Trustee discord over presidential shortlist sinks attempt to gain two-thirds for a removal vote

The distrust between a group of FAMU trustees who've already finalized their shortlists for the university's next leader and a number of other trustees who've been left out of the under-the-table planning process helped sink an effort to solidify the two-thirds vote required to force President James H. Ammons out of office. By the time yesterday's Board of Trustees meeting started, ex-Chairman Bill Jennings couldn’t get enough support for a motion to force Ammons to leave. He settled for a vote of no confidence instead of conceding a total defeat.

Trustees voted 8-4 in favor of a vote of no confidence in the president. The "yeas" were: Jennings, Torey Alston, Rufus Montgomery, Charles Langston, Belinda Shannon, Karl White, Narayan Persaud, and Marissa West. The "nays" were: Chairman Solomon Badger, Vice-Chairman Spurgeon McWilliams, Kelvin Lawson, and Marjorie Turnbull.

The vote was explained to be an action that was a step above the reprimand Ammons received on Dec. 8, 2011 but still below a formal request for his resignation.

Ammons says he will not step down. He pledged to work hard to make sure that FAMU moves past its current challenges.

"I hear you loudly and clearly," he told Ammons the board after the vote. "I understand there are some measures I have to take as president of this university to fix things and I'm going to fix them. This is very serious. This is very serious for the future of this university and you have my commitment to fix them and get this job done."

Jennings has complained about Ammons' communication with the board. But Jennings' own decision to keep certain trustees out of the loop has hurt his ability to unify other trustees behind a motion to bring in a new president.

Back when he was the board chairman, Jennings ran into trouble for opting not to inform the full board before he started trying to secretly strong-arm Ammons into giving up the "super-majority" clause in his contract. Some trustees who were close to Jennings learned about it, but the majority of trustees weren’t told.

There was also anger among a number of trustees during the days leading up to the Dec. 8 meeting when they heard some board members had already decided that ex-interim provost Barbara Barnes would become the interim president if a motion to suspend Ammons passed. Jennings couldn’t pull seven votes together to place Ammons on administrative leave and had to settle for a reprimand against the president.

The FAMU National Alumni Association (NAA) reaffirmed its support for Ammons after the board meeting.

"Why is a president being asked to step down for being unable to control a ritual that no other person in the country has been able to eliminate?" NAA President Tommy Mitchell said.

State Rep. Alan Williams also released a statement in support of Ammons.

"President Ammons has demonstrated capability to lead the university, and he should be allowed to continue to lead the university, during this historic phase of development and progress at FAMU," Williams said.

Jennings and the Florida Board of Governors have been leading the charge against Ammons ever since Rufus and Gov. Rick Scott were heavily criticized for their brash tactics. Jennings' rush to lead another public vote against the president is linked to the fact that his term will end on January 6, 2013. There are worries that the Florida Senate might refuse to confirm another appointment for him, just like it did in the case of ex-Chairwoman Challis Lowe.

The next board meeting is scheduled for September 6.