Gallop Franklin and Dominick Ardis, along with about 30 other students, conducted a sit-in at the president's office in Florida A&M University's Lee Hall on Tuesday afternoon.

"What we're asking for is a new election and an investigation," said Ardis, 20, a junior health care management student from Tallahasee.

Franklin, 20, a junior pharmacy student from Tallahassee, was the student body president candidate, and Ardis was his running mate. They were not elected.

Within the square lobby of the fourth floor, students sat and lay around the room with book bags and laptops, prepared to spend the night in Lee Hall in order to see President James H. Ammons.

Josh King/The Famuan

Student court ruled against Franklin

Franklin and Ardis filed for an appeal after their defeat, and a trial was held March 19 and April 2. Seven witnesses testified about early voting, irregular precinct procedures and alleged forgery of signatures. The Supreme Court justices voted in favor of the electoral commissioner, and upheld the election results.

Ardis stressed that they needed a response from Ammons by Friday.

"It was the justice's decision, but time is a sensitive matter," Ardis said.

Franklin and Ardis said that in the face of evidence that showed fraud, it was an injustice to rule in the Electoral Commission's favor.

After the recent Student Supreme Court trial, Franklin said, "We showed ballots were in the machine before 8 a.m., we showed the signatures in the voter rolls didn't match, we showed there were no signatures in the College of Law voter roles. We exposed the unethical student leadership. It made me realize we're fighting an uphill battle."

Associate Chief Justice Marcus Barrington said the trial was a result of the commission not having internal policies and procedures.

"The election was egregiously sloppy," Barrington said. "Procedures, or lack thereof, caused that."

Associate Chief Justice Christopher Weaver also said the lack of procedures affected the election.

"The Electoral Commission's lack of internal policies left room for error," Weaver said. "Who's to say there aren't more errors and in consistencies."

"It's time for things to change," Ardis said during the sit-in. "We waited 21 days to receive voting rolls. We realize that we're here for a higher purpose."

Ardis said that when the protesters entered Lee Hall, they ran into Ammons while he was entering the elevator to go to his office.

Ardis said Ammons was in a rush and had to tend to a meeting. They were not able to speak to him.

"We understand that he is a busy person; that's why we are willing to wait," Ardis said.

Rosalind Fuse-Hall, chief of staff in the office of the president and board of trustees' liaison, addressed the students within the lobby of the fourth floor.

Fuse-Hall said there was nothing the president's administration could do at that time and asked that the students fill out an appointment form and come back Wednesday.

Kyle Washington, co-counsel to Franklin and Ardis, filled out the form along with Ardis. But still, the party stayed.

"We're staying until the president answers. We're not leaving," Washington said.

"As long as we're not disrupting educational flow, we're not disrupting any rules."

Washington explained the desired result of the sit-in with four words.

"Accountability, fairness, justice and equality," Washington said.

Ardis was referred to Roland Gaines, vice president of student affairs. Gaines told Franklin and Ardis that administrators will have a decision by Thursday and will conduct an internal investigation.

Franklin and Ardis said they are willing to go as far as they have to.

"The next stop is the governor's office if this does not work," Ardis said.

Franklin showed no sign of giving up his fight for justice.

"There is fraud in place, and that's criminal," he said. "I'm a fighter and there is no type of spirit in me that is willing to give up."

Ardis said other students wanted the action to come about as well.

"It was the students. They have been coming to me left and right asking for us to do something," Ardis said. "We have to take a step of faith."

Matthew Richardson and Angelica Washington write for The Famuan, the Florida A&M University student newspaper, which originally published a version of this article.