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Racial climate at MU: A timeline of incidents to date this fall
EMMA VANDELINDER Nov 6, 2015 0

COLUMBIA — The racial climate at MU has been tumultuous for months, but with recent events — including a hunger strike undertaken this week by a graduate student and campus activist — conversation and action has hastened. Here’s a chronological look at the key incidents since September that have led to a recent escalation of tension on campus:

Sept. 12: Missouri Students Association president Payton Head posts about a racial slur directed at him.
Payton Head, MU senior and president of MSA, renewed the dialogue about racism and the racial climate on campus after publishing a Facebook post about his first-hand experience with racism. The night before, Head said he was walking around campus when the passenger of a pickup repeatedly shouted the “N-word” at him.

Head’s statement went viral on social media, and many people shared their support of Head and frustration with MU’s response, or lack thereof, to his post.

“I’d had experience with racism before, like microaggressions, but that was the first time I’d experienced in-your-face racism,” Head told a Missourian reporter.

Oct. 5: Legion of Black Collegians members are the targets of racial slurs by a man on campus.
Another instance of racism brought the racial climate on campus again to the attention of students and administrators.

The Legion of Black Collegians shared a letter on social media describing the group's encounter with overt racism the night before. The group was rehearsing for a performance at Traditions Plaza when a “young man” talking on his cellphone walked up to the group. After being politely and repeatedly asked to leave, the man walked away but referenced LBC members using racial slurs.

That same day, MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin responded with a post of his own, acknowledging and condemning racism at MU.

“There was a silence that fell over us all, almost in disbelief that this racial slur in particular was used in our vicinity,” Naomi Collier, president of MU’s NAACP chapter and member of the LBC’s activities committee, wrote in the letter.

Oct. 8: Loftin announces mandatory online diversity training for faculty, staff and students, which is met with widespread skepticism.
The training came after a number of accounts of overt racism experience by students on campus, but was met with skepticism and suspicion.

Jonathan Butler, MU graduate student and campus activist, wrote a letter to Loftin saying the training was “a step in the right direction, but it is not enough.”

Oct. 10: Members of Concerned Student 1950 protest during the MU Homecoming Parade, blocking a car carrying UM System President Tim Wolfe.
Concerned Student 1950 refers to the year African-American students were first admitted the MU. The group targeted Wolfe’s car during Homecoming to send the message that students will not be ignored by administrators on the issue of discrimination on campus.

“We’ve sent emails, we’ve sent tweets, we’ve messaged but we’ve gotten no response back from the upper officials at Mizzou to really make change on this campus,” Butler said afterward.

The protesters blocked the street and Wolfe’s car for about 15 minutes, chanting and making speeches, until they were dispersed by police. Some students watching the parade also joined in on the protest in support. No protesters were arrested for disturbing the parade.

“I joined in the line because white silence is compliance, like what they were yelling in the Student Center. I feel like I can’t just sit by and watch. It’s not my fight, but I support it,” MU undergraduate Breanne LoPresti told a reporter.

Oct. 21: Concerned Student 1950 issues a statement of demands, including a formal apology from Wolfe and his removal from office.
Ten days after the Homecoming protest, the group issued the statement with eight demands, including enforcement of mandatory racial awareness and inclusion training for all faculty, staff and students; an increase in the percentage of black faculty and staff; and an increase in funding to hire mental health professionals for the MU Counseling Center, particularly those of color; and more staff for social justice centers on campus.

A number of groups showed their support for the sentiment, including the Department of Black Studies, the Department of Classical Studies and the School of Health Professions.

Oct. 27: Concerned Student 1950 meets with Wolfe but do not resolve any issues.
Members of the group said Wolfe did not agree to any of the demands they sent to him the previous week. In the meeting, Wolfe said he cared for black students at MU but was "'not completely' aware of systemic racism, sexism, and patriarchy on campus," according to a statement by Concerned Student 1950.

