2015–2016 University of Missouri protests

In 2010, two white students dropped cotton balls in front of the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center. They were arrested and charged with tampering, which is a felony, and which was prosecuted as a hate crime based on evocation of the historical slur "cotton picker" to describe enslaved or sharecropping blacks.{{cite web|last=Morrison |first=David |url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/crime/two-arrested-in-cotton-ball-incident/article_d9781cd7-52ee-5f18-801b-a66de6d6720c.html |title=Two arrested in cotton ball incident |newspaper=Columbia Daily Tribune |access-date=2016-01-05}} The prosecutor asked for them to serve 120 days in jail but they were eventually only convicted of littering, which is a misdemeanor, and sentenced to probation and community service with no jail time.{{cite web|url=https://www.themaneater.com/stories/campus/students-sentenced-cotton-ball-incident|title=Students sentenced for cotton ball incident|website=theManeater.com|date=2010-04-29|first=Samantha|last=Sunne}} In 2011 a student was given probation for racist graffiti in a student dormitory.{{cite news |url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/student-gets-probation-for-racist-graffiti-at-mu/article_33b8b072-af18-11e1-90d8-0019bb30f31a.html |title=Student gets probation for racist graffiti at MU |newspaper=St. Louis Post Dispatch |date=2012-06-05 |access-date=2016-01-05}} The events led to the creation of a diversity initiative called "One Mizzou" under MU chancellor Brady Deaton. This initiative was discontinued in 2015 owing to concerns that it had lost its meaning.{{cite web |url=http://identity.missouri.edu/graphic-identity-standards/2-other-university-marks/2.7-one-mizzou.php |title=2.7 One Mizzou | Mizzou Identity Standards |website=Identity.missouri.edu |date=2015-05-05 |access-date=2016-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113044852/http://identity.missouri.edu/graphic-identity-standards/2-other-university-marks/2.7-one-mizzou.php |archive-date=January 13, 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |author=Sarah Wynn |date=June 3, 2015 |url=http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/6/3/administrators-developing-new-marketing-campaign-s/ |title=Administrators discontinue One Mizzou, developing new marketing campaign this summer |newspaper=The Maneater |access-date=2016-01-05 |archive-date=November 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113081803/http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/6/3/administrators-developing-new-marketing-campaign-s/ |url-status=dead }}

File:Jonathan Butler 2015 Planned Parenthood.jpg

On September 12, 2015, a Facebook post{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/payton.head/posts/10205183585252620 |title=Facebook|website=Facebook }} by the student government president Payton Head described bigotry and anti-gay sentiment around the college campus, which gained widespread attention.{{Cite news |title=A timeline of the University of Missouri protests |last=Pearson |first=Michael |publisher=CNN |date=November 9, 2015 |access-date=2015-11-11 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/09/us/missouri-protest-timeline/ }}{{cite news |title=Timeline of recent events at University of Missouri |agency=Associated Press |date=November 11, 2015 |access-date=2015-11-11 |url=https://www.ksl.com/?nid=157&sid=37315731 }} He claimed that in an incident off campus, unidentified people in the back of a passing pickup truck directed racial slurs at him. "For those of you who wonder why I'm always talking about the importance of inclusion and respect, it's because I've experienced moments like this multiple times at THIS university, making me not feel included here." Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin called the incident "totally unacceptable" on September 17.

File:Student Center Concerned Student protester color.jpg

The first student protests occurred on September 24, 2015, at an event called "Racism Lives Here," where protesters claimed nothing had been done to address Head's concerns. On October 1, a second "Racism Lives Here" event was held with 40–50 participants.{{Cite news |title=Students march through MU Student Center in protest of racial injustice |last=Naskidashvili |first=Nana |work=Columbia Missourian |date=October 1, 2015 |access-date=2015-11-11 |url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/higher_education/students-march-through-mu-student-center-in-protest-of-racial/article_4b8e3458-688b-11e5-8412-9b38a4d41eb8.html }}{{Cite news |title=Second 'Racism Lives Here' event calls for administration to act on social injustices |last=Plaster |first=Madison |work=The Maneater |date=October 1, 2015 |access-date=2015-11-11 |url=http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/10/1/second-racism-lives-here-event-calls-administratio/ |archive-date=November 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151111035002/http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/10/1/second-racism-lives-here-event-calls-administratio/ |url-status=dead }}

An incident involving a drunken student on October 4 gave rise to more racial tensions. While an African-American student group, the Legion of Black Collegians, was preparing for Homecoming activities, a white student walked on stage and was asked to leave. Supposedly, while departing the premises the student said, "These niggers are getting aggressive with me", according to the LBC.{{Cite news |title=LBC Homecoming Royalty harassed at Traditions Plaza |last=Loutfi |first=Elizabeth |work=The Maneather |date=5 October 2015 |access-date=2015-11-11 |url=http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/10/5/lbc-homecoming-royalty-harassed-traditions-plaza/ |quote=these niggers are getting aggressive with me. |archive-date=November 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112223946/http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/10/5/lbc-homecoming-royalty-harassed-traditions-plaza/ |url-status=dead }} This prompted chancellor Loftin, traveling outside the US, to record a video message in response and to release a statement that said, "Racism and all prejudice is heinous, insidious and damaging to Mizzou... That is why all of us must commit to changing the culture at this university."{{cite web |title=Message from Chancellor Loftin |publisher=YouTube |date=5 October 2015 |access-date=2015-11-11 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DTv28rhbM0 }} Later that month, the student group "Concerned Student 1950" was created, referring to the first year the University of Missouri admitted black students.

