Howard Students Decry Bonuses in Face of Furloughs

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)“The students united will never be defeated” chanted Howard University students outside the university’s annual Charter Day Convocation Ceremony last Friday. The student group – called “Decolonize Howard” – was demanding increased student influence in decision-making processes at the university in light of recent news that over a million dollars in bonuses are going to non-faculty employees while faculty and staff are being furloughed and tuition is rising by 12%. During the protest, some Howard faculty expressed their solidarity with the student group’s message, as one faculty member distributed bracelets reading “Where’s my $1.1 million bonus?” Decolonize Howard organizers signed up interested students and faculty to continue the battle for increased student say. Click here to watch a video of the action. - report by Larry Stafford, photo still from video