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University trustees Torey Alston expressed frustration Friday about the information he and other trustees have received.
"I am troubled we are still getting conflicting information on who knew what and when and everyone is pointing at someone else," Alston said.
In his notes, Kirby also mentions that he had, years earlier, recommended that both the band and White be suspended. But it is not clear whether that recommendation also was made as a result of hazing activities.
Ammons did not know about that recommendation either, Saunders said.
"I also stated that my comments were not well received and that administrators, in the past, in my opinion, did not take a firm stand on suspending the band," wrote Kirby, who was appointed as FAMU's dean of students in 1989. In 1995, he was promoted to become the associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students.
In his notes regarding the Nov. 16 meeting, Kirby wrote that White did not want to suspend the entire band before the Classic. Ross, too, had remembered that White opposed the idea of suspending the band.
But Brooke Hobbs, a spokeswoman for White's attorney, repeated Friday that White had agreed with the recommendation to keep the whole band from going to the Classic. Hobbs stressed that no one at the Nov. 16 meeting had the authority to suspend the band.
Immediately after that meeting, Ross and Kirby went to the practice field to speak to band members about hazing.
Kirby said in his notes that he used "very strong" language and even cursed during his lecture, perhaps to make sure band members took him seriously.
"I intended to be clear, to the point and did not pull any punches," he noted. "I strongly admonished them on the consequences of participating in hazing activities. Likewise, Chief Ross was very strong and firm with his message but absent the salty language that I used."
Alston expressed concern about Kirby's profanity, calling it "unprofessional and totally inappropriate by any university employee dealing with students."
"This entire situation just looks bad," Alston said.
dbalona@tribune.com or 407-420-5470
"I am troubled we are still getting conflicting information on who knew what and when and everyone is pointing at someone else," Alston said.
In his notes, Kirby also mentions that he had, years earlier, recommended that both the band and White be suspended. But it is not clear whether that recommendation also was made as a result of hazing activities.
Ammons did not know about that recommendation either, Saunders said.
"I also stated that my comments were not well received and that administrators, in the past, in my opinion, did not take a firm stand on suspending the band," wrote Kirby, who was appointed as FAMU's dean of students in 1989. In 1995, he was promoted to become the associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students.
In his notes regarding the Nov. 16 meeting, Kirby wrote that White did not want to suspend the entire band before the Classic. Ross, too, had remembered that White opposed the idea of suspending the band.
But Brooke Hobbs, a spokeswoman for White's attorney, repeated Friday that White had agreed with the recommendation to keep the whole band from going to the Classic. Hobbs stressed that no one at the Nov. 16 meeting had the authority to suspend the band.
Immediately after that meeting, Ross and Kirby went to the practice field to speak to band members about hazing.
Kirby said in his notes that he used "very strong" language and even cursed during his lecture, perhaps to make sure band members took him seriously.
"I intended to be clear, to the point and did not pull any punches," he noted. "I strongly admonished them on the consequences of participating in hazing activities. Likewise, Chief Ross was very strong and firm with his message but absent the salty language that I used."
Alston expressed concern about Kirby's profanity, calling it "unprofessional and totally inappropriate by any university employee dealing with students."
"This entire situation just looks bad," Alston said.
dbalona@tribune.com or 407-420-5470
