The short: The Africana Studies (AFAM) Program at Seton Hall University- the oldest of its kind in New Jersey is under attack. The program’s only full-time professor and program director was forced out of the university, and our administration has failed to recognize the severity and urgency of the situation. The lack of fundamental resources such as professors has made it impossible for students to fulfill majors and minors in AFAM. Following the departure of the only full-time faculty member, the department will be vulnerable to further aggression from the university. At the start of the Fall’22 semester, there was one, now there are none.

The long: This is not a new fight at Seton Hall. Black students organized and protested to establish Africana Studies Department, which was established in 1978 with five full-time faculty. Students reignited these demands most recently in 2018 in a movement called the Concerned 44. Students occupied President’s Hall for 8 days and 7 nights, making them impossible to ignore. The students eventually received answers to some of their demands. Unfortunately, Black students on SHU’s campus are still organizing to receive fundamental resources that we are entitled to. There has been no substantial change from admin…. 

The University is counting on us to lose stamina. It is no coincidence that the University’s actions come at a time when the last of the students present for the Concerned 44 movement have graduated. This will not stand. We need your help to show the university that we see their tactics, we understand the implications of their actions, and the fight will not end until there is equitable education for all. 

We have made the following demands to the University administration:

1. Seton Hall University’s protest policy is a direct attack on our first amendment rights (freedom of the press and freedom of assembly). We demand that ANY and ALL participants of Protect AFAM demonstrations be pardoned from any and all punishment proposed by Seton Hall University policy. 

2. We demand a cluster hire of 3-4 full-time professors at a minimum who are experienced and recognized as Africana studies professionals.

3. We demand the Africana Studies Program be reinstated as a department that is fully funded and supported by the institution by spring 2024. (in coordination with demand)

4. We demand the hire of a full-time tenured director of the Africana Studies program (is not included as a part of 3-4 full-time professors).

5. We demand the inclusion of Africana Studies students to serve as liaisons with voting power on the search committee for the new director and professors.

6. We demand both increased and truthful advertisements for AFAM.

7. We demand that the Black House be reinstated, physically, as a safe space for black students and a center for the organizations of the Black Caucus.

We ask that you sign this petition in solidarity with the Council of Africana Scholars, the Protect AFAM movement, and the longevity of the Africana Studies Program at Seton Hall University. "We all we got!" -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.