The fate of FAMU President James H. Ammons lies squarely in the hands of the FAMU Board of Trustee who on Monday will decide whether or not to heed Gov. Rick Scott's "strong recommendation to place Ammons on suspension while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) continues its investigations into the university."Trustees should take no further action against Ammons.
Scott's unusual recommendation comes despite not having any evidence that Ammons has acted inappropriately or been uncooperative with the investigation. "I’ve not seen anything to suggest that he’s done the wrong thing,” Scott said. A reporter asked if anyone (including FDLE) had told Scott that Ammons was being uncooperative with the investigation. Scott said, "I have not heard that. No."
Then why is Scott attacking the leadership of Florida's only public historically Black university?
Scott's request of the FAMU Board of Trustees is unprecedented. He likely would not have made such a request of any other university board of trustees. And, he's provided few public details on why such a request should be entertained.
Scott has no constitutional authority to remove a college president. That authority lies solely with the Boards of Trustees. Scott knows that and is now attempting to "punk" FAMU trustees into doing his dirty work for him.
A faction of trustees, as recently as two weeks ago, failed in their attempts to place Ammons on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
FAMU trustees must "man up", remain strong and vigilant and not bow down to "Boss Scott".