Morning of Nov. 2: Jonathan Butler announces he will go on a hunger strike until Wolfe is removed from office.
Butler said his decision was made a few days after student protesters interrupted the Homecoming Parade in October.

To prepare for the strike, he reduced his food intake and researched how his body would react. He updated his will and spoke to a physician.

As of Friday, Butler had gone five days without food.

Butler said the demand for Wolfe’s removal from office was made because of the president's failure to respond sincerely and actively to student concerns about discrimination on campus. Butler has continued his daily life during the strike, working and attending his classes.

“During this hunger strike, I will not consume any food or nutritional sustenance at the expense of my health until either Tim Wolfe is removed from office or my internal organs fail and my life is lost," Butler wrote in a letter to the UM System Board of Directors.

Evening of Nov. 2: Students camp on Carnahan Quadrangle in support of the hunger strike and Wolfe's removal from office.
One Concerned Student 1950 representative said student activists will stay until the semester ends in December, if that's what it takes.

Nov. 3: Concerned Student 1950 and supporters meet with Wolfe and Loftin near University Hall to discuss race relations and discrimination.
The Forum on Graduate Rights, an activist group dedicated to improving the state of graduate student employees at MU, called for the gathering and made a statement supporting Jonathan Butler and his hunger strike.

“JB (Butler) is our colleague, our fellow activist and our friend,” said Eric Scott, co-chair of the Coalition of Graduate Workers, a part of the Forum on Graduate Rights. “We want him to live a happy and healthy life, and you (Wolfe) have the power to resolve this, and we urge you to use it.”

Wolfe responded to students’ comments by saying racism is unacceptable, he is committed to combating it on campus and his actions will support his words. Student activists were not convinced and continued to press Wolfe for answers. Loftin did not make a statement, but was present for the duration of the meeting.

Evening of Nov. 3: Concerned Student 1950 decides to boycott MU services until Wolfe is removed from office.
The boycott was announced Wednesday and officially began Thursday. The group is using the hashtag #BoycottUM to promote the boycott of merchandise, retail dining services and ticketed events. The group began using a website called Change.org to hold a petition to remove Wolfe from office.

“We are boycotting spending money at the Student Center, we are boycotting football games — anything that brings the university extra money, until everything is resolved. If you can’t listen to our voices, you can’t have our dollars," said Storm Ervin, Concerned Student 1950 representative, in an interview.

Nov. 5: Concerned Student 1950 holds a demonstration on campus before the MU-Mississippi State football game.
About 200 members and supporters of Concerned Student 1950 participated in the demonstration, marching through campus and chanting “Join us in the revolution." Participants were urged to identify themselves only as “Concerned Student.” At Speaker's Circle, the group reiterated its demand for UM System President Tim Wolfe’s removal.

The same day, Payton Head posted on Twitter a slideshow of images of racist comments he said were made by MU students, and Chancellor Loftin responded: "Sad to see more hate speech hiding behind anonymity. Racism, bias, discrimination have no place here."

Evening of Nov. 5: Students reschedule a football game protest for Monday, citing security reasons.
Members of Concerned Student 1950 planned to hold the protest after Missouri’s football game Thursday night. Nearly 100 protesters gathered in the basement of the MU Student Center that night, but decided the circumstances — mixing with “drunk white people” after the Tigers’ loss — could lead to an unsafe protest. Details about Monday's protest have not been announced.

Nov. 6: Wolfe issues an apology for his action and inaction during the Homecoming protest.
In the statement, he said he was very concerned for Jonathan Butler's health and acknowledged that racism at the university exists and is unacceptable.

"I regret my reaction at the MU homecoming parade when the ConcernedStudent1950 group approached my car," the statement read. "I am sorry, and my apology is long overdue. My behavior seemed like I did not care. That was not my intention. I was caught off guard in that moment. Nonetheless, had I gotten out of the car to acknowledge the students and talk with them perhaps we wouldn’t be where we are today."

