WILDCATS PROTEST

During winter break word of a new head football coach quickly spread across the Internet. Former NFL player Ed Reed announced on his social media that he was excited and overjoyed to be joining the Wildcat family.

But, things quickly took a downturn after we finally returned to campus. Apparently, the conditions Reed found waiting for him sent him into a state of disbelief and frustration. He then went live to share his discontent with the university, even going as far as sharing the status of his signing process with viewers.

“I should leave. I’m not even under contract yet!” Reed said on live while riding a golf cart on the field that is supposed to be the practice field for the football team. News about the conditions at the university spread as students began sharing their input and personal experiences.

This chain of reaction prompted both students and alumni to stand up and speak out about their concerns with the university.

Then on Monday, Jan. 23, Bethune-Cookman students organized a protest and showed up in numbers. Not only did they go out to stand with the football team, but they also were taking a stand for themselves as well. By 12 p.m. that afternoon White Hall, the main administration building on campus and where the president’s office is, was packed with students.

One by one students took turns sharing their experiences, discontent and concerns about the university. Afterward, the march began, and students headed to the statue of our founder in front of the perform- ing arts center.

“Hail Wildcats…Hail Wildcats” was all that could be heard as they marched down Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard toward Lincoln Street. The protesters then turned left on Lincoln, then another left on International towards the statue. News reporters, journalists, alumni, and bystanders all watched the procession. The organized protest was only the first of many protest tactics licly talk bad about your future employer and still expect to get hired, it doesn’t work like that,” said an alumnus on Twitter. It should be noted that the Hall of Fame athlete ultimately did not get the job. that students used to get the attention of the board of trustees and interim president Dr. Lawrence Drake. There were a series of events that took place throughout the week that showed that students had enough and wanted change.

The media, in the meantime, is eating this up because we are an HBCU. Its goal is not to help us, but embarrass us. We should be dealing with this situation in house without exposing our great HBCU, and causing a social media frenzy.

Still, many students feel differently. They think that exposing the university in this manner is the only way to get the attention of the powers that be. Students have tried protests, town halls and emails in the past to no avail.

While Ed Reed’s approach to shed light on the situation may not have been the best way, we all can agree that he made some noise and people are now listening. More people are talking about what is going on which can start the conversation about what can and needs to be done to make Bethune-Cookman University a prestigious university again.

On Tuesday there was a sitin at White Hall, on Wednesday students marched to city hall to plead their case with the mayor. Students exercised their first amendment rights and came together to demand change.

Meanwhile, some believe that taking the fight to social media only shone a negative light on the university.

Likewise, others have chimed in that what Reed did was unprofessional and therefore he should be punished. “You can't pub-