Yesterday, FAMU trustees questioned why Gov. Rick Scott’s office pressured FAMU to suspend its task force on hazing while throwing its support behind the Florida Board of Governor’s (BOG) probe into FAMU hazing.“I am questioning the directive we received to stand down on our investigation,” FAMU Trustee Belinda Shannon asked university administrators during the meeting.
On November 23, FAMU President James H. Ammons appointed an independent task force following the November 19 death of Marching 100 drum major Robert D. Champion. The task force was not charged with duplicating the law enforcement investigation into what happened to Champion. Its assignment was to "to review issues related to the death," particularly the university-wide problem of hazing. The task force would then "recommend any appropriate disciplinary action, policies and procedures to put FAMU on a stronger path to its future."
Ammons placed the Marching 100 and all other Department of Music performing groups on an indefinite suspension following Champion's death. The task force was to receive an opportunity to make recommendations about possible long-term penalties.
Six days after Ammons made the task force appointments, BOG Chairwoman Ava Parker informed FAMU that her board planned to launch its own probe into former Director of Bands Julian E. White’s allegations that the FAMU administration did not do enough to help him fight hazing.
On that same day, Scott’s chief of staff released a memorandum stating that FAMU’s task force was an unnecessary “duplication.”
“In my opinion, we don't need duplication and dueling tasks forces and the Inspector Generals are much better suited to review this matter than the group assembled,” Scott Chief of Staff Stephen MacNamara wrote in an email to the BOG.
Ammons responded on December 1 by postponing the FAMU task force’s first meeting. When a reporter directly asked Scott if asked FAMU to suspend its task force, he answer: “No. I didn’t,” Scott responded. “But I think it makes sense for them to allow the FDLE [Florida Department of Law Enforcement] investigation to happen first.”
Another reporter then confronted Scott with the fact his chief of staff did initiate public pressure for FAMU to halt the task force’s work.
“Mr. MacNamara suggested that, right?” the reporter asked.
“Yeah…I think…I think…I think…um…I think Steve did, though. Steve MacNamara,” Scott said.
The FDLE, which reports to the Florida Cabinet that Scott chairs, recently gave the BOG the green light to continue its probe as long as it does not examine anything specific to Champion’s death. Scott has not explained why his chief of staff wants FAMU’s task force, which was not investigating Champion’s death either, to hold off until the completion of the FDLE’s investigation.
Shannon commented that the “same standard should be applied to the BOG” and FAMU with respect to their probes.
Trustee Rufus Montgomery supported her sentiments, saying: “I concur. There should be one standard.”