BY: JENNA CALDWELL AND DEVONTAE TORRIENTE
Photo by Alexis Arnold
Updated at 1:49 p.m.
American University Student Government President Taylor Dumpson announced she will resign from her position to "focus on [her] health and education," according to a statement released Friday morning.
"Please, do not look at my resignation as a sign of weakness, but as a sign of strength," said Dumpson in the statement. "I am resigning knowing that I have done the best I can, with what I have, where I am."
Since taking office in April 2017, Dumpson oversaw the creation of the Hub for Organizing, Multiculturalism, and Equity (HOME). She also convinced university administration to present Campus Climate Survey data to students for the first time in more than 10 years.
AUSG executive board also released a statement on the matter, reading, in part, "We support Taylor's decision to resign, and we will work diligently to ensure that all students are supported in this time of unexpected transition."
Dumpson's resignation follows her suspension from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., according to the organization's website. Her suspension began Dec. 13, 2017 and will end Dec. 31, 2018. But according to Dumpson's statement, this has nothing to do with her resignation.
Kesa White, another member of American University's chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., is suspended from Dec. 13, 2017 until Dec. 13, 2018.
White served as president of the sorority's Lambda Zeta chapter last year when an unknown person targeted the group by hanging bananas with the letters, "AKA," an acronym for the sorority, and the name, "Harambe." The act took place the morning Dumpson took office.
No other Lambda Zeta chapter members have been suspended at this time.
AUSG Comptroller Christine Machovec will assume the duties of the president until a special election is held to determine a successor.
AUSG executive board expects to hold elections by late February, according to the statement.
A previous version of this story reported that Dumpson's name was listed on the Suspended Members' registry on Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.'s website as recently as Thursday, but had since been removed. This article has been updated to report that Dumpson's name re-appeared on the list Friday afternoon
