more resonable allocation. Under Phillip and Moniques leaderships, not only did SGA reduce funding to the SAFE team, they reduced funding to the Presidential Ambassadors, the university's student recruitment team.
ReplyDeleteSGA is comprised of a bunch of out of touch, arrogrant students that make major decisions based exclusively on personal relationships, mostly greek affiliations, or the allure of being greek.
Remember, Phillip & Monique ran unchallenged. Tory Alston would have made much better president, but he could not run because his brother was on the board and you can not have family members sharing the board.
The SGA president does have allocation influence. If I am not mistaken they can veto the budget...
ReplyDeleteThe SGA president can issue line item vetoes for the budget. However, the Senate can simply override the vetoes with a 2/3 vote. With the Senate's current composition, there's no way a veto could be sustained.
and work with the President through the VP of Student Affairs, in this case Dr. Junie to negotiate a more resonable allocation.
The VPSA has zero authority over the A&S Budget. Neither the Florida Statutes nor the SGA Constitution and By-Laws give him any role. He is absolutely powerless.
Under Phillip and Moniques leaderships, not only did SGA reduce funding to the SAFE team, they reduced funding to the Presidential Ambassadors, the university's student recruitment team.
Phillip and Monique had nothing to do with cutting the budgets for the SAFE team, Presidential Ambassadors, or the student recruitment team. SGA is operating on a budget that was developed by the outgoing Student Senate during the Spring of 2006.
Phillip will only have signing/veto authority for the A&S Budget for the 2007-2008 fiscal year. He had nothing to do with the composition of the current 2006-2007 fiscal year budget.
Furthermore, Castell Bryant is the one who shut down the recruitment program. The recruitment program sponsored by the University President's Office is the one that paid for the recruitment fairs that the Presidential Ambassadors attended. The PAs did not have enough money in their budget keep that going after Castell destroyed the recruitment program. The other student recruitment teams (from the Office of New Student Orientation and the FAMU Connection) were also hindered as a result of those Castell-inflicted budget cuts.
Both Ramon and Phillip both challenged Castell's decision to dismantle the recruitment program. The Capital Outlook editorialized in favor of their position. However, the Democrat and other newspapers across the state did not cover the issue.
Tory Alston would have made much better president, but he could not run because his brother was on the board and you can not have family members sharing the board.
Florida law does not prohibit people with family relationships (e.g.: mother, father, sister, brother, husband & wife) from serving on governing boards. The law simply states that the MAJORITY of board members cannot have a family-relationship.
Additionally, Corey Alston did indeed file to run against Phillip. However, he ran into trouble when his runningmate quit on him shortly before the candidate filing deadline. Since Corey was unable to secure another runningmate in time to meet the deadline the Electoral Commission had no choice but to leave his name off the ballot.
Corey did publicly state that he was considering a run as a write-in candidate. However, he later dropped the idea knowing that this was a complete long-shot.
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ReplyDeleteIgnoring what your dissenters say and going on to something else is another technique often used by politicians of all stripes when uncomfortable questions are asked. Way to go, Phillip!
The ONLY reason why Phil called a BOT meeting, had a Town Hall Meeting, Addressed the students at the rally, and made ANY attempt to do anything, is because Kyle FORCED him to DO HIS JOB. I personally was shocked and OFFENDED when Phillip told the audience to only ask "relevent" questions. As a stakeholder in this University, i.e. STUDENT, I have the RIGHT TO KNOW WHATEVER I FEEL I HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW. And I'm not going to even START on him being at the ALPHA PROBATE the EXACT same time a RALLY FOR YOUR SCHOOL IS GOING ON!!!! He is a disgrace for a leader. He has lied. He has made this out to be the "Pity Phillip" show. (Having SGA officials who are supposed to represent the STUDENT BODY walking around the campus wearing homemade shirts that say 'i suppor my president-do you PHIL me.' It was pretentious. It was arrogant. And most importantly, it was in direct violation of the SGA. (LOOK IT UP.) Phillip is a man of words who hides behind his charisma and is skating it out and praying that he can get out of these last 3 weeks with his job. KUDOS for EVERYBODY making him do his job. If they didn't speak up, THIS WOULDN'T BE A DEMOCRACY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI cannot speak for Phillip. I can only speak for what I've personally observed. If you have questions for Phillip, then his office number and email address are public information. You're free to use them.
