The state university system's general counsel tried to put to rest concerns that one of FAMU's newly appointed trustees might have business interests that pose a conflict of interest.

Speaking Thursday to the Board of Governors task force working to fix financial problems at FAMU, general counsel Vikki Shirley said that FAMU trustee Robert Brown, founder of a PR firm in North Carolina, no longer has contracts with the FAMU Foundation and Alumni Affairs office.

Brown's previous contracts prompted National Alumni president Alvin Bryant to protest his selection, but Shirley and Ammons said Brown is not in violation of any conflict of interest policies.

In fact, FAMU trustee Bill Jennings told the task force that Brown had one outstanding invoice worth $32,000 for consulting work done before his recent appointment. But Brown has decided to donate that money to FAMU.