Orlando , Florida ( CNN ) -- The Florida A & M University Board of Trustees reprimanded the school 's president Thursday for his actions in the aftermath of the suspected hazing-related death of a 26-year-old drum major . The trustees also voted to allocate money to hire a public relations firm to represent the board during the hazing controversy . By an 8-4 vote , the board chose to reprimand President James Ammons instead of putting him on administrative leave as administrators have done to the band 's director , Julian White . During the board meeting , FAMU Trustee Rufus Montgomery proposed administrative leave for Ammons because he said the university `` did not act '' following the death of Robert Champion , who died last month after a halftime performance in a football game in Orlando , Florida . But Montgomery dropped the proposal , and the board delivered a reprimand instead . As he argued to put Ammons on leave , Montgomery noted how the board of governors of the State University System of Florida took action before the university 's trustees could . `` It 's been 19 days since the death of a student occurred , a death of a student that was in our structure of authority . I 'm being advised do n't say anything that could put us in a bad position here or there . What is right is right , '' Montgomery told the board Thursday . `` This student was under our care , under our authority . We did not act , we did not meet , we generally punted on this issue , '' Montgomery added . `` I 'm of the opinion the ( State University System of Florida ) Board of Governors stepped in to fill the vacuum , when they did not have to . I believe that had we shown action -- prudent actions -- there would not have been a cause for them to have an investigation because we would have been conducting ourselves in a sound manner . The board of governors stepped in in an attempt to do our job , '' he said . No cause of death has been released in Champion 's case , but police and university officials both have said they suspect it was related to hazing . Prior to Montgomery 's remarks , Ammons said his administration took `` these occurrences very seriously . '' `` We have taken all the actions that are part of policies , practices and procedures in dealing with allegations of hazing . Once allegations of hazing are ( determined to be ) true , they are immediately referred to our police department if it occurs on campus or to the Tallahassee Police Department if it occurs off campus , '' Ammons said . Ammons said his administrators have `` cooperated fully '' with Orange County Sheriff 's investigators and added that the school has provided grief counselors to the student body and heightened anti-hazing awareness . White , who has served as director of bands since 1998 , was placed on administrative leave with pay until the investigation is complete . The university rescinded its earlier decision to suspend him , with termination scheduled for December 22 . The school also reversed an earlier decision to dismiss four students `` who received disciplinary action regarding a hazing incident with Mr. Champion , '' Ammons said . CNN 's John Couwels reported from Orlando , Florida , and Michael Martinez from Los Angeles .
The administrators opt to retain Champion instead of putting him on administrative leave . ` ` We generally punted on this issue , '' a trustee says . Police are investigating murder of sergeant major Robert Champion , 26 .