Dive Brief:

• William Peace University students staged a protest Thursday, complaining of academic slump and intimidation against those who have raised concerns about the school.
• Students had recently gathered more than 300 signatures for a petition calling for the president of the former women’s college, Debra Townsley, to resign. The board of trustees recently extended her contract.
• Also on Thursday, 20 of the 24 full-time faculty at the Raleigh, NC, school took credit for a letter of grievances that had been sent anonymously to the trustees in March.

Dive Insight:

According to the News & Observer, the eight-page letter detailed many concerns: turnover with the faculty and other staff, student record problems, declining graduation rates, building heating problems, asbestos, and even poisonous spider infestations. Five students were recently cited with student conduct charges, accused by the university of disorderly conduct and violating visitation and solicitation policies. The students claim the charges were in retaliation for the petition drive calling for Townsley’s resignation. The protesters say they are not opposed to William Peace’s recent change to a co-ed student body.