Multiple Shaw buildings fail fire inspection; School responds as students question campus conditions
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Multiple buildings at Shaw University have failed their fire safety inspections. The Raleigh fire marshal said that they are working with the university's staff to address fire code deficiencies across the campus.
"This has been going on for years. It's just hitting the news," said senior student Imani Norton. "We pay to go here, and they upped our tuition. It's like, what are we paying for?"
Norton has been living in the Talbert O. Shaw Living and Learning Center (TOS) since she was a freshman, and there have been challenges from the start.
"Bathrooms are dirty. Trash isn't taken out regularly. It's things like that," said another student.
Students who live in TOS shared photos with ABC11 of missing panels from the ceiling, missing wall thermostats, broken shower heads, and worn bathroom drains.
The ABC11 I-Team obtained a copy of Shaw University's annual fire safety inspection reports from last June. In the women's dorm, there were eight violations on sprinkler systems, fire pumps, and emergency and standby power systems. In the men's dorm, five violations didn't pass inspection, including maintenance and testing schedules for the fire alarm and detection system and sprinkler system.
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"It's kind of crazy. We're putting all this money into the school, and they can't even take care of the dorm building that we live in," said freshman student Keyshawn Richardson.
Class of 1994 alumnus Eugene Myrick is passionate about his alma mater but is disappointed in the lack of transparency from current university leadership. He told ABC11 that the president, Dr. Paulette Dillard, recently met with the Raleigh alumni chapter.
"She met with alumni this weekend, and said she's going to be gone this summer. So, that tells me a lot," he said.
ABC11 reached out to Shaw University. for comment. Shortly before 11 p.m., the university responded with a statement:
"Earlier today, ABC11 reported a story that inaccurately portrayed our campus safety status. The story referenced an outdated inspection conducted in June 2025 that does not reflect the findings of our most recent fire alarm and signaling inspection conducted in November 2025 by Cintas Fire Protection. The inspection confirmed that the university has successfully met all required safety standards.
"The University remains focused on providing for the safety and well-being of our students. We are very grateful and encouraged by the strong support from the community, including alumni, fellow higher education institutions, churches, individuals and organizations.
"We take campus safety seriously and are committed to maintaining a secure environment for our students, faculty and staff.
"Shaw University remains dedicated to transparency and accountability, and we will continue to prioritize the safety of our campus."
Notably, the fire alarm and signaling inspection reports submitted by Shaw showing a successful inspection were conducted by Cintas, a private firm, and not by the City of Raleigh's Fire Inspections Department.
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