FAMU president resigns amid hazing scandal
James Ammons has resigned as president of Florida A&M University, effective this fall.
July 11th, 2012
02:17 PM ET

FAMU president resigns amid hazing scandal

The president of Florida A&M University announced his resignation Wednesday, more than seven months after the drum major for the university band died following a hazing incident.

James H. Ammons said in a statement he is leaving the post he has held for five years, effective this fall.

"After considerable thought, introspection and conversations with my family, I have decided to resign from my position as president in order to initiate my retirement on October 11, 2012," he wrote in a letter to the chairman of the school's board of trustees.

Ammons said he would remain as a tenured professor on the faculty.

The resignation comes after the November 19 death of Robert Champion, 26. Champion died within an hour of being badly beaten during a hazing incident on a band bus following a football game in Orlando, Florida. The ritual, called "Crossing Bus C," is an initiation process in which pledges attempt to run down the center aisle while being assaulted by senior members, according to some university band members.

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soundoff (38 Responses)
  1. Not a Scholar

    Then why read it?

    July 11, 2012 at 3:10 pm | Report abuse |
  2. pinkfloyd43

    Here it goes again! Someone losing their job for something that literally could of not know about or fixed before happening! Sad, sad, sad! Looks like 'someone' had to take the fall for stupid kids and this guy was it!

    July 11, 2012 at 3:16 pm | Report abuse |
  3. FauxNews

    Meahwhile, the actual murders are running free.

    July 11, 2012 at 3:17 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Tally Resident

    Some/most band member weren't even students of FAMU. Why have a band at all if thats the case?

    July 11, 2012 at 3:21 pm | Report abuse |
  5. diasucks

    Bobby Dias you are insane. Sick of you jerks that don't respect the Pres. I didn't like Bush but he was my Pres! Would never insult him! Get the hell outta USA if you are so hateful and vile towards OUR PRESIDENT. (He was elected)

    July 11, 2012 at 3:26 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Locke

    Sad to see the racial comments. I admire black Americans. How can you not see that their climb is a little steeper? This is about accountability and responsibility. People want their kids to be safe, and entrust school officials to reasonably see that it is so. I have been in some of the roughest groups and hazing has always been present. One of the incidents was a feature on 20/20 years ago. The problem with hazing is that each successive group thinks that those that follow them have it easier, and thus make the hazing harder and harder until a line is crossed that cannot be uncrossed. The comments about the U.S. President is without merit. The Trayvon comments are just getting old. "Stand your ground" should not apply when juxtaposed with "sit in your truck." I hope both young men rest in peace.

    July 11, 2012 at 3:29 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Hope

    Na Na Na Na.... Na Na Na Na
    Hey, Hey, Hey, Good- Bye!

    July 11, 2012 at 3:50 pm | Report abuse |
  8. yakov

    In Soviet Russia president hazes you

    July 11, 2012 at 4:07 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Todd

    There is nothing wrong with a little hazing, we military people understand it and welcome it. I admit that sometimes it does go a little far like this case but its part of team building, trust and weeding out the weak. toughen up America!

    July 11, 2012 at 4:41 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Jeff Frank (R-Ohio) "Right Wing Insanity"

    @18. LeRoy Feist
    July 11th, 2012 3:09 pm ET
    Do your spend your waking hours looking for opportunities to anonymously insult YOUR President Barack Hussein Obama?
    You know, actually I don't have to spend any time crucifying anyone, especially Barrack. He's doing a good job of hanging himself.

    July 11, 2012 at 7:11 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Philip

    @Jeff Frank. I still say Elvis Presley is guilty of statutory raype of Priscilla when she was 14. Just because her parents knew but didn't tell doesn't change a thing.

    July 11, 2012 at 7:59 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Don't forget about Jerry Lee Lewis.
      Great balls of fire!

      July 11, 2012 at 8:51 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Philip

    ...and I hope all you folks have noticed that NONE are claiming those who go-after child stalkers and their enablers are "politically motivated"...like it's just a witch hunt or something.
    This issue has but one critic: the enabler. Individuals who know but don't tell the proper authorities. Men whom think seperation of Church and State translates to "above the law", for example. Others, like Elvis, fame and fortune. And a pretty hefty colon towords the end there, "king".

    July 11, 2012 at 8:06 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Philip

    My biggest problem with a decendant of Arab-African slavemasters (not African-American slaves as is popularly held) is that he refuses to lift Bush's federal gag order placed on FBI Sibel D. Edmonds so she can file her report naming men both foreign and domestic involved in drug traffiking, money laundering, and financing related to the crime of 9/11.(Dubya Bush had her gagged before she could finish and file her report)

    July 11, 2012 at 8:13 pm | Report abuse |
  14. A. Guy

    I wonder how long it will be til the women sailors (sailorets?) start complaining about men urinating on the toilet seats?

    July 12, 2012 at 8:06 am | Report abuse |
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