On October 24, a police officer responding to a property damage complaint reported that an unknown vandal had smeared feces in the shape of a swastika on a bathroom wall in a dorm on campus.{{cite news |url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/police-report-confirms-university-of-missouri-swastika-story/article_4ee0f112-098f-59a3-9f3d-ebd1d6335003.html |title=Police report confirms University of Missouri swastika story |agency=Associated Press |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=November 12, 2015}}{{cite web |title=Swastika found in MU bathroom |url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/education/swastika-found-in-mu-bathroom/article_c8874133-fac3-57da-bf74-e567f0735942.html |website=Columbia Daily Tribune |access-date=2015-11-11}}

On November 3, student Jonathan Butler launched a hunger strike, vowing not to eat until the president resigned.{{cite web |title=Mizzou Family, This may be my last... – Jonathan L. Butler {{!}} Facebook|url = http://www.facebook.com}} One of Butler's stated reasons for this was that Timothy Wolfe's car had struck him during a protest against Wolfe at the school's homecoming parade.{{Cite news |title=Black grad student on hunger strike in Mo. after swastika drawn with human feces |last=Miller |first=Michael E. |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 6, 2015 |access-date=2015-11-13 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/11/06/black-grad-student-on-hunger-strike-in-mo-after-swastika-drawn-with-human-feces/ }} During the incident, Students confronted the president by linking arms in front of his vehicle. Wolfe revved the car's engine and drove into Butler. No police charges were filed in connection to the incident.{{cite web |url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/in-homecoming-parade-racial-justice-advocates-take-different-paths/article_24c824da-6f77-11e5-958e-fb15c6375503.html |title=In Homecoming parade, racial justice advocates take different paths |date=October 10, 2015 |access-date=November 11, 2015 |newspaper=Colombian Missourian |last=Reese |first=Ashley}}[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIiovJ77vsg Did #Mizzou Protestor Jonathan Butler Lie About Being Hit By UM President's Car?], YouTube

File:MU students protest inside Jesse Hall after report of racism.jpg in Jesse Hall, October 6, 2015]]

His statement said, "Mr. Wolfe had ample opportunity to create policies and reform that could shift the culture of Mizzou in a positive direction but in each scenario he failed to do so." Butler later cited his participation in the Ferguson protests against the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown as a major influence for his action.{{cite web |title=Hunger striker gives credit to fellow activists fighting racism at University of Missouri |url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-missouri-hunger-striker-20151110-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=2015-11-11 |date=2015-10-11 |last=Pearce |first=Matt}}

On November 7, with hundreds of prospective students flooding Mizzou's campus for the university's recruiting day, student protesters intervened with a "mock tour" where they recited racist incidents that occurred at MU beginning in 2010 with the dispersion of cotton balls on the lawn of the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center along with more recent events such as the use of racial epithets against two young women of color outside of the MU Student Recreation Complex.{{cite news |url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/protesters-use-recruiting-day-to-voice-concerns-about-racism-at/article_a8477d70-8579-11e5-ae8c-6f3361124450.html |title=Protesters use recruiting day to voice concerns about racism at MU |date=November 7, 2015 |access-date=November 12, 2015 |newspaper=Columbia Missourian |last=Sawey |first=Elizabeth}}

On November 8, Mizzou football players announced they would not practice or play until Wolfe resigned, potentially costing the university a $1 million fine if they had to forfeit an upcoming game against Brigham Young University.{{Cite news |title=Black Football Players Lend Heft to Protests at Missouri |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/09/us/missouri-football-players-boycott-in-protest-of-university-president.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=2015-11-08|access-date = 2015-11-11 |issn=0362-4331 |first1=Marc |last1=Tracy |first2=Ashley |last2=Southall}} The Southeastern Conference Football Commissioner issued a statement saying, "I respect Missouri's student-athletes for engaging on issues of importance and am hopeful the concerns at the center of this matter will be resolved in a positive manner."{{cite web |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2587163-black-missouri-football-players-boycotting-until-school-president-resigns |title=Black Missouri Football Players Boycotting Until School President Resigns |access-date=November 12, 2015 |website=Bleacher Report |last=Nathan |first=Alec}} The Mizzou Athletics Department previously indicated that it fully supported the players' actions.{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/minority-players-on-university-of-missouri-football-team-threaten-boycott-1446997013 |title=Minority Players on University of Missouri Football Team Threaten Boycot |website=The Wall Street Journal}}

