Sensitive Matter - Florida A&m President To Keep His Job Amid Hazing Probe Reuters

By Michael Peltier

TALLAHASSEE, Fla Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:11pm EST

TALLAHASSEE, Fla (Reuters) - Florida A&M University trustees claimed with Monday of which this school's president could keep their occupation for the duration of that research of your marching group member's hazing death, even with a call by way of Governor Rick Scott with the administrator that will for the short term measure down.

Trustees reported President James Ammons should continue to be to help you control this in times past ebony college throughout Tallahassee by means of troubled times.

Law enforcement officers are generally conducting separate probes towards Marching "100" drum significant Robert Champion's death, which in turn healthcare examiners dominated a homicide final week, and unrelated alleged economical mismanagement on the university.

"We will probably stand firm towards exterior influence, regardless of how well-intended, which may head to help damaging effects in which jeopardize the particular viability in the university," Chairman Solomon Badger told many other snowboard people for the duration of a telephone meeting.

"Our determination are going to be fact-based plus result from a new deliberative course of action dealing which has a vulnerable matter," he said.

Champion, 26, died November 19 soon after a efficiency with your renowned walking music group along at the Florida Classic basketball video game inside Orlando. Emergency responders found him or her unresponsive on the piece bus parked outside your band's hotel.

On Friday, your Orange County health examiner dominated Champion's death a homicide by means of blunt force trauma. The healthcare article said the actual usually nutritious drum major perished within an hour or so connected with struggling many blows that will his chest, arms, shoulders as well as back.

His passing may be the latest inside a number of hazing occurrences inside of the group along with university or college over the past few years and is getting looked into by way of local as well as state authorities. No criminal costs are already filed.

Earlier this specific month, the mother board reprimanded Ammons within connection by using Champion's death but did not position him or her administrative leave.

Scott last week advised trustees have to hang Ammons while the investigations were being ongoing, nevertheless the governor stated with Monday he or she could follow the board's decision.

"For the actual reason of appearances, also to ensure your court in which these kinds of investigations will be sort independent, I feel it could have been around in the best interest with Florida A&M University to get President Ammons to step aside right until many of these inspections usually are completed," Scott said from a report next the actual board's meeting.

"However, you'll find a process around Florida with the administration from the state university system, and of which procedure have been followed."

(Editing simply by Colleen Jenkins along with Jerry Norton )