> Skip to content
FEATURED:
  • The Evolution of Race in Admissions
Sign In
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
Sign In
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
Sign In
ADVERTISEMENT
Student Activism
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Show more sharing options
Share
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Copy Link URLCopied!
  • Print

Howard U. Student-Housing Protest Ends After 34 Days

By  Kate Hidalgo Bellows
November 15, 2021
Howard University student protesters sit in front of a banner of testimonials while faculty, staff, and alumni supporters stand behind them on November 5, 2021.
Jon Musselwhite
Howard U. student protesters sit in front of a banner of testimonials while faculty, staff, and alumni supporters stand behind them two weeks ago.

Thirty-four days after a group of students took over Howard University’s Armour J. Blackburn University Center, demanding better on-campus housing conditions and greater student representation in institutionwide decision making, university leaders have reached a resolution with the protesters, putting an end to a tenuous period in the historically Black university’s 154-year history.

Howard announced the agreement in a tweet just after 10 a.m. on Monday. The details of the agreement remain unclear. In a

We’re sorry. Something went wrong.

We are unable to fully display the content of this page.

The most likely cause of this is a content blocker on your computer or network. Please make sure your computer, VPN, or network allows javascript and allows content to be delivered from c950.chronicle.com and chronicle.blueconic.net.

Once javascript and access to those URLs are allowed, please refresh this page. You may then be asked to log in, create an account if you don't already have one, or subscribe.

If you continue to experience issues, contact us at 202-466-1032 or help@chronicle.com

Thirty-four days after a group of students took over Howard University’s Armour J. Blackburn University Center, demanding better on-campus housing conditions and greater student representation in institutionwide decision making, university leaders have reached a resolution with the protesters, putting an end to a tenuous period in the historically Black university’s 154-year history.

Howard announced the agreement in a tweet just after 10 a.m. on Monday. The details of the agreement remain unclear. In a video message released shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday, the university’s president, Wayne A.I. Frederick, called the end of the occupation a “welcome development and a necessary conclusion to a challenging few weeks for everyone involved.” But he didn’t share specifics on the terms of the resolution.

“This type of protest, to occupy a building and the negative effect of doing so, were felt throughout campus,” Frederick said in the video. “Protest drives change. I accept and applaud it. I do, however, struggle with the type of protest that jeopardizes student safety, the very thing that students said founded their concerns.”

Frederick said that Howard’s 2019 strategic plan and 2020 campus master plan would guide the university’s path forward, and that he would deliver a state-of-the-union-type address, with an “open dialogue” portion, next semester.

“The health and well-being of our students is the most important part of my job as president,” Frederick said. “As I have said before, even one issue in one of our residence halls is too many, and we will continue to remain vigilant in our pledge to maintain safe and best-in-class housing.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Students involved in the sit-in — the longest in Howard’s history — celebrated the agreement as a victory. The Live Movement, an organization that advocates for students at historically Black colleges, posted on its Instagram account, “After 34 days of protesting and 20 days of negotiations, justice has been served for the Howard University students.”

The university’s Student Association posted, “We would like to commend our fellow students, alumni, and the entire Bison community who united together in support of our campus during this crucial time as we work towards student-centric solutions.”

Tyler Davis, a Howard student and protester at the Blackburn center, disputed Frederick’s claims that the protesters had created an unsafe environment, arguing that the center was already unsafe by hosting a dining hall, Covid-19 testing, and construction all in the same location.

“Even if there was a resolution,” Davis said, “it does not change the fact that there is always going to be this vendetta against us because we essentially created the biggest smear campaign that this school has ever seen.”

Davis declined to discuss the terms of the agreement, citing legal reasons.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It’s been a very mentally draining thing to be here,” Davis said in an interview with The Chronicle. “I’m glad that it’s over.”

Scathing Rebukes

The protests began on October 12 around 8 p.m., when more than 150 students occupied Blackburn, the student center, following a town hall hosted by the student association. Frederick had been invited but could not attend due to a scheduling conflict, Howard officials told The Chronicle. The town hall went on anyway.

Many students slept outside in tents, while the building, formally closed by the university, served as a quasi headquarters for the activists.

Howard administrators made several attempts to encourage students to end the occupation, at one point blaming the protesters for dining-hall closures that led to layoffs. The remarks drew scathing rebukes from student activists and critics online.

ADVERTISEMENT

On November 5, Frederick addressed the university in a virtual town hall. He acknowledged students’ frustration about living conditions and agreed that the university should improve maintenance and communications on facilities issues.

Davis said on Monday that activists were beginning to clean up Blackburn, removing supplies and preparing to donate them to the surrounding community, in Washington, D.C. They had received material support from groups all over the country.

While they’ve reached an agreement for now, Davis said, their work may not be over yet.

“If the university does not do what it promised to do,” Davis said, “We will take over another building.”

Update (Nov. 15, 2021, 6:29 p.m.): This article has been updated with remarks by Howard's president, Wayne A.I. Frederick, and more student comment.
We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
Leadership & Governance
Kate Hidalgo Bellows
Kate Hidalgo Bellows is a staff reporter at The Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter @katebellows, or email her at kate.hidalgobellows@chronicle.com.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Explore
    • Get Newsletters
    • Letters
    • Free Reports and Guides
    • Blogs
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
    Explore
    • Get Newsletters
    • Letters
    • Free Reports and Guides
    • Blogs
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
  • The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Write for Us
    • Talk to Us
    • Work at The Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Site Map
    • Accessibility Statement
    The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Write for Us
    • Talk to Us
    • Work at The Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Site Map
    • Accessibility Statement
  • Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Advertising Terms and Conditions
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
    Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Advertising Terms and Conditions
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
    Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037
© 2023 The Chronicle of Higher Education
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • facebook
  • linkedin