Students occupy UC Santa Cruz administrative building

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KGO) -- Students at UC Santa Cruz have taken over the administration building Tuesday at the university. More than 100 students have locked themselves inside Kerr Hall. They say they're not leaving until the university meets their demands.

The African/Black Student Alliance organized the protest. They estimate there are anywhere from 100 to 200 students inside -- since about 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. They say the protest was their only choice.

The protest started at noon with a march, then they took over the administration building, blocking the doors with chains and furniture.

A spokesperson for the group didn't want to give her name."We gave the chancellor a simple, very simple list of demands that will uplift and affirm the humanity of our black people," she said. "We will be here until our demands are met and we are not leaving until our demands are met."

Organizers with the student group declined to be interviewed but they issued a statement that reads in part: We gave the chancellor a simple, very simple list of demands that will uplift and affirm the humanity of our black people, we will be here until our demands are met and we are not leaving until our demands are met.

They're demanding housing for African-black-Carribean students at the Rosa Parks African American-Themed House.

They want it painted red, green, and black, and they want all incoming students to have diversity competency training.

A UC Santa Cruz spokesman says the chancellor has responded to the demands, "With an explanation of what we're working on -- what we're able to do -- what we're not able to do and there's a variety of reasons for each situation," said Scott Hernandez-Jason.

He says the university will continue to let the peaceful protest unfold.