Howard University students erupted in protest when reports that six of the university's staff members and a student-employee, Tyrone Hankerson Jr., may have embezzled $1 million from financial aid funds made rounds. The students decided to occupy the Mordecai Wyatt Administration Building until their demands were met.
CNN reports that the nine-day sit-in ended after trustees and the administration agreed to empower students with more say in what happens on campus and work towards combating housing issues, rape culture, and food insecurity in the community.
In a lengthy press statement, Howard University shared a list of commitments they intend to follow, including extending the $200 housing deposit to May 1, 2018, provide counseling to help students "overcome the anxiety of reporting sexual violence to the authorities," consider "instituting a mandatory 1-credit course with a curriculum designed to emphasize prevention of sexual assault, sexual harassment and interpersonal violence, and a student-led effort to found a food pantry.
"This is a long time coming," Alexis McKenney, a lead organizer of student activist group HU Resist, told CNN. "Today's a historic moment; this is the longest standing occupation of a building in Howard's history."
HU Resist has also rescinded their demands for President Wayne A.J. Frederick to resign. Following the embezzlement scandal, Hankerson Jr. has maintained his innocence in the scandal and is suing the HBCU for $10 million for allowing his financial aid records to leak.
