WASHINGTON — Tuesday marked day six of student protests at Howard University; a negotiation meeting was scheduled for noon Tuesday, and more meetings took place Monday between students and administration.
HU Resist, the student group organizing the protest and sit-in at the university’s administration building, said in a news release Monday that “more demands were discussed” but would not disclose further details.
The university said in a tweet Monday that school President Wayne A.I. Frederick met with students to hear their concerns.
Earlier today, President Frederick met with students in the Louis Stokes library to hear their concerns and answer questions. Howard is committed to continuing an open dialogue with all students on campus. Town hall meetings forthcoming. #HowardU
— Howard University (@HowardU) April 2, 2018
One student responded and said that protesters were not notified about the meeting with students and that the protesters have not had any direct communication with Frederick.
Information about this meeting was not notified to protesters at all. We’re heading into the 6th day of the protest and still haven’t directly heard from President Frederick. His gross neglect is a yet another testament of why he’s unfit for the presidency. #StudentPowerHU https://t.co/bciUEX4BUc
— #StudentPowerHU ✊🏾 (@BasedKvle) April 2, 2018
The news release also detailed that on the fifth day of the protest, students renamed the administration building to the Kwame Ture Student Center, after a prominent figure in the civil rights movement.
“The idea of a Kwame Ture Student Center has existed on this campus for years, and we wanted to use this opportunity to bring it to fruition,” according to the news release.
HU Resist said students also attended a Know Your Rights meeting facilitated by outside organizations.
Howard University students have been protesting at the administration building since last Thursday, a day after the university admitted to a nine-yearlong financial aid scandal.
Organizers’ list of demands includes adequate housing for all students under 21 and extending the deposit deadline for fall 2018; an end to “unsubstantiated” tuition hikes; an end to rape culture on campus; the disarming of campus police officers; and the immediate resignation of Frederick and the board of trustees.
Only one of the demands have been met. On Sunday, the board agreed to extend the deadline for the $200 housing deposit until May 1.
The university’s alumni council announced its support for the school’s president, touting the “many advancements” under his tenure.
The university’s Council of Deans also announced its support for Frederick in a statement on Tuesday, saying the council is “confident that the plans, strategies, programs and activities of the University Board of Trustees and President Wayne A.I. Frederick are yielding positive results.”
But current Howard faculty members are supporting the students and their efforts, as announced in a statement Monday from the Faculty Senate Council. The council called the movement “living examples of the mission of Howard University,” and added that it “categorically condemns any actions — past, present, or future — taken by the Administration or any other party associated with Howard University to harass, retaliate against, intimidate, or target student protesters or any other group or individual.”
