The Black Student Union at UC Berkeley wants to honour convicted murderer Assata Shakur ( above ) by renaming a university building after her . A student group has demanded that a university building is renamed after a convicted murderer . The Black Student Union at UC Berkeley wants to honour Assata Shakur , the first woman on the FBI 's list of most wanted terrorists , with the name change . Shakur was found guilty of shooting New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1977 . The 67-year-old former Black Panther activist escaped from prison two years later and is thought to be hiding in Cuba . The union believes she represents an 'icon of resistance within oppressed communities ' , Fox News reported . Cori McGowens , a junior at the university , said : 'We want the renaming of it to [ go to ] someone , Assata Shakur , who we feel represents us as black students . ' The students have also asked the university to hire two black admissions officers , two black psychologists and two black advisers . They are hoping an African-American resource center will be created . Their request for a building , thought to be Barrows Hall , to be renamed has split reactions on social media . One user @ Ilianerrz wrote on Twitter : 'WHY DO STUDENTS AT UC BERKLEY ( sic ) WANT TO NAME A BUILDING AFTER ASSATA SHAKUR ? ! ? ? ' And Janine Simone said : 'What is this world coming to ? # police # PoliceLivesMatter . ' But some people supported the idea . Shakur ( right ) was found guilty of shooting New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster ( left ) in 1977 . The 67-year-old , previously known as Joanne Chesimard , escaped from prison two years later and is thought to be hiding in Cuba . One user with the handle @ ismokethentweet wrote : 'Shout out to the black student organization at UC Berkeley who 's demanding one of their buildings to be named after Assata Shakur . ' Nicholas Dirks , UC Berkeley 's chancellor , said he has not yet made a decision . He said more staff had been hired recently and two programmes to help black students earn advanced degrees had been granted funding . He added : 'Too many students have told us about being excluded from study groups , ignored during class discussions , verbally harassed at parties and social events , and feeling in a general sense , vulnerable , isolated , and invisible . The Black Student Union 's request for a building to be renamed has split reactions on social media with some questioning the idea and others taking to Twitter to show their support . 'This is something we deplore . ' UC Berkeley had 36,204 students enrolled last year . Around three per cent were black , according to university data . The FBI is offering a $ 2million reward for any information that leads to Shakur 's capture .
FBI wants to honour Assata Shakur with the name change . Describes her as an 'icon of resistance within oppressed communities '