ReplyDeleteYou give yourself credit for everything but now you're just going to randomly give yourself credit for putting Ammons in office?
When a presidential candidate receives a victory by a margin of one, every vote is decisive.
Phillip refused to be intimidated or strong-armed by Castell. His vote for Ammons proved it.
So, basically anybody that opposed Castell's favored candidate is now a hero worthy of being SGA president, even though you haven't done anything in the way of halting her for two years?
You've constructed an argument around the premise that Phillip is out of touch with the student body and a blind supporter of Castell.
Phillip's vote for Ammons is proof that all of those charges are false. The student body was practically unanimous in its support of Ammons. If Phillip was out-of-touch with the student body and simply wanted to do Castell's bidding, he would have voted for Thelma.
Castell argued that Thelma was the best person to manage FAMU's finances. Phillip publicly discredited Castell's assertion by calling Thelma to carpet and forcing her to account for the dismal financial condition at UMES.
Your claim that Phillip hasn't done anything for the past two years also lacks substantiation. As SGA vice-president during 2005-2006, Phillip helped successfully lobby Jeb Bush to create the First Generation Matching Grant Program. That program created additional need-based financial to help students who are the first in their family to attend college. Thousands of FAMU students are already benefiting from that effort.
Additionally, Phillip has worked with the Florida Student Association to protect the Bright Futures Scholarship. There are a large number of Bright Futures Scholars at FAMU. Additionally, Bright Futures forces Florida to remain a low tuition state (which helps the more than 80% of FAMU students who are on need-based financial aid).
Where's the proof of all this calling out you're talking about, Phillip?
Phillip and Ramon's efforts to counter the harm Castell inflicted on the recruitment program were chronicled by the Capital Outlook newspaper. The Outlook is Tallahassee's black-owned and operated paper and is available to FAMU students free-of-charge as a result of the readership program that Ramon and Phillip initiated.
You're forgetting one big thing, Phillip: FAMU wasn't being destroyed at the time Gillum organized his march.
It's clear that you have not spoken to Andrew Gillum about the state of affairs at FAMU while he was a student leader. If you had, he would have told you that FAMU was indeed under siege during his tenure there.
While Andrew was a student leader, he faced off regularly with Castell and Jame Corbin -- struggling to keep them from taking control of the university.
Corbin is a FAMU graduate and was appointed by Jeb Bush to the Florida Board of Regents in 2000. As a regent, Corbin played an instrumental role in building up enough political support from Bush and his fellow regents to force President Fred Humphries out of office in 2001.
When Humphries resigned, Corbin tried to get the regents to appoint him interim president. That effort fell through due to a backlash from the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators. Still, Corbin managed to get Bush to appoint him and Castell (one of his close friends) to FAMU's newly created Board of Trustees.
As members of the BOT, both Castell and Corbin working to try and rig the presidential search process. They wanted a puppet president who would let them control FAMU's internal operations.
Andrew fought vigorously against Castell and Corbin's backdoor manipulation. However, that did not stop him from also being an activist against One Florida and other issues outside FAMU.
Student body presidents must be able to be effective leaders for both FAMU and the larger African American community.
Moreover, the One Florida Initiative directly influenced the state of higher education and FAMU. The Martin Lee Anderson case, in no way, jeopardized the well-being of FAMU.
The Anderson case affected FAMU and every other black institution in Florida. During the Civil Rights Movement, blacks were attacked in the street with police dogs, fire houses, and cattle prods. They did so to force the U.S. government to uphold the citizenship rights of blacks against the threat of white supremacist violence.
The Anderson case was clear example of white supremacist violence in our own time. The boot camp officers who beat Anderson to death were no different from the police like Bull Connor who brutally assaulted nonviolent marchers in the Civil Rights Movement-era South.
When blacks refuse to stand up against such racially-motivated injustice and mistreatment, it simply emboldens those who wish to use government power to oppress us. Being silent on such issues also betrays the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., Ralph Abernathy and others who took beatings so we wouldn't have to.
