| September 16th, 2016
Mangum Addresses Famuans at Town Hall Meeting
By: journeymagazine
Words by Kiara Whitehead
On Wednesday evening, Florida A&M University Student Government Association held a town hall meeting to allow Florida A&M President Dr. Elmira Mangum to address the student body’s concerns.
Students and student organizations rallied in support of Mangum at the meeting eager to hear from her on the eve of the Board of Trustees vote. Most notably the FAMU Marching 100 came out in large numbers filling the room and showing their support.
Mangum urged students to let their voices be heard saying “You control the quality of education by using your voices and by using your voice when it is time to use them.”
During the meeting Mangum highlighted student performance and accomplishments since the start of her administration as well as improvements that she plans on making to the campus. Mangum stated that she plans to renovate student housing facilities as well as opening stores on The Set and modernizing the campus as a whole.
At the end of what could be her final address to the Florida A&M Student Body Mangum advised the students to stay abreast of University happenings during this time of change.
“Make sure that initiatives that were put in place are actually being done… I believe the team we have in place is committed to doing that, the question is making sure they’re allowed to do it,” said Mangum.
The town hall meeting came in response to a series of events that were catalyzed by a 7-5 vote from the Board of Trustees to not extend Mangum’s contract on August 24th.
BOT Chairman Kelvin Lawson formed a Special Committee on Presidential Leadership, which chose on September 2nd to affirm a recommendation that would allow Mangum to step down. The recommendation allows Mangum to step down from her position on Sept. 15th but remain employed by the University until the end of her contract in April 2017.
A vote determining Mangum’s fate at Florida A&M is scheduled to take place Thursday morning.
“It can be hurtful … I will still advocate for success for the students and the university and the need for a quality of educational experience for the students no matter what seat I hold,” said Mangum.
