Shaw students feel like 'refugees'

RALEIGH - Male students at Shaw University are displaced. Their dormitory that flooded back in October still has not been brought up to code. They call themselves the "Shaw refugees."

On Dec. 4, a diverse group of more than 150 students and even some faculty marched to Estey Hall, the president's administration building, to engage in a silent protest. Some students wore duct tape on their mouths with messages and complaints about living conditions ranging from overcrowding to mold to poor maintenance.

President Clarence Newsome met with the students and advised them to draw up a list of their concerns. Students had previously submitted a list of demands on Nov. 5. Prior to that, a group of 50 students had protested over living conditions.

"This time a group of approximately 150 students came in a very silent, very orderly protest," said Terry Spicer, university spokeswoman. "I was really impressed. When people come to you in order, it's easy to respond." Spicer added that some of the students' demands last week overlapped what they had asked for last month, and they are already working on some of the issues.

According to Shawbearfacts, a student publication, Executive Vice President Martel Perry said in a Nov. 5 meeting with students that the university was $27 million in debt. Shaw student Eugene Johnson was concerned over the layoff of a "beloved dean."

Spicer said that Dean Frederick Faison was one of several employees the university had to layoff because of budgeting restraints. "But even if it's one or two, the impact is large," she said. "Anybody losing employment is one too many. The university made some hard decisions, pain-staking decisions to all of us because what affects one member of the family affects all of us."

Johnson said that they would be submitting a second list soon in addition to the one they submitted last month, and this one would go to administration and the board of trustees. The list includes reimbursing students who have been displaced. Johnson is one of several senior males who were displaced after a sprinkler flooded Talbert O. Shaw men's residential hall. He is now living with his aunt. Up to 150 junior and senior males lived in TOS before it flooded, according to the university's Web site.

Spicer said they were provided the option of going to the women's dormitory. However, she admitted that some students had to triple or quadruple up in rooms to be accommodated. She also emphasized that the flood was not the administration's fault.

"A student hung up clothes on a sprinkler head, and it caused major flooding ," she said. "A student caused the problem, and money wasn't planned for that as emergencies happen." She expects the dormitory will re-open after winter break, but, in the meantime, several students feel uncomfortable bunking up four to a room, and they have left campus.

"We call ourselves the 'Shaw refugees,' " said Brennan Henderson, a junior who is now staying at a friend's house. "It's sad.

James Wilder, who was also at TOS, said he had to run around and look for a place to stay without receiving any compensation from the university. "The financial aid money I'm paying for room and board is a waste," he said. "It's going down the drain."

Senior Trey Beckwith said that even before the flood there were problems with the vents and the air conditioning units, which he believes were clogged from years of dust. Beckwith said he thinks the poor circulation could have contributed to the spread of diseases, and it was especially problematic if people already had asthma. He also complained that the bathrooms would go two to three days without soap.

"We pay about $18,000 a year to this university, and we're not getting the basic necessities every human being should have," he said.

The older dorms date back to the 1970s and the newer dorms to 1995. "All of the dorms are old and have problems with mold because pretty much this university is more of a historical landmark for the city," Johnson said. "A lot of these buildings have the Granddaddy Clause. They somehow escape the upkeep and remodel of these buildings, and I'm not sure how.

"Some of our main concerns right now are just the upkeep of the school as far as removing of mold and just little maintenance things that need to happen like painting and new carpet. There's a couple things we think need to happen immediately. The piping here needs to definitely be looked into, and more so the professors who are working beneath their level of expectation needs to be evaluated. There are professors here that are not giving us what the mission statement has said; they're not preparing us appropriately."

Senior administrators could not be reached by deadline. But Newsome released the following statement: "Shaw University completely supports student engagement and is pleased that the students are addressing their issues of concern with passion and commitment about their educational environment and their future. This helps the institution to fully recognize that new ways and methods coupled with provisions for better living conditions needed to be quickly formulated and developed. This is a part of the educational discourse and from this, the university and its constituents will learn."

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