UDC students protest school president
Students gathered outside the office of University of the District of Columbia President Allen Sessoms at lunchtime Monday to demand his resignation over allegations of profligate spending.
The protest comes a week after the release of university documents showing a pattern of costly first-class travel by Sessoms, UDC's president since 2008. Sessoms said the trips were justified and the first-class fares necessitated by a busy schedule.
Students rallied along Connecticut Avenue, chanting, "Hey hey, ho ho, Allen Sessoms got to go." Then the group, about 30 strong, entered the administration building and mounted the stairs to the president's office. Inside, the university's board of trustees was meeting. Sessoms said he would meet with the students this afternoon.
Students said they resented the president's spending habits following his move to double tuition for four-year students after his arrival. They also contend that a $22 million loan from a Virginia bank is unaccounted for. And Sessoms last week announced reductions to more than a dozen academic programs.
This post has been updated since it was first published.
By
Daniel de Vise
| March 7, 2011; 1:27 PM ET
Categories:
Administration, Students
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