Howard president: Occupation of student center "must end"

• Students had reported black mold, water leaks, and that they've seen bugs and rodents in university facilities.

What they're saying: Frederick lauded Howard's history of vibrant student protest but said the sit-in was a "departure from past norms."

• "There is a distinct difference between peaceful protest and freedom of expression and the occupation of a University building that impedes operations and access to essential services and creates health and safety risks," he said.
• "The occupation of the Blackburn center must end," he added.

Frederick said in the letter that the university had invited a building inspector, student leaders, board members and others to inspect conditions in the student facilities.

• The problems that were reported concerned only a small number of buildings and "the vast majority of our students are living comfortably," he said.

It's the second large student protest of its kind in the last few years at Howard. Students and alumni say the university still isn’t putting students first.

• The other side: “His focus is still not meeting our demands, but getting us out of this building. He must not understand that the only way we’ll leave this building is if he meets our demands,” the Live Movement, which helped organize the demonstration, posted on Instagram.

State of play: Howard's Blackburn Center hosts the school's largest cafeteria and other student services. The building's occupation had forced the relocation of a COVID-19 testing center, according to the Washington Post.

• While about 50 students have set up camp inside the center, dozens more pitched tents outside, per the Post.