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FAMU BOT reprimands Ammons, stops short of admin. leave

Dr. James Ammons
Dr. James Ammons

By Lynn Hatter

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-996609.mp3

Tallahassee, FL – Florida A&M University's President has received a reprimand from the school's board of trustees. Lynn Hatter reports it's the latest chapter in the fallout from the alleged hazing-related death of one of the school band's drum majors in November.

The Board of Trustees stopped short of placing University President James Ammons on administrative leave with pay. The vote to reprimand him stems from the trustee's disappointment with the way actions by the university following the death of band drum major Robert Champion have been handled.

Trustees say they were not informed of Ammon's decision to fire the band's long-time director Julian White, nor were they informed about the expulsions of four students until after the actions had already been taken.

Following an order from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the university has since rescinded White's termination and the students who were originally expelled are back on campus prepping for final exams. The FDLE put a halt to the university's administrative actions until after its criminal investigation into Champion's death is complete.