A week ago it was revealed that Howard University employees had embezzled money that was earmarked for student financial aid over the 2007-to-2016 period. These employees were fired last September but the news was only made public recently by a whistleblower.
In response to this outrage and other issues, a student group with the name “HU Resist” occupied the administration building beginning on March 29. They issued a list of demands and said they would not end their protest until their demands were meant.
Among the demands were the resignation of Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick and the executive committee of the board of trustees. The students also demanded that the university take action to alleviate a shortage of student housing on campus, ending what they called a “rape culture” on campus, the hiring of more mental health counselors, the disarming of the campus police force, addressing the issue of food insecurity among the student population, and more student input into campus decision making.
Update: The students ended their protest on Friday April 6. See the university’s response to student demands here. President Frederick and the executive committee of the board of trustees remain in office.
From my personal experience with college administration types, I have assumed a bias against academic management. In this case, I side with the students although I am a bit skeptical about student “sit-ins”, reminding me of all the mess in the 60s and 70s. Frankly, I think the embezzlers should receive jail time along with their terminations. After all, embezzlement is a form of theft and, certainly,in this case, larceny after trust, not to mention robbing “from the poor”, which is especially heinous. If Howard’s president is in any way complicit in this whole matter, he should be shown the door.
These crooks never get jail time as they would have outside the ivory tower. I wouldnt be surprised if the remaining administrators were themselves also complicit in this malfeasance as is typically the case at other HBCUs. No accountability…not even from the department of education. I honestly strongly believe the days of HBCUs are over. The recreation of familial bonds that they provide can be had at other schools. Too many unethical leadership without accountability.