Lincoln University student protests continue on Founders’ Day
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Dozens of Lincoln University students continued Thursday to protest after the death of Vice President of Student Affairs Antoniette "Bonnie" Candia-Bailey.
Students gathered at the Richardson Fine Arts Center during a Founders' Day celebration Thursday morning.
“We're here because we're standing against the board of curators and the poor leadership that they had when it came down to Dr. Bonnie and her taking her own life," said protesting student Kenlyn Washington. "So we're here just to show that we're not just going to let those people under the rug like it just never happen. We need the accountability and we need them to actually know that we're here to fight and we're not stopping”
The student protesters joined a Lincoln University Board of Curators meeting, asking curators questions and submitting a list of demands including being part of choosing the next president.
The university has drawn criticism from some students following Candia-Bailey's death by suicide on Jan. 8. Candia-Bailey left a memo on the day of her death outlining several complaints over university President John Moseley, prompting students to protest.
Mosley volunteered to be put on administrative leave. The university went with Stevie Lawrence, provost and vice president of academic affairs, to serve as acting president.
On Jan. 18, the Lincoln Board of Curators announced that a group of attorneys from the Lewis Rice Law Firm would review personnel issues.
In this open session, the student presented the board with a series of demands and questions they want answered. In their list of demands they want -- open sessions about personnel issues, Board of Curators and the university president to meet with student government association at least once a month, a president that can advocate for faculty, staff, and students to bring back their culture, students to be involved in decision making regarding funding, and secure and safe housing.
ABC 17 spoke with Lincoln University student Fallon Ensley prior to her speaking on behalf of the students at the open session. “We're we're here to advocate for students first. So we want our university to move forward. It's time for change. We want to move forward together. But we're going to start with the students. First. We go make that change and it's up to us to do that,” said Ensley.
Students also asked what qualifications will the board looks for in a university president. Board of Curators President Victor Pasley responded, "I would say we want to make sure we have everyone that we're selecting understands the history of the school and understands what the legacy is all about and that they are committed to maintain the legacy of this university as an HBCU."
