PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Several students at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff campus joined together on Thursday afternoon to voice concerns about their living conditions.
"The inside of the buildings have mold, we have rats, and we got rodents," said sophmore student Cederic Scott.
Scott explained how the conditions were not what he pictured in his head when he decided to make the decision to attend UAPB.
"To live like this is unnecessary because I come from a small town. I grew up in poverty and coming here I'm thinking I would have a better life, and get a better room but no, it's nearly the same thing," he described.
Scott is not the only one who has been on the front lines of this issue. Senior Kai Baker explained that this has been an ongoing problem for the last four years she has attended UAPB.
"I just happened to look at my window sill completely filled with mold again, and I had been sleeping. My bed is literally right next to the window sill," Baker added.
She said that being exposed to the mold caused her health to spiral downward.
"I had severe skin issues like rashes on my face, on my arms, or my hands [and] around my other parts of my body and my neck. I'm severely coughing, and getting choked out of my sleep. It was so bad that I started throwing up and having severe headaches," Baker said.
Both Baker and Scott explained how that was just the physical side of things, and added that underneath the surface is where it all truly hurts.
"I have depression, I have anxiety and I'm trying to work through them," Scott added.
About 50 students showed up to the rally and each one said that all they want is some type of change to occur.
"If you don't have a sound mind and you're not at peace in your own room, how are you going to continue to go to your classes all the time? How are you going to continue to get things done and turn assignments in on time? If this is where you lay your head at night," Baker asked.
In response, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff released the following statement:
"I look forward to meeting with students to address their concerns, and I commend our students for exercising their right to protest. We are committed to actively seeking solutions through dialogue and action and look forward to meaningful engagement with students at our campus town hall, which will be planned with our Student Government Association at a meeting with the University’s executive cabinet next week. As chancellor, my top priorities include transparency and responsiveness to our students’ needs. We endeavor to work continually to make our campus environment inclusive, supportive, and responsive for all."