The protests attracted widespread local, regional, and national news media attention. Some protesters said the coverage was impacted by journalists' lack of previous race-related experience, reliance on scripted behaviors, and desire to cover the event as "outsiders looking in."{{Cite journal|last=Thomson|first=T. J.|date=2016-10-01|title=Black, White, and a Whole Lot of Gray: How White Photojournalists Covered Race During the 2015 Protests at Mizzou|journal=Visual Communication Quarterly|volume=23|issue=4|pages=223–233|doi=10.1080/15551393.2016.1230473|s2cid=150791909|issn=1555-1393|url=https://eprints.qut.edu.au/119019/7/119019.pdf}}

One of Butler's reasons for his hunger strike was "graduate students being robbed of their health insurance".[http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/09/us/jonathan-butler-hunger-strike-missouri-profile/ Jonathan Butler: Meet the man whose hunger strike flipped the script at Mizzou], CNN, November 10, 2015 In August 2015, the university had issued a statement to graduate students that said, "The Affordable Care Act prevents employers from giving employees money specifically so they can buy health insurance on the individual market. Graduate teaching and research assistants are classified as employees by the IRS, so they fall under this ruling."[https://gradstudies.missouri.edu/about/news-events/news-features/2015/information-about-student-health-insurance/ Information About Student Health Insurance] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151114101513/http://gradstudies.missouri.edu/about/news-events/news-features/2015/information-about-student-health-insurance/ |date=November 14, 2015 }}, gradstudies.missouri.edu, August 15, 2015[http://munews.missouri.edu/daily-clip-packets/2015/08-18-15.pdf University of Missouri ends funding for graduate student health insurance, blames feds] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909060630/http://munews.missouri.edu/daily-clip-packets/2015/08-18-15.pdf |date=September 9, 2015 }}, Mizzou News, Daily Clips Packet, August 18, 2015[http://college.usatoday.com/2015/08/21/u-of-missouri-cuts-health-insurance-subsidies-for-grad-students/ U. of Missouri cuts health insurance subsidies for grad students], USA Today, August 21, 2015 The university had known about the Affordable Care Act concerns since July 21, but put off communicating with graduate students until announcing on August 14 that subsidies would be cut, the day before graduate health insurance plans were set to expire.{{Cite news|url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/education/mu-graduate-student-employees-lose-health-insurance-subsidy/article_28a9170a-ac0a-550e-9565-58345d6477bd.html|title=MU graduate student employees lose health insurance subsidy|last=Favignano|first=Megan|date=August 15, 2015|work=Columbia Daily Tribune|access-date=April 4, 2017|language=en}}

Wolfe issued a statement on November 8 implying that he would not step down and that he was "dedicated to ongoing dialogue to address these very complex, societal issues as they affect our campus community".{{cite web |url=http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/news/leadership_news/110815_statement |title=Statement from University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe |date=November 8, 2015 |access-date=November 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109182225/http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/news/leadership_news/110815_statement/ |archive-date=November 9, 2015 |url-status=dead }}

On November 9, however, Wolfe announced his resignation. Later that day Chancellor Loftin announced he would resign at the end of 2015{{Cite news |title=University of Missouri Chancellor follows President in stepping down |last=Viviani |first=Nick |publisher=wibw.com |date=November 9, 2015 |access-date=2015-11-11 |url=http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/The-Latest-University-of-Missouri-System-president-resigns-343731172.html }} to take a research role at the university. His departure was hastened by the Board of Curators on November 11, who passed his responsibility to Interim Chancellor Hank Foley. His departure was initially assumed to be related to the protests. However, unlike Wolfe, student protesters had not requested that he step down.{{cite web |url=http://kbia.org/post/4-things-you-might-have-wrong-about-mizzou-story |title=4 Things You Might Have Wrong about the Mizzou Story |author =Ryan Famuliner |date=November 12, 2015 |publisher=kbia.org}} His resignation was the congruence of several issues raised by administrators and faculty, who were displeased with his leadership style, dismissal of administrators, and management of several campus incidents of racism and graduate health insurance subsidies that were allowed to lapse under his leadership.{{cite web |url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/opinion/oped/mu-campus-littered-with-casualties/article_2cc7ba53-9012-55d0-9c11-c30c971569fe.html |title=MU campus littered with casualties |work=Columbia Daily Tribune}}{{cite web |url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/missteps-not-student-revolt-led-to-mizzou-chancellor-s-demise/article_f955e9cf-6fc8-5fb0-b2cc-1b798d53fccc.html |title=Missteps, not student revolt, led to Mizzou chancellor's demise |author =Lee Enterprises |date=November 12, 2015 |publisher=stltoday.com}}{{cite news |last=Keller |first=Rudi |title=Semester of strife capped longstanding issues with Wolfe, Loftin |date=November 12, 2015 |work=Columbia Daily Tribune |url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/politics/semester-of-strife-capped-longstanding-issues-with-wolfe-loftin/article_41ee52f7-fe9d-5641-865b-a44fffe6ecc9.html}}

