Ammons/White, Great Educators....Page 4 50 Cents
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Vol. 37, No. 50: Section 01
Tallahassee, Florida
Dec. 15 - Dec. 21, 2011
University BOT steps in By Terrika Mitchell
FAMU BOT voted on Dec. 8 to publically reprimand Ammons (left) rather than place him on administrative leave. BOT member Bill Jennings (left) believes Ammons’ lack of communication played a role. “I think the only way to correct Jennings says he is supportthat is for Dr. Ammons to consult ive of the reprimand and cited the board on critical matters.” Ammons’ decision to assign a
See BOT, Page 2
Reaching one person at a time Person of the Week
FAMU students pledge against hazing Outlook Staff Writer
Denise Parker By Stephon Parker Jr. Outlook Staff Writer
Denise Parker is a firm believer of many things. However, for Parker, her works and lifestyle all evolve around God. “Everything that I do is through God,” Parker said. “I always pray and ask God what it is that He wants me to do.” Parker, who turns 55 on Dec. 31, is the key figure in the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church’s Young Mothers Christian Mentoring ministry. Recently she led the second annual Christmas luncheon that focused on assisting families less fortunate during this holiday season. “We have workshops and
FAMU SGA President Breyon Love (left) and Vice President Troy Harris (right). students attend and say to the world and the media that ‘we are actively making progress to rid out hazing on any level here at the university.’” Administrators, faculty and student leaders stressed the intolerance policy on what FAMU President James H. Ammons referred to as a pattern of destructive behavior from our students at the university. The pledge was a charge initiated by Student Government Association President Breyon Love. “Right now, it is up to us to recommit ourselves as Rattlers on the highest of seven hills to end
hazing and become an example for a positive change across America,” Love told the audience. Copies of the pledge are available on the SGA website at www.famu.edu\sga. “Students can turn the forms in at the Office of Student Activities or SGA (Chambers),” he said. “As long as we get it in to some university official, (SGA) will take care of it from there.” On Dec. 7, Florida A&M University President James H. Ammons had the opportunity to briefly present to Board of Trustee (BOT) members; an opportunity he took to shed light on the See STUDENTS, Page 2
Scott to ask for $1 billion boost in school spending, restore downturn cuts By David Royse The News Service of Florida Special to the Outlook
Governor Scott teaches a science lab in Immokalee during a “Let’s Get to Work Day.” year that starts July 1 on Dec. 7 afternoon. His spokesman, Lane Wright, declined to say Dec. 6 where the governor will propose to cut spending to be able to afford the proposed boost in education spending – a cut that will need to
OPINION / 4 EDUCATION / 5 RELIGION / 6
Briefs
See POW, Page 2
Gov. Rick Scott is set to propose a $1 billion increase in education spending over this year, planning to call Dec. 7 for a boost to per-student spending despite a state revenue shortfall and lower local school tax dollars. In a conference call with state school superintendents Dec. 6, Scott, who will be proposing his second budget since getting elected in 2010, said he plans to call for lawmakers to increase per-pupil spending from $6,262 to $6,372, even after factoring in expected growth of about 30,000 more students over the current school year. A spokesman for the governor said late Dec. 7 that officials in the governor’s office believe it would be one of the largest increases in K-12 spending in recent history if lawmakers were to go along. Scott plans to make public his proposed budget for the fiscal
Inside COMMUNITY NEWS / 10
By Terrika Mitchell
More than 3,400 Florida AM students signed an anti-hazing form on Dec. 5 in an effort to take a stand against hazing. The event was a result of the Nov. 19 death of FAMU Drum Major Robert Champion, who the Orange County Sheriff’s Office believes died as a result of hazing. The student anti-hazing form is a contractual agreement between organizations, students and other members of the university stating what the punishment for participating in any form of hazing will be on every level. The consequences of participating range from suspension or expulsion from the school to suspension from the Office of Student Activities for organizations, according to Student Government Association Surgeon General Tom Diamond II. “With the help of SGA, in conjunction with the Office of Student Activities, it was mandatory that every organization on campus and student club come to the anti-hazing forum if they want to participate any longer at Florida A&M University,” Diamond said. “At our anti-hazing forum, we had a little over 4,000
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Florida A&M University’s two-day Board of Trustees meeting last week has seemingly resolved internal confusion that stemmed from the Nov. 19 death of Marching “100” Drum Major Robert Champion. On Dec. 8, in an 8-4 vote, board members decided to publically reprimand FAMU President James H. Ammons – a substitute motion made by Trustee Torey Alston – rather than place him on administrative leave, which was motioned by Trustee Rufus Montgomery. “I think one of the bases for the reprimand of Dr. Ammons was that the board felt the way he handled the whole matter was just unacceptable,” said Trustee Bill Jennings, former board chairman.
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Outlook Staff Writer
task force prior to consulting the board as an unacceptable course of action, in his opinion. Another action Ammons took – dismissing Dr. Julian E. White as FAMU’s director of bands – was disputed by not only BOT members, but the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Subsequently, actions by the FAMU task force were halted and White was reinstated and put on administrative leave on Dec. 7. The four students who were previously dismissed from the university due to their alleged involvement in Champion’s death were also reinstated. “This is a step in the right direction,” said Attorney Chuck Hobbs, who represents White. “We still believe that administrative leave with pay is tantamount to a form of discipline. We will continue exploring all legal op-
be even larger because of revenue projections that are off by nearly $2 billion over what legislators earmarked this year. Scott has also made it clear that he agrees with Republican legislative leadership’s anti-tax viewpoint, and has said publicly
a few times that he won’t call for any tax increases. The governor’s recommendations are merely the first formal step in a months-long process and the final budget will eventually be written by the Legislature, though Scott has line item veto power. Senate budget committees are expected to receive presentations on Dec. 8 about Scott’s recommendations. “Education pays, and we clearly must find a way to increase our investment in Florida’s students,” Scott said in a recorded radio address distributed to stations on Dec. 6. But he acknowledged the difficulty of finding the extra money, noting the student increase, which will mean it will cost $191 million more over current year spending just to keep per-pupil funding flat. “Florida’s growing student population comes at a time when we also estimate a loss of local revenue,” Scott said in his radio address. “This means Florida school districts will have over $200 million less to spend. In See SPENDING, Page 2
Skip the fancy ribbons; stay on your holiday budget Want to stay in your holiday budget? One good way is to watch your non-gift spending: A third of last season’s spending was on wrapping paper, ribbons, cards, shipping, new party clothes and travel, according to this month’s Good Housekeeping magazine. So mail lightweight gifts, skip the fancy ribbons and buy discounted paper or cards. Ask yourself: Do you really need that new holiday outfit? Despite objections, passing the FCAT likely to get tougher The Florida Board of Education is poised to adopt new, higher scores for each of the levels, 1-5, on the annual high-stakes test for third- through 10th graders. Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson announced that he would recommend increasing scores, including those for high school reading that have prompted the strongest protest from superintendents. “I’m confident the students and schools will rise to the challenge,” Robinson said in a Thursday morning conference call with reporters. He said the new, higher high school score “raises a new standard for a new Florida and a new era.” Florida boasts three of the nation’s Top 10 cities for tech job growth Tech jobs are one bright spot in the economy. The hiring spree taking place in that sector isn’t limited to Silicon Valley. Cities across the country are enjoying a boost in employment thanks to information technology jobs. No. 4 Jacksonville - Companies hiring: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Technisource No. 7 Miami - Companies hiring: IBM, Deloitte & Touche No. 8 Tampa - Companies hiring: Moffitt Cancer Center, Raymond James Financial
This Week’s Word “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 (NKJV)