Source: The Washington Post / Getty
Howard University students took over the school’s administration building, using one of Rihanna‘s songs as their battle cry.
Howard students are demanding that the school listen to them after the university fired six employees for misappropriating $1 million in financial aid money
TMZ.com reports that the students flooded Howard’s administration building on Thursday, blasting B*tch Better Have My Money by Rihanna.
The students not only descended on the office, they also mobilized online to make their demands clear.
There was also a press conference earlier today, where students also held the school’s executive committee’s Board of Trustees responsible for the mishandled funds. They’re asking that the entire board be removed from their roles.
It seems the students are still camped out at Howard University’s administration building.
Meanwhile, Tyrone Hankerson Jr. is speaking out for the first time since being slammed with allegations that he’s directly responsible for nearly half of the missing money. Hankerson, a student who worked in the financial aid office, is accused of embezzling $429,000.
“It’s been an extremely difficult time,” Hankerson told Roland Martin. “I am trying to remain optimistic about this, but it has been a challenge–particularly going to class, worrying about safety and welfare concerns.”
Hankerson worked in the financial aid office throughout his undergrad years at Howard. From 2011 to 2015, his main job was to work as an assistant the directors of the Financial Aid office.
When asked directly about whether he stole money from the school, Hankerson seemed to think it was a ridiculous idea. He believes he’s only been dragged into this as part of a plot to force Dr. Wayne Fredrick out of his position as President of Howard.
“I have not embezzeled any money ever, and I have not taken or embezzeled $429,000 from Howard University. That is absolutely false,” he insisted. “The money that was awarded to me was through the discretion of university officials who have the authority to make those decisions.”
Including pay he received for working at the school, grants, financial aid and scholarships, Hankerson estimates that he received about $200,000 from Howard University during his undergrad years.
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