The days after the resignation announcement resulted in some confusion, cancelled classes and reports of threats and suspicious activity. On the evening of November 10, there were reports of vehicles and unidentified individuals around campus posing a threat.{{Cite news |title=Arrest Made for Threat of Violence During Chaotic Night at University of Missouri |last=Mathis-Lilley |first=Ben |work=Slate |date=November 11, 2015 |access-date=2015-11-12 |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/11/11/arrest_for_violent_threats_at_university_of_missouri.html }}

A computer science and math student at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla confessed during his arrest{{cite web|last=Morrison |first=David |url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/crime/suspect-in-campus-threats-makes-first-court-appearance/article_e64c31f2-112d-521f-9edc-0bfbcf626afc.html |title=Suspect in campus threats makes first court appearance |website=Columbiatribune.com |access-date=2016-01-05}} to making a hoax threat to the university. An account with the same username on Reddit bragged that he had "trolled" Mizzou.{{cite web |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/hunter-park-apparent-reddit-account-boasts-trolling-article-1.2431535 |title=Hunter Park: Apparent Reddit account boasts of 'trolling' |work=Daily News|date=November 11, 2015 |location=New York}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mizzou-online-threat-suspect-hunter-park-mimicked-oregon-shooting-posts-n462301 |title=Mizzou Online Threat Suspect Hunter Park Mimicked Oregon Shooting Posts: Police |agency=Associated Press |work=NBC News}}{{Cite news |title=2 Students Allegedly Made Terrorist Threats in Missouri |last=Stevenson |first=Kelly |work=ABC News |date=11 November 2015 |access-date=2015-11-12 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/suspect-detained-allegedly-posting-online-threats-missouri-campus/story?id=35126012 }}{{Cite news |title=2 suspects arrested in social media threats at Missouri campuses |last1=Alcindor |first1=Yamiche |last2=Stanglin |first2=Doug |work=USA TODAY |date=11 November 2015 |access-date=2015-11-12 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/11/11/some-at-u-of-missouri-on-edge-after-social-media-threats-of-violence/75559034/ }}

File:Melissa Click pointing (cropped).jpg

Soon after the announcement of the resignations, there was a widely publicized dispute between student photojournalist Tim Tai, on a freelance assignment for ESPN, and protesters on Carnahan Quad where they had erected an encampment. While attempting to cover the event, Tai got into a dispute with, and was physically confronted by, students and those who would later be identified as University of Missouri staff and faculty, including untenured communication professor Melissa Click.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2015/11/10/university-of-missouri-please-immediately-fire-employees-who-taunted-media/ |title=University of Missouri, please immediately fire employees who taunted media |author =Erik Wemple |date=10 November 2015 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} Click appeared to grab Tai's camera after he approached her asking if "he could be here", and then threatened student Kayla Schierbecker, yelling "Who wants to help me get this reporter out of here? I need some muscle over here."{{cite news |last1=Huguelet |first1=Austin |last2=Victor |first2=Daniel |title='I Need Some Muscle': Missouri Activists Block Journalists |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/10/us/university-missouri-protesters-block-journalists-press-freedom.html |access-date=8 July 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=9 November 2015}} Other staff who interfered with Tai's attempts to photograph the scene included Janna Basler, the university's assistant director of Greek life and leadership, and Richard J. "Chip" Callahan, professor and chair of religious studies. Schierbecker's video of Tai debating his right to be in a public area became widely distributed and commented on in the mainstream media.{{Cite news|url=http://mediashift.org/2015/11/first-amendment-questions-in-missouri-protest-video-trickier-than-they-seem/|title=First Amendment Questions in Missouri Protest Video Trickier Than They Seem - MediaShift|date=2015-11-24|work=MediaShift|access-date=2017-04-04|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/guest_columnists/article_e53564e2-97c4-11e5-9eee-47dd1d7d94fd.html|title=Melissa Click and the forgotten freedom|last=columnist|first=Michael R. Allen Guest|work=St. Louis American|access-date=2017-04-04|language=en}}{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/race-and-the-free-speech-diversion|title=Race and the Free-Speech Diversion|date=2015-11-10|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=2017-04-04}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/11/11/theres-a-good-reason-protesters-at-the-university-of-missouri-didnt-want-the-media-around/|title=There's a good reason protesters at the University of Missouri didn't want the media around|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2017-04-04}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.poynter.org/2015/an-insiders-view-the-wall-between-student-activists-and-student-journalists/384396/|title=An insider's view: The wall between student activists and student journalists|date=2015-11-12|work=Poynter|access-date=2017-04-04|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2015/11/10/missouri_activists_vs_the_press_is_still_a_story_about_race_this_is_what_happens_when_black_students_cant_trust_the_media/|title=Missouri activists vs. the press is still a story about race: This is what happens when black students can't trust the media|last=Lee|first=Paula Young|website=Salon|date=November 11, 2015 |access-date=2017-04-04}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/expert-carnahan-quad-kerfuffle-was-not-a-first-amendment-conflict/article_12032e50-8d7f-11e5-96e4-ab8806d41995.html|title=Expert: Carnahan Quad kerfuffle was not a First Amendment conflict|last=Kelliher|first=Lauren|work=Columbia Missourian|access-date=2017-04-04|language=en}}

