University Grants Black Students Extension on Final Exams Because of Alleged Racist Incident

Administrators at American University in Washington, D.C., have agreed to allow black students an extension on their final exams along with preserving a “sanctuary for people of color” after an alleged racially charged incident precipitated a student-led protest.

Last week, campus officials reported that someone on campus discovered bananas hung in nooses with the letters “AKA” and the word “Harambe” written on them. “AKA” is the acronym for the black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha.

After a scheduled meeting between black leaders on campus and school administrators to address the incident had to be rescheduled, the student group organized a protest and then blocked traffic in a parking garage, where the students set certain demands for school administrators.

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According to Campus Reform, the protesters brought signs stating three demands:

“For the remaining [sic] of the semester, the Bridge will become a sanctuary for people of color,” the ultimatum begins, referring to a student café and lounge on campus.

Students also demanded that “all POC [persons of color] students get extensions, and should not be penalized for already scheduled finals after the incident.”

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American University Provost Scott Bass reportedly arrived at the scene of the protest and verbally agreed to the protesters’ demands.

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Bass also told protesters that the university recently made a deal with author and historian Ibram X. Kendi to establish an anti-racism center on campus. Kendi penned the New York Times best-selling book, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America.

“There’s nothing more important, in terms of my administration, than being a multicultural campus,” Bass said to the protesters.

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