Following the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees plan on the Silent Sam statue, approved Monday, Dec. 3, protests erupted at the university. Since the decision, 79 teaching assistants and instructors have joined, postponing the release of thousands of students’ grades.

The board’s proposed plan would involve constructing a new building to house the Silent Sam statue, estimated to cost around $5.3 million, with an additional $800,000 in annual costs.

Protesters illustrated their demands through a letter posted on Twitter. The group of protesters wants the board to cancel the plan, remove the statue from campus and hold meetings with the campus community. They also wish for the board to clarify parts of their report and not pursue creation of a UNC system-wide police force.

According to the News & Observer, UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Carol Folt and several trustees have expressed that they would prefer to house the Silent Sam statue off campus, but state law would prevent them from doing so.

Until demands are met, the teaching assistants and instructors involved have chosen to withhold grading final exams and assignments, according to the letter. The letter also warns instructors to not use their position to recruit students.

More information on the protests can be found on their website.