It was a rough start to the school year.

As students returned to classes at Howard University, they continued to raise their voices — virtually, as well as literally — about problems at the school. On Thursday evening, Howard University's president responded with a letter addressing many of their specific concerns.

On Wednesday, students and alumni tired of day-to-day hassles and red tape at the historically Black university took their complaints viral, using the #takebackHU slogan to link their frustrations. The issues they raised weren't new — as many alumni noted, joining in the tough-but-affectionate criticism of the private university. The school is iconic, rich with history and troubled financially.