Events at MU spark controversy across the nation (Op-Ed)

Today, the MU campus is bustling with students happily chatting in the student center and throwing baseballs on the quad. But this is a stark contrast to the ghost town that enveloped the campus on Wednesday this past week.

Tuesday night, students at MU faced threats on social media via an anonymous app called YikYak. Though Hunter Park, Missouri University of Science and Technology student, was caught of making these terroristic threats and arrested by the MU Police Department early Wednesday morning, many students still feared going to campus that day.

The campus did not close for the day, but many faculty members canceled their classes, and several businesses in downtown Columbia remained closed on Wednesday. This left the campus nearly empty compared to the usual crowded scene during the week.

The past two weeks at MU have been filled with racial tensions and administrative chaos. Places throughout the entire nation have felt the effect of the events that have unraveled in Columbia. And now, the MU administration faces its toughest question: where does MU go from here?

UM System President Tim Wolfe has resigned. Janna Basler, director of Greek life, has been put on administrative leave. Dale Brigham, associate teaching professor in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, attempted to resign but was denied by the school. And MU Chancellor Bowen Loftin has resigned as well.

The protests have shaken up administrative personnel, and many administrative roles must be filled as a result. Though the protests were well-intentioned, they have left a sense of disorder in the administrative system at MU.

The protests, lead by the activist group Concerned Student 1950, were initially very peaceful. The group’s purpose mainly focused on establishing racial equality at MU and fighting against the racial hostility that black students have reported in the past.

The group succeeded in ousting MU President Tim Wolfe, but the racial tension on the campus won’t simply disappear as a result. This racial divide became even more apparent following the social media threats of Hunter Park.

Concerned Student 1950 has emphasized that the resignation of Tim Wolfe was simply a moment in a movement. The group has gained momentum, but their efforts do not stop there.

Schools across the nation are standing in solidarity with MU. The issue of racial tensions on college campuses isn’t just specific to MU. Colleges everywhere are sharing their messages of support for the efforts of Concerned Student 1950 via social media and in campus demonstrations. Yale University, Emory University, Ithaca College and many more have shared their support for MU in its combat against institutional racism.

But, MU has set a dangerous precedent for schools experiencing racial divides. The new standard may be that, as long as a student is willing to starve to death and has the football team to back him, the students have enough power to control the fate of their university president. Other colleges and universities now have MU as an example of the power that students have over their administration.

Students of Smith College, a private women’s college in Massachusetts, staged a walk-out in support of MU. Hundreds of students protested the racial inequalities found on their campus.

Ithaca College students additionally had a “Solidarity Walk Out” along with a 20 minute moment of silence to stand with MU in their battle against racial injustices.

Incidents of racism occur every day at colleges across the nation. School administrations now have to find away to deal with the racism and put an end to the divide amongst students. But, how does an administration combat the racist thoughts and actions of their students? MU now has to find a concrete solution to this problem.

The MU administration has recently encouraged students to report racist remarks or actions to the police. In an email to MU students, the MU Police Department encouraged students to call the police immediately if they witness incidents of hateful or hurtful speech.

These acts by the administration aren’t guaranteed to solve the problems on campus. The administration cannot fix the deep-set racist beliefs that many students have. This isn’t just an MU issue, it’s a national issue.

In addition to issues of racial inequality, the concept of free speech in the First Amendment was in the spotlight following Wolfe’s resignation. Students stood arm in arm surrounding Jonathan Butler and fellow Concerned Student 1950 members in order to keep the press away from the group during the celebrations that ensued after Wolfe announced his resignation.

Though MU is home to one of the best journalism schools in the nation, journalism students were denied by students and faculty the opportunity to take photos of the events occurring on the

campus. This was a huge threat to the journalism students’ freedom of speech and casted a negative light on the activist group.

The goals and ideals of Concerned Student 1950 are honorable. The group wants to achieve racial equality and fight against the injustices of institutional racism. Its methods have been somewhat radical so far, but its purpose cannot be overlooked. The students of the group have been able to rally support and institute actual change in their educational system.

But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the students of Concerned Student 1950 have a long battle ahead of them on the road to equality. The MU administration has an equally difficult path and must work towards reducing racial tensions at the school.

#Journalism #Racism #Mizzou #Opinion