The day after the incident, with Tai getting support from the Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder and others, the campus group Concerned Student 1950 passed out fliers calling the confrontation between journalists and protesters a "Teachable Moment" and directing the students to welcome the media to campus as a way to tell the story of the protests. They also removed signs previously put up warning the media to stay away from the student encampments.{{Cite news |title=Missouri protesters change tack and welcome media, day after shooing journalists away |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2015/11/10/missouri-protesters-try-to-stop-photographer-from-doing-job |work=U.S. News & World Report |date=2015-11-11|access-date = 2015-11-15 |first=Jim |last=Suhr|author-link = Jim Suhr}} Three University of Missouri employees involved in the altercation apologized and Click resigned from her courtesy appointment at the Missouri School of Journalism.{{Cite news |title=University of Missouri Professor Who Confronted Photographer Quits Journalism Post |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/11/us/university-of-missouri-names-law-professor-to-diversity-post.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=2015-11-10|access-date = 2015-11-11 |issn=0362-4331 |first1=Richard |last1=Pérez-peña |first2=Christine |last2=Hauser}}{{Cite news |title=MU religious studies professor apologized to photojournalist Tim Tai |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2015/11/11/mu-religious-studies-professor-apologized-to-photojournalist-tim-tai/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2015-11-11|access-date = 2015-11-11 |issn=0190-8286 |language=en-US |first=Erik |last=Wemple|author-link = Erik Wemple}} On January 25, 2016, Click was charged with misdemeanor assault linked to her behavior during the incident and accepted community service in exchange for dismissal of the charges.[http://www.sfgate.com/news/education/article/Charges-uncertain-against-Missouri-assistant-6781845.php Assault charge filed against Missouri assistant professor], San Francisco Chronicle, Associated Press, January 25, 2016{{cite news|last1=Belkin|first1=Douglas|title=University of Missouri Professor Charged Over Protest|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/university-of-missouri-professor-charged-over-protest-1453753837|access-date=January 25, 2016|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=25 January 2016}}

{{as of|2016|January|5|df=US}}, more than 100 faculty members had signed a letter in defense of Click.{{Cite news|url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article53076705.html|title=University of Missouri faculty support professor whom Republicans want fired|work=kansascity|access-date=2017-04-04|language=en}} Several faculty members wrote letters of support to local and national news outlets.{{Cite news|url=http://www.chronicle.com/article/Why-I-Continue-to-Support/235388|title=Why I Continue to Support Melissa Click|date=2016-02-22|work=The Chronicle of Higher Education|access-date=2017-04-04}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/opinion/guest_commentaries/guest-commentary-shakespeare-melissa-click-and-campus-unrest/article_3a7943be-d597-11e5-8eef-3f066ac23284.html|title=GUEST COMMENTARY: Shakespeare, Melissa Click and campus unrest|last=Kerwin|first=William|work=Columbia Missourian|access-date=2017-04-04|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/letter-to-the-editor-melissa-click-cares-about-mu-students/article_311d840e-c914-11e5-aba8-bb976ee3b576.html|title=LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Melissa Click cares about MU students|last=Socarides|first=Alexandra|work=Columbia Missourian|access-date=2017-04-04|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/opinion/guest_commentaries/guest-commentary-in-support-of-melissa-click-as-she-supported/article_fe6dbb5c-c515-11e5-9379-8bbdb8d7336d.html|title=GUEST COMMENTARY: In support of Melissa Click as she supported us|last=Shonekan|first=Stephanie|work=Columbia Missourian|access-date=2017-04-04|language=en}}

In a video obtained by the Columbia Missourian in February 2016, Click was seen shouting a profanity at police officers as they attempted to clear protesting students from a road at the school's homecoming parade. Click defended her actions, saying that she was sorry for her language but that she was also sorry she had to put herself in front of the police to protect the students.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/02/15/mizzou-professor-melissa-click-seen-cursing-cop-new-video/80401802/|title=Missouri professor Melissa Click seen cursing at cop in new video|author1=Rieder, Ram |author2=Madhani, Aamer}}

