INDIANAPOLIS
Black students at Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis have issued a new deadline for the university administration to answer requests for a campus center for them, an African-American studies program and $78,000 to Black organizations.
Black student leaders said at a town hall forum Sunday they want an answer from the university by 5 p.m. Wednesday or they will call for the resignation of certain officials at the university.
Black students previously threatened to sue the school if officials did not meet the demands the students made earlier this month. The university pledged to improve communication and respect and increase funding for the student groups, but Black student leaders rejected the response, calling it too vague.
At Sunday’s forum, Black students did not comment on previous threats to sue the university.
“It is unclear as to why the administration didn’t adequately comply with the demands,” said Jocellyn Ford, 21, one of three student panelists. “IUPUI administrators, you did not listen, and this is your official public wake-up call.”
Chancellor Charles Bantz and at least five other administrators attended the forum. He said he expects to have a response by Wednesday but was not sure whether he would have an answer for every demand.
