Bethune-Cookman University students protested the firing of Ed Reed and the unacceptable living conditions on the campus that he spoke of during his short tenure with the school.
On Monday, attendees gathered in front of White Hall around noon, chanting “Reed was right” and demanded that the board of trustees step down after years of mildew concerns and unsanitary dorms. Students reported mold growing on their clothing after initially developing on the walls and ceilings in the residence halls. Though mold problems have plagued the campus for years, BCU students say hurricanes Ian and Nicole only exasperated the problem.
Reed, who spent 11 seasons playing for the Baltimore Ravens, was hired as head coach of BCU’s football team on December 27th. He replaced Terry Sims, who was fired in November after seven seasons with the school. However, before his contract was signed, it was clear that Reed wanted more from his new role. The coach went live on Instagram several times to slam the school’s condition. In one instance, he shared that BCU never bothered to clean his office before he arrived. In another rant, Reed was upset about having to clean up trash littered throughout the campus. On Saturday, he addressed parents and players, confirming that BCU no longer wanted him as the head coach.
Since the termination, tensions have boiled over, with the hashtags #BringBackCoachReed and #CoachReedWasRight trending on social media. Wildcats quarterback Tyrone Franklin Jr. was present at the protest and is disappointed with Reed being let go so quickly, despite him raising valid concerns. Like most students, Franklin also wanted to know where funds were going if they were not being designated for repairs.
The school has not released a statement regarding the Monday demonstration. However, they did comment on Reed’s contract days ago, confirming that they were once again looking for a head coach. Reed has accused the school of mistreating him.
Bethune Cookman students Protest are calling for the Board of Trustees' removal. They say campus facilities have many issues the school isn't addressing pic.twitter.com/LYq4LJ7Exp
— HBCU Premier Sports & More (@HBCUSports1) January 23, 2023
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