Students at Howard University Protest Living Conditions in Dorms

Chandler Robinson, a freshman at Howard University in Washington, D.C., is one of the many students who have been protesting the living conditions and educational challenges on campus for weeks.

Many students have reported to the university and shared on social media about mold in the dorms, Wi-Fi connection problems, dining halls infested with rats and roaches, and an unresponsive administration.

The mold problem began over the summer due to a flood on campus, Robinson told NBC News. Mold has since been identified in at least 38 dorm rooms out of 2,700 total rooms on campus, an official from Howard University confirmed to NBC News.

Several videos about conditions at Howard have gone viral on social media. Robinson posted one talking about what life has been like on campus that’s just shy of a million views on TikTok.

Robinson wasn’t able to connect to Wi-Fi for over a month and couldn’t access Blackboard, a platform colleges use for assignments and grades.

In response to the issues on campus, students have occupied the Blackburn University Center for nearly two weeks.

Students say they’re prepared to protest for the remainder of the school year until mold is removed from dorms, water damage repaired and expired air filters replaced.

Students say they are also protesting for additional off-campus housing for upperclassmen, and for a student affiliate to be re-added to the university’s board of trustees.

Jasmine Joof, a 19-year-old sophomore, said the mold in her dorm room gave her respiratory issues. “There was a point when I thought I had Covid,” she said.

Howard University officials say living conditions on campus are being exaggerated. According to a statement from the University, “While there have only been a small number of documented facilities reports, we are actively inquiring about unreported issues that may be in the residence halls by going door to door to interview each resident. Additionally, members of the administration have also toured and inspected every residence hall on campus and are addressing any documented facility issues directly with our third-party housing managers. The results of our inquiries affirm that the issues are not widespread, and the vast majority of our students are living comfortably in their rooms.”

Some students are choosing to sleep outside rather than spend another night in mold-infested dorms.

Students from the Live Movement, a group that advocates for student rights and education reform, held a news conference Sunday after video of an altercation with campus police and students circulated online over the weekend.

“I was choked by a police campus officer, by the people who were hired to protect us,” student Elishabeth Cunningham said. “I am a Black girl at a Black college. I came to the HBCU to escape the oppression of the world, and here I am being physically hurt at a peaceful protest.”

Organizations like the campus chapter of the NAACP and other HBCUs across the country have been showing solidarity with Howard students.

Watch: Blackburn Takeover at Howard University.