That same month, the Faculty Council and Intercampus Faculty Council urged administrators and the board of curators to comply with the system's Collected Rules and Regulations when dealing with Click.{{Cite news|url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/higher_education/mu-faculty-say-melissa-click-deserves-due-process-fair-treatment/article_951e7026-d58f-11e5-9242-cfa8863882e9.html|title=MU faculty say Melissa Click deserves due process, fair treatment from administrators|last=Schmitt|first=William|work=Columbia Missourian|access-date=2017-04-04|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/higher_education/um-system-intercampus-faculty-council-calls-for-due-process-for/article_d6cced8e-da7d-11e5-8c62-e788c1a4a3f2.html|title=UM System Intercampus Faculty Council calls for due process for Melissa Click|last=Kull|first=Katie|work=Columbia Missourian|access-date=2017-04-04|language=en}}

On February 25, 2016, the University of Missouri Board of Curators voted 4–2 to terminate Click's employment with the university.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/02/25/university-missouri-fires-professor-melissa-click/80940690/|title=University of Missouri fires professor Melissa Click|date=February 25, 2016|work=USA TODAY|access-date=March 1, 2016}} As a result of this action, the University of Missouri was placed on the American Association of University Professors' Censure List.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aaup.org/report/academic-freedom-and-tenure-university-missouri-columbia|title=Academic Freedom and Tenure: University of Missouri (Columbia) {{!}} AAUP|website=www.aaup.org|date=April 26, 2016 |access-date=2017-04-04}} Commenting in an interview with the Chronicle of Higher Education, Click stated, "I'm a white lady. I'm an easy target."{{cite web|last1=Wilson|first1=Robin|title=Being Melissa Click|url=http://chronicle.com/article/Being-Melissa-Click/236226|website=The Chronicle of Higher Education|access-date=8 July 2016|date=24 April 2016}} In 2017, she was hired as a lecturer by Gonzaga University, where she later became an assistant professor.{{cite web|url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article99689332.html|title=Fired MU professor Melissa Click hired at Gonzaga University|website=kansascity}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gonzaga.edu/college-of-arts-sciences/departments/communication-studies/faculty|title=Faculty of the Department of Communication Studies|access-date=15 June 2019}}

On November 10, 2015, Student Body President Payton Head made an alarming Facebook post that he later rescinded. He stated, "Students please take precaution. Stay away from the windows in residence halls. The KKK has been confirmed to be sighted on campus. I'm working with the [campus police], the state trooper and the National Guard." Major Brian Weimer with the school's police department responded by saying, "There is no Ku Klux Klan on campus." Weimer also said that the National Guard was not on campus. Head apologized, saying on Facebook, "I'm sorry about the misinformation that I have shared through social media."[http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/11/us/university-of-missouri-racism-protest/ University of Missouri students report threats; police quell KKK rumors]. CNN. November 11, 2015

On November 11, 2015, the MU officially remained open, though many individual classes were cancelled after threats on social media and by phone.{{Cite news |title=Online threats stoke fears at University of Missouri |last=Hancock |first=Jason |work=Kansas City Star |date=November 11, 2015 |access-date=2015-11-12 |url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article44247495.html }} During a meeting between the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus and student activists, University of Missouri police reported that an anonymous caller phoned in a threat to the Oldham Black Culture Center.{{Cite news |title=As death threats spread fear at Mizzou, professor asks students to defeat 'bullies' and attend class |last=Miller |first=Michael E. |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2015-11-12 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/11/11/as-threats-spread-fear-at-mizzou-a-professor-asks-students-to-defeat-bullies-and-attend-class/ }}{{Cite news |title=Missouri Legislative Black Caucus '100 percent supportive of students seeking change' |last=Nero |first=Amanda |work=Columbia Missourian |date=10 November 2015 |access-date=2015-11-12 |url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/missouri-legislative-black-caucus-percent-supportive-of-students-seeking-change/article_400d466e-87e4-11e5-bcb6-67c814229cf3.html }}

One professor, Dale Brigham, was at the center of controversy when he chose to administer a planned exam for Nutritional Science 1034, saying, "If you don't feel safe coming to class, then don't come to class... I will be there, and there will be an exam administered in our class," while allowing students an option to take a make-up exam. After some students complained that the professor was not taking the threats seriously, Brigham apologized and offered his resignation, saying, "If my leaders think that my leaving would help, I am all for it. I made a mistake, and I do not want to cause further harm." However, the university turned down the resignation later that day.{{Cite news |title=Missouri Professor's Resignation for Email About 'Bullies' May Be Rejected |last=Schuppe |first=Jon |work=NBC News |date=November 11, 2015 |access-date=2015-11-12 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/missouri-professor-resigns-after-telling-students-not-let-bullies-win-n461686 |quote=I made a mistake, and I do not want to cause further harm}}{{Cite news |title=Update: Resignation not accepted from MU professor who sent email {{!}} KOMU.com {{!}} Columbia, MO {{!}} | last = Kummerer | first = Samantha | publisher = KOMU.com | access-date = 2015-11-12 | url = http://www.komu.com/news/update-resignation-not-accepted-from-mu-professor-who-sent-email/ }}

