A protest in support of saving Africana Studies broke out at noon today on the Green.
Currently, student protesters are at President's Hall for a sit-in and outside the Chancellor's Room in the University Center. Within the Chancellor's Room is N.J. Governor Phil Murphy, a speaker for the course Government and Politics of New Jersey.
One AFAM protester, who is livestreaming, got inside the room to bring attention of AFAM's status to Murphy.
Protect AFAM posted on their Instagram story at 3:40 p.m. which showed a letter from Provost Katia Passerini. It said if the protesters vacate President's hall by 4:00 p.m., "we will meet with three of your appointed representatives in the University Center, Room 224 at 4:30 p.m. today."
As of 6:30 p.m., the protesters are still in President's Hall.
The University was contacted but has not yet given a comment.
The AFAM program lost its only full-time faculty member in Fall 2022, leading to demands from Protect AFAM to hire full-time professors, for the program to be reinstated as a department that is fully funded, and more.
The last protest in support of AFAM occurred in Fall 2018, with a 10-day sit-in at President's Hall.
This is a developing story. Check back soon for more updates.
Emma Thumann can be reached at emma.thumann@student.shu.edu.
Dareen Abukwaik contributed to reporting.
