The Atlanta Student Movement Takeover Demands AUC Presidents to Address the Housing Crisis

By Bennie Williams

On Monday afternoon, a group of students began to gather outside of the historic Rush Memorial Congregational Church on the Atlanta University Center Promenade to demand the administrations of Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Morehouse College and Morris Brown College to address issues that have left many students vulnerable. These issues include but are not limited to housing, financial aid, cafeteria options etc.

Rush Memorial Congregational Church played a vital role in the Civil Rights Movement. In the 1960s, the Reverend Joseph E. Boone opened the church doors for Atlanta University Center students to organize after they were turned away from Morehouse College. Now, current students have declared occupation of the space across the street from Woodruff Library, until the demands for each institution are adequately met.

Among the students' demands are for each college president in the Atlanta University Center to meet with organizers and student leaders to assess the housing needs of their students. Furthermore, student organizers are calling for elected officials, including United States Senator Raphael Warnock—Morehouse Class of '91— to ensure that President Biden follows through with his proposed $45 billion investment in Historically Black Colleges & Universities.

Over the course of the day, students spoke about their experiences dealing with failing housing infrastructure, food insecurity and how dealing with these hardships has affected their mental health.

The protest is also in solidarity with student demonstrations happening at Howard University. The #BlackburnTakeover, led by Howard students, also calls on their administration to address housing concerns and tuition increases over the past academic years.

When asked about his presence at the demonstration, Johari Willis, a senior at Morris Brown College said he stands, " in solidarity with Howard because we all go through the same things." His response reflects growing frustration among students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country.

Now, into their second night of occupying the Atlanta University Center promenade, it is abundantly clear that organizers of the Atlanta Student Movement Takeover are willing to do what it takes for students to be heard.

For more information about #ASMTakeover: follow @asm.takeover on Instagram.