FAMU president resigns
From George Howell, CNN
updated 9:50 AM EDT, Mon July 16, 2012
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- The Florida A&M University president's resignation is effective immediately
- James Ammons had said his resignation would take effect in several weeks
- The resignation follows a band member's hazing death
(CNN) -- The president of Florida A&M University will resign effective immediately, rather than in a few weeks, the school's board of trustees decided Monday.
President James Ammons had planned to resign in several weeks, but the board voted Monday to accept his resignation immediately.
His departure comes more than seven months after a drum major for the university band died following a hazing incident. Robert Champion, 26, died after being beaten during a hazing ritual on a band bus after a football game in Orlando, Florida.
Champion's family said last week that "the rampant culture of hazing found at FAMU would not and could not be eradicated without some major housecleaning of those who turned a blind eye to the problem."
Ammons waived a 90-day notice of resignation Monday that would have kept him on staff through October.
In June, the trustees passed a no-confidence motion in Ammons' performance by an 8-4 vote.
"I hear you loudly and clearly," Ammons told the board at the time. "I understand there are some measures that I have to take as president of this university to fix things, and I am going to fix them."