We should be applauding Phillip for taking on the mantle of civil rights leadership. We must remember that we are not just FAMUans; we our members of the larger African American and world community.
Dr. King stated that: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Thus, FAMU students have a responsiblity to challenge injustice where ever they find it -- even if it goes beyond the borders of campus.
The Agnew supporter is doing a piss-poor job at addressing the concerns about Phillip's character that are being posted here. Any rational person viewing the clip of Phillip chastizing the student body for doing what he's afraid to do, wouldn't support him. There's no excuse for a SGA president to be at a probate while civic activity is taking place on campus. And, in no way, should a vote for Ammons substitute tending to your presidential duties. Phillip is a class A clown.
ReplyDeleteMr. Agnew should be applauded for his leadership with the Anderson case, and we should be grateful for his support of Ammos, which frankly was a no brainer.
ReplyDeleteMr. Agnew is not anti-famu nor anti-african americans for sure. To the extent that he can, he supports the interest of student body. The point here is the "extent" that he can and that's what's in question, not his heart and intentions but his judgment and competency.
Phillip can't claim the victories of Ramon Alexander. There's no comparison. The Accomplishments during the 05-06 year were those of Mr. Alexander.
This SGA is surface level deep on the issues and they seemed to only respond when shit hits the fan. Where was SGA on the front end of any of these issues?
As for civil rights, African-Americans don't need more Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton, show me the cameras, the white man is the devil leadership.
Bottom-line, SGA should have been on the front end and they should have been present during this rally. The fact that they were not, speaks volumes about this administration's effectiveness.
I've seen Phillip engage with students and others and he's a charismatic party animal. He is not as serious as Rivers, Alexander, Alston, Miller, Andrew Gillium, and other recent SGA presidents.
He was elected to serve the student body, not showboat in the Anderson case. Everything he's recently done has been out of fear of retribution by the students, not concern for FAMU.
ReplyDelete9:22 get off his cl!t! It IS a little late to miss classes and to miss group sessions daily at the END of the semester. As a student, you can do a lot. SGA president can be, and in this case, IS a very demanding duty. This kid wants power(attention). We the students at FAMU ask our leaders to offer duty. Don't think that for a minute that I have not kept my eye on the student administration. Agnew is constantly making sacrifices without asking anyone to pet him. We all have broom closets that we didn't get to clean like we want(one year terms). You run, Ky-uul (as I've heard it put around the community). Great leaders are great followers. I have personally seen the late nights turn into new days, wtih classes to attend and excel in. I too have observed you.., and I must say that you sure do point a lot of fingers. Are they stuck that way? If so, that wouldn't be odd at all. What we really want to know is who and how? You gonna complain about him not endorsing your Dreadful Dreamgulz. NOBODY WILL! No dance HOZ(as I understand the term to be in the band world)in the band at FAMU! Yes, this INCLUDES(apparently) YOU. At Florida's first co-ed state university, I know it would be yet another BET moment for black women, blacks and FAMU to have them on the sideline trying to out-coon and ho the hoin'dancin' 'coons on BET videos and halftime band features. The skill is never highlighted for what it is. The blueprint for bands across the globe is here , and YOU don't know anything about that. Yea, we quizzed you up back in 2004 when you got run up out of the stadium. Give it a rest. "The Lena Horne of Bands", does not want or need that in her show. It is overkill and I hope that this is enough to have ya'll let it go with Castell. Hell, I'd change the conversation of students to an intellectual one and just out-do the nay-sayers. Problems have been identified and solutions need to be forthcoming. Choose your battles wiser. Most of us don't have a sense of responsibility to the University and that makes no sense. I don't abhor you or your supporters. If you have a worthy cause I will listen , research and decide to help your charge- this is not the best way to do it. We are seemingly fragmented enough. Your credibility is at stake-even if I scratch ALL of your previous outbursts. Some think you have turrets syndrome or are a tinge bit bi-polar. Direction, maturity, organization and guidance are key. If your usual supporters are the majority of the minority(your support), you have failed as a leader here at FAMU to do what WE need. Rattlers Round-up and Unite. Let's prove to ourselves that we can do better, together.
ReplyDeleteYou watch FOX NEWS TOO MUCH!
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