Students at Howard University took over a common area at the university and slept in tents and on air mattresses for more than a month to protest the poor and sick building conditions of their dorm facilities. According to the Washington Post, students are claiming that facilities haven’t been a priority for the university for many years.
Issues included mold, roach and rat infestations, and regular flooding, according to CNN. At least one student reported allergic reactions to the mold, including coughing, congestion, and headaches.
One student posted a photo on Twitter of a flooded hallway after a pipe burst.
Day 32…College Hall North flooded last night due to a pipe burst‼️#blackburntakeover pic.twitter.com/4hiFhm2kwv
— The Live Movement (@_LiveMovement) November 13, 2021
Another student posted a photo of an ancient thermostat set only to 60 degrees when temperatures were in the 30s outside.
Howard admin is trying to freeze us out the building. Temperatures outside have dropped to the 30s and they have the temperature in the building at 60 degrees. They told us that the heat was on. They told us not to plug in heaters. We are freezing. #BlackburnTakeover pic.twitter.com/q3FZBme89a
— BLM. (@Chan_the_world) November 5, 2021
Earlier this week, the students and university finally came to an agreement to improve the facilities. While specifics about the agreement haven’t been announced, the president of the university Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, referenced the campus’s 2020 master plan which proposes to invest millions in university facilities.
Greg Zimmerman is editor, Building Operating Management magazine and FacilitiesNet.com.