Gus T. Ridgel, one of the nine African-American students enrolled into the University of Missouri in 1950, "was surprised and disappointed by the racist incidents at the university that prompted a campus upheaval".{{Cite news |title=A Real Missouri 'Concerned Student 1950' Speaks, at Age 89 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/11/us/an-original-missouri-concerned-student-1950-speaks-at-age-89.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=2015-11-10|access-date = 2015-11-12 |issn=0362-4331 |first=Michael |last=Wines}}

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jarred Prier argues that Russian influence operatives use U.S. social media as an information warfare medium, spreading false information during incidents of racial unrest in order to inflame racial tensions in the United States and discredit the Obama administration.{{cite web|url=https://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2018/02/14/russian-twitter-troll-fabricated-claims-of-kkk-invading-mizzou-campus-in-2015|title=Russian Twitter Troll Fabricated Claims of KKK Invading Mizzou Campus in 2015|first=Danny|last=Wicentowski|website=Riverfront Times}}{{cite web|url=https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/SSQ/documents/Volume-11_Issue-4/Prier.pdf|title=Commanding the Trend: Social Media as Information Warfare|year=2017|work=Strategic Studies Quarterly|last=Prier|first=Jarred}}

The University of Missouri events inspired other protests or indications of solidarity at over eighty{{Cite web|title=Our Demands|url=http://www.blackliberationcollective.org/our-demands|access-date=2020-06-11|website=Black Liberation Collective|language=en-US}} other campuses in the United States.{{Cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/college-students-across-the-country-stand-in-solidarity-with-mizzou_us_5644dc52e4b08cda3487e1a1|title=College Students Across The Country Stand In Solidarity With Mizzou|last=Workneh|first=Lilly|date=2015-11-12|work=Huffington Post|access-date=2017-04-04|language=en-US}} Among these were Ithaca College,{{Cite news |title=Ithaca College students protest; is it next Missouri? |last=Griggs |first=Brandon |publisher=CNN |date=November 11, 2015 |access-date=2015-11-13 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/11/us/ithaca-college-protest-racism-campus/ }} Yale University, Smith College, Claremont McKenna College,{{Cite news |title=Racial Discrimination Protests Ignite at Colleges Across the U.S. |last1=Hartocollis |first1=Anemona |last2=Bidgood |first2=Jess |work=The New York Times |date=November 11, 2015 |access-date=2015-11-13 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/12/us/racial-discrimination-protests-ignite-at-colleges-across-the-us.html}} Amherst College, Emporia State University,{{Cite web|url=https://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/March-on-Emporia-protesters-say-we-are-beyond-talking--337642621.html|title=March on Emporia protesters say we are 'beyond talking'|last=Sax|first=Lindsay|website=www.wibw.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-11}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/article_60b23cb8-983a-5e90-96e8-720a6c90f864.html|title=Accusations continue in ESU race debate|last=Wagoner|first=Jessie|website=Emporia Gazette|language=en|access-date=2019-02-11}} Brandeis University,{{cite web|author =Jan Ransom |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/11/22/brandeis-students-occupy-building-protest-lack-racial-diversity/I1yUrfTbEpFdyW2ilajvJM/story.html |title=Brandeis students occupy building to protest lack of racial diversity |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=2015-11-23 |access-date=2016-01-05}} and Tufts University.{{Cite web|date=2015-11-18|title=Tufts students join nationwide protests against campus racism|url=https://tuftsdaily.com/news/2015/11/18/tufts-students-join-nationwide-protests-campus-racism/|access-date=2020-06-11|website=The Tufts Daily|language=en}}

On November 13, the dean of students at Claremont McKenna College stepped down, after student protesters adopted similar tactics to those in Missouri, including a hunger strike.{{Cite news |title=Facing Protests About Racial Climate, Another Campus Administrator Steps Down |author =Sarah Brown |work=The Chronicle of Higher Education |date=November 13, 2015 |access-date=2015-11-13 |url=http://chronicle.com/article/Facing-Protests-About-Racial/234191?cid=rc_right }}{{cite web |title=Dear Claremont McKenna College Community — Medium |last=Lemmons |first=Taylor |work=Medium |date=November 11, 2015 |access-date=2015-11-13 |url=https://medium.com/@tlemmons/dear-claremont-mckenna-college-community-1861eb1fe846 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151114195523/https://medium.com/@tlemmons/dear-claremont-mckenna-college-community-1861eb1fe846 |archive-date=November 14, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

