NCCU students protest poor housing conditions, leading to five arrests due to unauthorized campus use.
DURHAM, N.C. — On Wednesday afternoon, hundreds of people gathered at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) to protest what they say are poor living conditions on campus. Things got tense, and five people ended up being arrested.
Students told WNCN, Raleigh CBS affiliate, that they’ve been dealing with a lot — from mold in the dorms and broken air conditioners to brown tap water and mice. They say they’re simply asking for better, safer living conditions.
But according to the university, the protest wasn’t officially approved. In a statement, NCCU said that many of the people who showed up weren’t students or affiliated with the school. That’s part of why they said the rally couldn’t go on as it did.
Tohmas Jeffrey, one of the students involved, said he felt the response from authorities went too far.
“We’re just protesting,” he told WNCN. “We’re not doing anything crazy or illegal.”
Five people were taken into custody. The university said at least three of them aren’t connected to NCCU. They’re facing charges for trespassing, refusing to leave when asked, and interfering with law enforcement.
The university also explained its policy: anyone not officially part of the school — including outside groups — needs to be invited or sponsored by a university organization if they want to use campus space.
Students shared an email from Monday that said an unauthorized student group had been planning the protest. When things escalated, Durham police were called in to help.
One of the biggest concerns students shared with WNCN was the mold in their dorm rooms.
“I got sick,” said NCCU student Ari’Yhan Parson. “The mold in our building is bad. The water is brown. The elevators don’t work — people are getting stuck in them.”
Students posted photos and videos online showing mold, broken appliances, and even mice in their dorms. During the protest, they marched across campus and demanded change.
“It’s not just about the mold,” said another student named Orion, who didn’t want to give her last name. “It’s about why we have to shout just to be heard.”
Others complained about heating and cooling problems, and broken washers and dryers.
“Only the dryer on the second floor works,” said honors student Jordan Knapper. “The ones on the first and third floors don’t heat up. The washers don’t work either. It’s ridiculous.”
NCCU responded by saying they do take maintenance seriously and address problems when work orders are submitted. They also said pest control regularly treats dorms and responds to specific complaints.
“We are actively working to get more support from the state to fix long-standing maintenance issues,” the university said.
Students also say there’s simply not enough housing on campus.
NCCU says about 38% of their students live on campus — higher than the UNC system average of 29%. In the 2021-22 school year, they added three new residence halls with over 1,200 beds.
“There’s a housing shortage across the country, and NCCU is no exception,” the school said. “We’re growing and trying to find ways to house more students.”
The university said they’re looking into partnerships for off-campus housing, holding housing fairs, and helping students understand what living off-campus involves.
Statement from the chancellor:
On Thursday morning, NCCU Chancellor Karrie Dixon released the following statement about Wednesday’s incident, while addressing housing and community concerns:
“Yesterday, we heard the voices and saw the passion of our students and community members advocating for improved housing conditions and greater expansion of our housing options. I want to take a moment to address this important issue and the path forward.
First and foremost, I want to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to student safety, well-being, and clear communication. Some members of our community were detained by law enforcement during the protest. While we fully support and encourage our students’ right to express themselves, it is equally important that all members of the NCCU community adhere to the agreed-upon procedures for public demonstrations as part of our shared commitment to respectful and responsible engagement. This is how we keep each other safe. My door and the doors of my leaders remain open to discuss steps being taken by the university to respond to our toughest challenges. We must work together productively as we navigate our shared goals.
During the protest, my administration and I traveled to Raleigh and held a strategic legislative event planned over the past few months and focused on securing a prospective $100 million-plus investment in our facilities through the legislature — a bill we have actively advocated for since July 2024 to address our campus’s deferred maintenance needs. This was the culmination of hosting at least six on-campus meetings so that the condition of our facilities could be discussed and seen. If approved, these funds are specifically tailored to improve conditions in both residence halls and academic buildings. We took this opportunity to ensure that student concerns were directly shared with legislators, reinforcing that housing and facility improvements are a top priority for this administration.
Although we provide more housing per student than the average public university in North Carolina, we are not immune to the broader national housing crisis, which is affecting the general public and college campuses across the country — particularly those experiencing growth, like ours. We are actively engaging public partners and private apartment complexes that are open to partnerships to expand quality housing options that our students can afford.
Let me be clear: we hear you. We are committed to doing all that is within our resources to improve our housing conditions and inventory. While our resources to address these challenges on our own are limited, our commitment to you is unwavering.”