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| Alabama State University students protest the suspension of President Joseph Silver (pictured). The university Board of Trustees placed Silver on administrative leave after only two months in office. |
Ammons’ presidency was a long one compared to some of his
counterparts at other historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs)
across the South. In 2012, there were a number of HBCU presidents who left under
pressure after even shorter periods of service.
Students, alumni, and faculty members at some of these
institutions say that dysfunction and under-the-table antics on their respective boards
of trustees are to blame for the presidential ousters.
Fewer than four years
FAMU alumnus George C. Cooper began his tenure as the
president of South Carolina State University on July 16, 2008 and resigned on
March 30, 2012. The last straw between him and the board came after he said an
internal investigation led him to fire eight high-ranking employees on February
10, 2012.
David Wilson, who was a finalist for the FAMU presidency in
2002, reported to work as the president of Morgan State University on July 1,
2010. On December 4, 2012, the Board of Trustees voted not to offer him a
contract extension. His current employment agreement ends on June 30, 2013.
The Morgan State Student Government Association is leading a
petition drive to challenge the board’s action.
Fewer than two years
FAMU alumnus Henry Lewis, III became the president of
Florida Memorial University on February 1, 2011. The Board of Trustees
announced his “release” on November 8, 2012. The board has been quiet about the
specific reasons for his departure.
Fewer than 12 months
The Alabama State University Board of Trustees suspended
President Joseph Silver after only two months in office. He began on September
17, 2012. The board placed him on administrative leave on November 26, 2012.
Silver said the board suspended him after he raised
questions about information in the university’s financial records.
“In reviewing the financials, contracts and other pertinent
information of Alabama State, I discovered some items I considered questionable
and troubling, at best, and a conflict of interest at the least. When I asked
for clarifications, I did not get answers. When I asked for supporting data,
the data was withheld,” Silver said in a public statement.
Alabama State students are protesting the board’s decision
with rallies and a petition drive.