To: HU Administration

From: HU Student Collective

Date: February 28, 2018

 

As an independent Hampton University collective of students, we are putting forth our concerns that we feel have not been a focus of the most recent meeting of student leaders and administration representatives. While we appreciate the efforts to respond to many of the student concerns raised, however,  the following items have not, to date, been adequately addressed. We would like these items considered, discussed with the parties, and ultimately properly reviewed and resolved by Hampton University administration accordingly.

 

Sexual Assault and Title IX

In the SGA statement released, it states that students have resources available on campus to deal with situations involving sexual assault. Under Title IX of the Department of Education Amendment of 1972, “...if a school is under Title IX, they must have these rules and policies posted around campus and must easy accessible to students. Policies must be clearly indicated, and these rights are to be clearly stated at orientations and assemblies”. We acknowledge that the subject is briefly discussed in freshman orientation, but this is minimal. Therefore, we propose that there be specified lessons regarding the Title IX process and understanding proper consent be embedded into the University 101 curriculum. Students were not informed that the Department of Education  opened an investigation at Hampton, and students are still in the dark concerning the status of the investigation. Students agree that more needs to be done. Due to the relationship between the current Title IX Coordinator and administration, we see this is a  “conflict of interest”. Thus, we ask for the current Coordinator of Hampton’s Title IX department to resign, or be re-assigned, and a new Coordinator without conflicts be appointed.

 

Facility Maintenance

We question whether our health, safety and well-being are the administration’s top priority. Currently in the Hampton Harbors Apartments, contractors installed over 30 cameras and new lighting. Where is the consideration and determination to install that same system of lighting on campus? Why are there more cameras in the Hampton Harbors and on the outside of some of our main buildings on campus, than spread amongst campus evenly? Unfortunately, many assaults occur in dark and non-surveillanced areas. There are more students who reside on campus than in the Harbors Apartments. Based on our assessment, as an independent collection of Hampton students, our campus is dark in major areas of travel and student occupation. Current policy/rule(s), provide any outsider with a valid driver’s license, can gain entrance to campus. Under this policy students, are exposed to the risk of potential harm and danger by unauthorized campus visitors, especially our substantial female demographic. We propose that there be a significant increase in lighting on campus, and that students with a valid driver’s license and student ID be allowed on campus after 5 p.m. on weekdays, and anytime during the weekend. Visitors should be required to prove their reason(s) for being on campus and/or, otherwise verified as a visitor of any student, faculty or staff member.

 

Hampton University has existed by the water since its inception, therefore, the excuse or reason given of “due to the climate a campus surrounded by water on three sides conditions tend to be favorable for mold” does not suffice. We have compiled information independently, identifying mold in many of our classroom buildings and dormitories. For this, we propose that buildings be assessed and renovated for proper roofing and drainage, to ensure the safety of our peers in their classes and living quarters. We request that the structures exhibiting mold and water damage be remedied immediately.

 

Food Services

Hampton students posed a question to administration officials: “Would you attend or even eat from a restaurant suspected of unsanitary practices?”

 

We understand that students have food allergies preventing certain menu selections, however, there is no reasonable answer to “filth” or overall “unsanitary conditions” in the university’s only dining facility. This is a major health risk for students, and potential legal jeopardy for the University. More importantly, the existence of these conditions is unrefuted.

 

We demand the University provide competent food services and dining facility maintenance commensurate with student fees designated for said services, and in accordance with all standards and practices in these respective areas. We expect the University to take the necessary steps to rightly restore these matters; notwithstanding the potential for voiding contracts with current vendors or service providers, based on the documented failures, and as a result, breaches of the agreement(s) to adequately provide said services. In addition, we request a better quality of food served, including fresh foods and more food options. Also, students are also forced to spend money utilizing outside eateries, since the cafeteria has no late (evening) food hours. We propose an extension to cafeteria hours, or “late dining hours” to suit student needs OR offer late hours from food services in the Student Center. If safety is a TRUE PRIORITY, the more available places on campus offered to students during later hours, allows them to remain on campus, avoiding trips into the city of Hampton.

 

Social Activities

Students expect to enjoy their college experience, both academically and socially. In large measure, the expectation of a pleasurable experience is why many students attend college, and more specifically, Hampton University. Therefore, revisiting our previous model of social events (i.e., weekly 12-2, regular Holland times, etc.) we believe these social opportunities provide our parents with the comfort and security that their children are enjoying themselves under the umbrella of Hampton’s safe environment. These concepts are evident to this collection of the student body. So we ask the Hampton administration to take note of the correlation between healthy social events and overall student morale. As administrators and faculty emphasized during freshman orientation week and University 101, we “are no longer children”. Moreover, the states from which we hail and the federal government charges us as adults, therefore, we deserve to be treated as such. We are no longer in high school and the “whole” should not be penalized for the actions of one or more bad actors. Lastly and most importantly, students and their parents pay “activities fees” and when activities are curtailed or eliminated students do not receive any reimbursement or credit accordingly.

 

Moving forward

The Hampton University Town Hall meeting (February 20, 2018) was shameful and embarrassing to Hampton’s reputation, the student body and alumi. The social media backlash could have been avoided if the administration readily AND specifically  answered questions, while displaying empathy toward their students. President Harvey stated, “I look at rape as only second to murder” yet, when a rape victim presented her case she received NO SUPPORT by way of an apology that the incident happened to her, that it occurred on our campus, nor was she assured that it would not happen again, to her or any other student. Obviously, that clear lack of empathy left a bad impression with the student body; especially the women, alumni and the public-at-large, witnessing the scene via social media. The excuse of: “we are working in response to student concerns” is not enough. Students and alumni have continuously heard this narrative, with little to no action backing up the rhetoric.

 

We believe the proposals in this communication are a modest start to healing the wounds that exist among the members of our University Family. The advent of social media and the ability of students to more than adequately address their concerns, via social media, when the administration refuses to do so will continue to be a last resort going forward. This is not a threat, it is merely a fact of life in this age of technology.  We have found our “collective voice” and look forward to the administration’s response and the proposed changes to current policies to address our concerns. As a collective of students, until we receive adequate attention to our concerns, we maintain the right to demonstrate, protest and voice our opinions through the various outlets and platforms available to us. Ultimately, the “voice” of current students and their parents plays a significant role, and has credible impact on whether potential students consider or ultimately attend Hampton University. We look forward to being able to, without pause, extol the greatness of Hampton to all we encounter today and in the future. However, as students, the “true” life blood of this great Institution, we deserve better and we cannot truly live up to the Hampton brand, as the “Standard of Excellence” until we are afforded that level of excellence from our administration.

 

 

Respectfully, A Collection of the Hampton University Student Body