On the evening of November 12, the governing board of the University of Missouri decided in a closed-door meeting to name Michael Middleton, a law professor and deputy chancellor emeritus as the interim president. Middleton, a 1968 graduate of the university and the third African American to graduate from its law school, recently retired from the university after 30 years.{{Cite news |title=University of Missouri taps interim system president |last1=McLaughlin |first1=Eliott C. |last2=Payne |first2=Ed |last3=Stapleton |first3=AnneClaire |publisher=CNN |date=12 November 2015 |access-date=2015-11-13 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/12/us/university-of-missouri-racism-protest/ }}{{Cite news |title=University of Missouri names black interim president |last1=Bacon |first1=John |last2=Madhani |first2=Aamer |work=USA Today |date=12 November 2015 |access-date=2015-11-13 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/11/12/controversial-u-missouri-professor-may-keep-job/75642556/ }}

During an interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, President Barack Obama praised the protesters, but cautioned against protest tactics that he felt stifled open dialogue at the University of Missouri and other campuses. He said, "There is clearly a problem at the University of Missouri, and that's not just coming from students. That's coming from some faculty. And I think it is entirely appropriate for students in a thoughtful, peaceful way to protest—what they see as injustices or inattention to serious problems in their midst. I want an activist student body just like I want an activist citizenry."{{cite news |last1=Saenz |first1=Arlette |title=President Obama Praises University of Missouri Protesters: 'I Want an Activist Citizenry' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-obama-praises-university-missouri-protesters-activist-citizenry/story?id=35203826 |access-date=December 3, 2015 |work=ABC News |date=15 November 2015 |quote=I want an activist student body just like I want an activist citizenry, and the issue is just making sure that even as these young people are getting engaged, getting involved, speaking out that they're also listening.}}

Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder issued a statement supporting the journalists covering the protests on November 9. He called for investigating the incident saying, "Faculty and staff cannot be allowed to pick and choose which rights, viewpoints and freedoms they respect. I renew my call to restore law and order on campus, so the rights of all are protected."{{cite news |last1=Kinder |first1=Peter |title=Lt. Governor Kinder issues statement on University unrest |url=http://ltgov.mo.gov/news/lt-governor-kinder-issues-statement-on-university-unrest/ |access-date=December 8, 2015 |work=Office of Peter Kinder |date=10 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211125409/http://ltgov.mo.gov/news/lt-governor-kinder-issues-statement-on-university-unrest/ |archive-date=December 11, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

On February 10, 2016, Concerned Student 1950 held a meeting on campus. The meeting had been advertised as a "town hall" for "black students and students of color." The group asked all reporters to leave before the meeting began. Several white reporters then left the room. However, one reporter, Kayla Schierbecker, the same videographer from the November Melissa Click incident, refused, and justified her refusal to leave by saying the unreserved room was a "limited public forum" that was open to students and that she was a reporter on assignment and it was her "personal preference" to stay. Despite the meeting taking place on campus property, the group continued to ask her to leave, and eventually threatened to call campus police. Instead, the group disbanded soon after the start of the meeting, intending to relocate the meeting at a more private area of campus.{{cite news|last1=Kabbany|first1=Jennifer|title=At 'students of color'-only Mizzou activism meeting, white journalists kicked out|url=http://www.thecollegefix.com/post/26214/|access-date=28 April 2016|date=12 February 2016}}

According to The New York Times, freshman enrollment for the fall 2017 semester was down by 35% compared with two years prior. Seven dormitories have been temporarily closed and some 400 positions have been cut. "Students of all races have shunned Missouri, but the drop in freshman enrollment last fall was strikingly higher among blacks, at 42 percent, than among whites, at 21 percent."Anemna Hartocollis, [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/09/us/university-of-missouri-enrollment-protests-fallout.html "Long After Protests, Students Shun the University of Missouri"], New York Times, July 9, 2017.

Adrianna Kezar and Sharon Fries-Britt, at the invitation of the university, used the events as a case study and published a report in 2018.{{cite book |last1=Kezar |first1=Adrianna |last2=Fries-Britt |first2=Sharon |title=Speaking Truth and Acting with Integrity: Confronting Challenges of Campus Racial Climate |date=2018 |publisher=American Council on Education |url=https://www.acenet.edu/Documents/Speaking-Truth-and-Acting-with-Integrity.pdf |access-date=10 June 2020}} It introduces a "Collective Trauma Recovery Framework (CTRF) for dealing with such complex and usually emotionally charged incidents".{{cite news |last1=Pennamon |first1=Tiffany |last2=Jones |first2=LaMont |title=ACE Study Outlines Best Practices in Campus Racial Crises |url=https://diverseeducation.com/article/131713/ |access-date=10 June 2020 |work=Diverse: Issues In Higher Education |publisher=Cox, Matthews, and Associates, Inc. |date=13 November 2018 |language=en}}

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Category:2015 in Missouri

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Category:2016 protests

Category:21st century in Columbia, Missouri

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Category:African-American-related controversies

Category:Articles containing video clips

Category:Events in Columbia, Missouri

Category:History of racism in Missouri

Category:Politics of Columbia, Missouri

Category:Student protests in Missouri

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