Grievances at university similar to those from ’69
Associated Press
COLUMBIA, Mo.
The criticism was blunt: Blacks at the University of Missouri are harassed and threatened, the university has too few African-American faculty members, the administration doesn’t seem to care, and all of that needs to change.
A list of grievances issued this month by a student group is strikingly similar to those from 1969. This time, though, it appears the university is listening.
Recent racist incidents, and the perceived lack of response by administrators, led to protests, a student hunger strike and a threatened boycott by the football team. It culminated Monday in the resignations of University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe and Columbia campus Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin.
The interim president appointed Thursday, Michael Middleton, made it clear that he hears the concerns. Unsurprising, since Middleton, 68, was a founder of Missouri’s Legion of Black Collegians who issued that set of demands 46 years ago.
“It is clear to me the first step is to devote attention to addressing those demands,” Middleton said at his introductory news conference. “It is imperative to hear from all students and do everything we can to make them comfortable and safe in our community.”
In fact, the university has already addressed several of the eight points on the list. Chief among them was the removal of Wolfe, but other moves have followed.
One day after the resignations, a veteran associate law school dean, Chuck Henson, who is black, was named to the new position of interim vice chancellor for inclusion, diversity and equity. The university’s governing board also pledged more support for those who experience discrimination and said diversity and inclusion training will become mandatory for faculty, staff and students. On Friday, Gov. Jay Nixon named Yvonne Sparks to the Board of Curators, the second black member of the nine-person panel.
The university also hired the lobbying firm of Andy Blunt, who is Sen. Roy Blunt’s son and campaign manager, to represent it in Jefferson City, agreeing to pay $10,000 per month in a contract signed Monday.
Many students are hopeful but want to see more action.