No-confidence vote for FAMU chief over hazing

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida A&M University’s president has vowed to stay on at the school despite a no-confidence vote from board of trustees over his handling of the hazing death of a band drum major.

The board on an 8-4 vote Thursday approved the no-confidence measure. James Ammons won’t quit and said he would fix any problems.

The school has been reeling since the November death of drum major Robert Champion. Eleven members of the school’s Marching 100 band have been charged with felony hazing for allegedly beating him to death. The death exposed a wide culture of hazing at the school. Critics say Ammons and other administrators ignored it.

The band has been suspended indefinitely.

Ammons became president in 2007 and signed a five-year contract extension last year.