Howard’s history of producing student advocates continues to evolve. Unlike earlier classes that relied on physical protests, students in 2025 are also utilizing social media to raise awareness. The latest act of advocacy came from former student Taliana “Dolly” Singleton, who recently sparked discussions online about students’ financial frustrations due to tight deadlines for paying their balances.
Singleton, a junior nursing major from Kansas City, Missouri, voiced concerns on TikTok, Instagram, and Fizz about unexplained financial aid issues. Singleton’s Instagram Live on July 24 drew significant attention from students and alumni, igniting broader discussions about advocacy on Howard’s campus.
That day, Singleton said she traveled to campus to consult with staff about withdrawing from the university.
At the Office of Admissions, staff informed her that the Office of the Registrar was unavailable due to the HU Faculty & Staff Field Day, advising her to return later.
“When I saw that there was a field day, with fun and games, I was like, ‘Okay, let’s see how this is going to go.’ The goal was to see why students weren’t being accommodated and to withdraw from the university,” Singleton said.
Singleton began livestreaming on Instagram during the event on The Yard, questioning faculty: “Why are y’all having a field day when students aren’t being accommodated?”
She later confronted Joanne Pluff, Associate Vice President of Student Experience, and questioned her about the purpose of staff having a day of festivities. Campus police were called to de-escalate the situation, and the following Monday, Singleton received an email notifying her of indefinite suspension for harassment and misconduct.
The suspension barred her from campus until September 1, 2026, and under the Student Code of Conduct guidelines, she will be ineligible for readmission until September 2028.
The Office of University Communications declined to comment on Singleton’s situation, citing compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974.
Singleton responded by amplifying her story on social media.
“When it comes to social media, that is how Howard protects its image. They post all over social media, and we are out here struggling,” Singleton said. “And if nobody knows, then nobody can help you.”
Singleton’s actions echoed a pattern familiar to many Howard students across decades.
Brandon Harris, a venture capital investor, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 2012. He was a Howard University Student Association (HUSA) executive president from 2009 to 2011 and spoke at a National Action Network rally with Al Sharpton in 2010.
He advocated for the student body during a time of financial struggle, introducing an initiative that established HUSA grants.
“We gave [to] students who had balances between two to six thousand dollars, …It helped about a thousand students,” Harris said.
Harris also helped eliminate the “Purge Date” policy, which immediately unenrolled students with unpaid balances.
Like Singleton, Harris utilized social media platforms, like Facebook, to bring attention to the issue.
“We had to apply pressure when we needed to, but what we did was try a collaborative approach,” Harris said while reflecting on his interactions with university administration.
Singleton’s first act of advocacy this summer was creating a flyer promoting a peaceful protest. It urged students to comment “Pushing out the poor?” or #IHaveABalance under the university’s social media posts.
“[Howard students] were calling and emailing [about their account balances] the entire summer, before I made the protest, there were people who had been calling since June,” Singleton said.
On Aug. 20, the Office of Enrollment Management and Student Success issued a statement addressing financial aid concerns, announcing an additional $2.7 million allocated to assist students with balances.
“As of today, nearly all of the accounts carrying past-due balances from the 2023-2024 and 2024- 2025 academic years have been addressed through payments, aid, or arrangements, and the total is declining daily as holds are lifted,” the statement said.
Since the university’s founding, students have advocated against issues surrounding campus life and financial aid, often focusing on reform.
Notably, demonstrations such as the four-day takeover of the Administration Building in 1968, the 1989 protests against the appointment of Lee Atwater to the Board of Trustees and the 2018 sit-ins forged a path of student advocacy and collective passion for change. More recently, during the Blackburn protests of 2021, students advocated against unsafe housing conditions, resulting in national attention.
Similar to Singleton, Harris and other student leaders gathered together to address major issues before the students arrived on campus.
“Who is working with the administration during the summer to make sure there is going to be a smooth transition [entering the new school year]?…because that is what we [student leaders] were doing,” said Harris.
Harris encouraged more communication between the student body and the current administration.
“Given Howard’s mission and who we put ourselves out in the world to be, it behooves us to try to be creative and thoughtful when trying to meet students where they are,” Harris said.
Copy Edited by D’Nyah Jefferson – Philmore