WASHINGTON — Howard University is hoping to quell student anger which erupted into a protest and campus sit-in Tuesday afternoon.
The university is defending its response to an allegation by a student that she was raped by another student in a campus dorm.
With hashtags including #NoMeansNoHU and #RapeAtHoward, students took to Twitter and other social media sites to express their frustrations. A group of students then rallied on campus and briefly occupied the dormitory where the alleged rape occurred.
“Many Howard students are speaking out so it won’t be pushed under the rug,” says Kayla Primes, a sophomore at Howard who majors in political science and government.
In a written statement, the university says the administration is aware of the allegation and has taken action. It says it won’t discuss specifics of the ongoing investigation.
“Guys really don’t understand the word no … I do believe that the university needs to address the men that no means no,” Primes says.
The university says it takes matters of sexual assault very seriously and has ongoing prevention education.
