Now that Richard Dent has stepped down from the FAMU Board of Trustees, the race is on to claim his former position as vice-chairman. It looks like Torey Alston has his eye on the job.Trustees should immediately scratch Torey’s name from the list of potential nominees. His election would be a public relations nightmare for the university.
Former FAMU student Marcus Jones, who attempted to join the Alpha Xi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi while Torey was the chapter president, was paddled with wooden canes and punched during unauthorized rituals.
Jones did not directly accuse Torey of participating in the hazing. But he did mention Torey’s name in an account of the early stage of the pledging process that he told the St. Petersburg Times. Jones’ accusations suggest that Torey knew of the fraternity's activities and turned a deaf ear.
If Torey is elected vice-chairman, you can expect the St. Petersburg Times to place a recap of its Jones trial coverage on the Associated Press wire. Cable television channels and newspapers across the nation will rush to ask Jones what he remembers about Torey’s actions (or inactions) while the hazing was in progress.
Gov. Rick Scott should also expect reporters to confront him with lots of questions about Torey, too. He has some explaining to do concerning his decision to appoint Torey to the FAMU Board of Trustees in the first place.
“Hazing should be strictly condemned on our college and university campuses and by any organization associated directly or indirectly with our institutions,” Scott wrote in a December 1, 2011 letter to the State University System of Florida chancellor. “It must be clear to everyone that hazing or any other form of harassment will not be tolerated under any circumstances.”
Didn’t Marcus Jones’ comments in Florida’s largest newspaper raise any red flags? Why did Scott think Torey’s appointment was a good idea? It is said that the governor and Florida GOP have a lot invested in Torey's future. But politics should not be placed above the good of a public university.
Torey has too much baggage for a public university Board of Trustees that says it wants to stamp out hazing.