Jennings backs down, settles for reprimand of Ammons

Bill Jennings lost his nerve once it became clear that the majority of trustees did not want to place President James H. Ammons on administrative leave.

Trustee Torey Alston introduced a substitute motion to Rufus Montgomery’s motion that Ammons be placed on an indefinite administrative leave. It stated that the Board of Trustees would officially reprimand Ammons for the lack of communication with the board regarding his response to the Robert D. Champion incident between November 19 and December 8.

After looking around and seeing that most trustees were against the original administrative leave motion, Jennings seconded.

The votes in favor were: Torey Alston, Bill Jennings, Solomon Badger, Narayan Persaud, Kelvin Lawson, Karl White, Spurgeon McWilliams and Richard Dent.

The votes against were: Marjorie Turnbull, Breyon Love, Belinda Shannon, Rufus Montgomery, and Charles Langston.

Turnbull, Love, and Shannon all made it clear that they were against both the proposed reprimand and the proposed administrative leave.

Jennings took another jab at Ammons shortly before the meeting concluded. While acknowledging First Amendment rights, he asked Ammons and former Director of Bands Julian E. White to avoid making any further statements to the media while Champion’s death is being investigated.