WASHINGTON (WUSA9) — As the Howard University sit-in continues into its fourth day, it appears some student demands are being met.
The Hilltop, Howard's student newspaper, reported on Sunday that the deadline to submit a housing deposit has been extended to May 1. According to an apparent email by administration posted to Twitter by The Hilltop, the school will delay quad renovations if there's a high demand for housing.
The fulfillment of this demand comes after students voiced their concerns about receiving housing for the next academic year. According to some students, the university was slow to promise housing to students who requested it, prompting concerns that there wasn't enough housing.
There's still no word on if any of the other demands, including the removal of the university's president, have been met and students remain inside of the administration building.
Students at Howard University said Saturday night that campus police have left and they have taken over the administration building completely on the heels of an embezzlement scandal that rocked the college earlier in the week.
It's now the fourth day of a sit-in that started Thursday after a student's post on the blogging platform Medium went viral.
There is no clear end in sight for the sit-in protest and students plan on staying in the building until their demands are met. Students hosted Easter services inside Sunday.
Some of the protesters who identify as the group "HU Resist" met with the board of trustees on Saturday.
According to a statement from Rock Newman, alumni trustee:
“Today's session with the students was productive and significant progress was made. We look forward to continuing the engagement tomorrow.”
No decisions were made just yet, and students have another meeting scheduled with the board on Sunday.
Student organizers want the university’s president fired.
There are eight other demands that include giving students a stronger voice on campus.
Six staff members were fired after allegedly stealing financial aid money that should have gone to students in need.
“I was mad when we found out about the financial aid scandal. I was mad when our housing internet was offline and people couldn’t get housing. Right now, I’m determined and I want to see a change in my university,” Maya McCollum, with HU Resist, said.
There were several alumni who showed up to offer support who were involved in a similar protest in 1989.
Some of them talked to students inside of the building about their experiences, and at least one of those alumni remained inside of the building on Saturday night.
Last year in April, faculty leadership voted ‘no confidence’ in the president.
Teachers cited concerns about financial problems, a lack of transparency, and failures of leadership.
