Dillard University hires executive to oversee housing crisis
Students at the historically Black college demanded transparency after a ceiling collapse and mold problems forced dozens to relocate.
By Ella Cox ·
Dillard University appointed a new executive on Thursday to manage the relocation of students from its Gentilly Gardens apartment complex. The hire comes after a partial ceiling collapse in mid-September injured one student and forced several dozen others to move.
Roland Pickens, a 1985 graduate and former trustee, now serves as the Executive in Residence for Student Experience and Campus Renewal. He recently retired from a healthcare career that included serving as chief operating officer of San Francisco General Hospital. Pickens said he left his planned retirement to address the campus situation directly.
"If things were going well, I would be sitting on that beach that I planned to be on right about now," Pickens told the alumni association. "My mere presence should be an indication that there's an acknowledgement that things are not well. But I'm a person of my word, and I'm here to listen."
Students held a demonstration at the alumni meeting, which kicked off homecoming weekend. Members of the Student Government Association (SGA) stood silently in the front of the room holding posters of mold-covered vents, ceilings, and furniture. They asked the alumni to advocate for better conditions on their behalf.
Madison Cox, the SGA president, launched an initiative called Operation BLEU. The group demands that the university disclose financial data and create a recovery roadmap. Cox said the initiative calls for transparency, accountability, and meaningful student engagement.
The housing crisis began when a ceiling collapsed in an apartment in Gentilly Gardens. Contractors later determined the building was unsafe. The university ordered about 36 students to move out in three phases. Some had only 48 hours to pack and relocate, while others had one month.
De'Juan Fuel, a senior who lived in the affected building, wrote a crisis report to university administrators in late September. He stated that students received confusing instructions and contradictory orders about where to move. Fuel said the stress has affected his sleep and ability to focus on academics.
Many students were reassigned to dorms or apartments previously marked as offline due to mold, poor ventilation, or structural damage. Ahrianna Vicks, a senior, moved into a residence with visible mold after being forced to leave Gentilly Gardens by an October 18 deadline. She said the university's response felt reactive rather than proactive.
Nailah Baker, a junior with asthma, said she pays up to $37,000 per year for tuition. The apartments in Gentilly Gardens cost $8,867 per semester for room and board. Baker said the conditions actively affect her health and that she is unsure if the school will reach its bicentennial in 2069.
Tara Cunningham, a university spokesperson, sent a statement saying the administration is working to minimize disruption to academic work. She noted that the Board of Trustees is reviewing the crisis report carefully. Student safety remains the university's highest priority, according to the statement.
The university did not respond to questions about why students were moved into rooms marked offline. The SGA has asked administrators to answer their questions in writing and to hold a student town hall.
