Robinson lacks leadership on housing crisis

Interim President, Larry Robinson's voice, has been eerily silent as the university scampers to find permanent housing for over 100 freshmen students who were scheduled to stay in Palmetto North.  Earlier this week when students and their parents arrived at move-in, they  were shocked to learn that their rooms, for which they paid $2,719 each for the right for four people to share a two bedroom apartment were not ready.  Students and parents alike complained that the apartments they were assigned were mold infested, had mildew and issues with doors, and other issues.  

Instead of addressing these new Rattlers and their families directly Robinson has left housing director Jennifer Wilder and student affairs VP William Hudson to face angry parents and students seeking answers and solutions.

“We did the best job we could to make it right,” Wilder said of the full-court press to get Palmetto North ready for students this fall as she addressed a group of about 50 parents and students.  “We are looking to make it right. I apologized, and Dr. Hudson apologized for the experience they are having,” she added.


Neither Wilder nor Hudson could say for sure when the dorms would be ready.  They are hoping to have the facility ready by noon on today (Friday), but even that's not certain. The delay and uncertainty over permanent housing solutions by the university has left both students and parents angry, and frustrated.  

Palmetto North, which was built in 1974 and opened in 1975,  had been closed since 2014.

For now, about  45 students who arrived for Tuesday's move-in are being temporarily housed in hotel rooms throughout Tallahassee. Classes start on Monday.

Both Wilder and Hudson are probably very fine people and are doing the best they can in a difficult situation, however, devastated parents and students want to hear from the head guy on how the university will address this issue.  Sadly, while this crisis has been brewing over the past 24-48 hours, Robinson hasn't said a word to console frustrated students or parents or to show them that university leaders at the very top were concerned about them and ensure them that they made the right decision to come to FAMU. It's in crisis like this that parents and students expect university leaders to "step up," not cower and hide.

It took Robinson five months, after learning about FAMU's failing pharmacy scores, to remove the dean.  This housing crisis can't wait that long.

FAMU does not need an interim, or a permanent, president who's only focus is achieving another day toward retirement.  The interim provost seems to have that base covered already. FAMU needs a leader who is engaged and shows up to do the job.