DURHAM -- Duke students continue to protest following an eight day sit-in last week.
Duke student Lara Haft has been living in a tent outside of the Allen building on Duke University's campus since Friday night.
She was one of the students who participated in the sit-in to protest against racism and employee abuse they say exists on campus.
"I want to believe that my Duke family has the same standards and sees humanity and dignity in the same way that I do and looking at the people who are spending my tuition dollars and feeling like they don't feel that same sense of humanity was very devastating to me,” Haft said. “I think that is why we are still here."
They left the Allen building voluntarily but say they are still pushing for some of their initial demands, including the firing of some top administrators and raising minimum wage for workers.
"It's really not a problem financially. It's a choice for them to raise minimum wage. It's a choice for them to keep minimum wage below a livable wage,” said student Danica Liu.
On Friday, Duke President Richard Brodhead released a statement, saying in part: “Though we have disagreed about the specifics of their demands and their choice of means, I respect their underlying passion for making Duke and the world a better place. The university renews its commitments toward advancing the causes of fairness and inclusion across this community, including for workers."
Students camping out say they are staying put in their tents until their initial demands are met, even if it means staying through the end of the school year.
"We are also planning to have speakers, teach-ins. We don't have plans of going anywhere. We just plan of growing,” Haft said.