"I am asking us to move forward in addressing the racism that exists at our university — and it does exist. Together we must rise to the challenge of combatting racism, injustice, and intolerance."

Supervising editor is Jeanne Abbott.

TELL US: How do you encounter racism? Some readers have said they don't think it's still a problem. What perspective would you offer?

MORE INFORMATION

UPDATE: Student group announces MU boycott, leads demonstration through campus
Activists put football night protest on hold, plan event for Monday
Two hours in a cold, dark tent on the Carnahan Quadrangle
UPDATE: Protesters meet UM System president outside Kansas City fundraiser
Butler hunger strike supporters challenge Wolfe
Concerned Student 1950 and allies announce boycott
Missourian video captures MU demonstration in support of hunger striker
Student activists camp out to protest Wolfe and support hunger strike
Protesters use recruiting day to voice concerns about racism at MU
Missouri football players appear to join Wolfe protest with boycott

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zelezo vlk

zelezo vlk

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Cackalacky

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zelezo vlk said:
This really doesn't go into enough detail. Just following the timeline, the situation sounds as if a few incidents occur where racial slurs are used, then the homecoming parade is stopped in protest because of the incidents, followed by multiple groups demanding the University system president resign.
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IDK what you want haha. I am just posting the stuff I can find. Don't blame me for the Missourians poor journalism.
:)
 
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MacIrish75

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With no background knowledge of the situation, I sincerely hope it does not come to pass that the young man on the hunger strike loses his life over this. This is not Selma, Alabama, circa the 1960s, and while I appreciate the willingness to attempt to bring about change to the culture of the university, a hunger strike seems quite hyperbolic to me.
 
zelezo vlk

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Cackalacky said:
IDK what you want haha I am just posting the stuff I can find. Don't blame me for the Missourians poor journalism.
:)
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Oh believe me, I'm not blaming you. Have you been following this/do you understand what the president's role is here? I gotta admit, I've had a couple beers and just cannot understand what the reasoning is behind demanding his resignation.

MacIrish75 said:
With no background knowledge of the situation, I sincerely hope it does not come to pass that the young man on the hunger strike loses his life over this. This is not Selma, Alabama, circa the 1960s, and while I appreciate the willingness to attempt to bring about change to the culture of the university, a hunger strike seems quite hyperbolic to me.
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Very much so this. When I saw that this young man went on a hunger strike and claims that he's willing to lose his life over this situation, I thought that it was a huge huge deal. I'm a little skeptical that it is. I very much hope that Mr. Butler does not follow through to that end, if the president remains.
 
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Cackalacky

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zelezo vlk said:
Oh believe me, I'm not blaming you. Have you been following this/do you understand what the president's role is here? I gotta admit, I've had a couple beers and just cannot understand what the reasoning is behind demanding his resignation.



Very much so this. When I saw that this young man went on a hunger strike and claims that he's willing to lose his life over this situation, I thought that it was a huge huge deal. I'm a little skeptical that it is. I very much hope that Mr. Butler does not follow through to that end, if the president remains.
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No, it's breaking news to me. I came across it and thought about the ramifications of over half of an SEC football team quitting in protest. Crazy....
 
Rhode Irish

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I never really understood the logic behind a hunger strike. You're mad at me, and to punish me you're going to starve yourself? The hell kind of sense does that make?
 
MacIrish75

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After reading a few articles on the situation, I guess my main question is: How does the president of the university resigning help stop a few stupid yokels from yelling slurs from the cab of their F-350s with the Stars N Bars flying from the smokestacks? Rednecks gonna redneck, regardless of who's in charge of the university.
 
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If the horrible oppression of blacks at Missouri is little more than a few of them being the recipients of racial epithets by likely non-students, then, yes, great progress has been made.

I bet the "poop" incident turns out to have been staged. As so many such incidents are.
 
MNIrishman

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magogian said:
By expressing your displeasure with the term microaggression, you are committing a microaggression.
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Some unilateral "Persecution complexes are not my problem" statement by the university president would be a pretty good microaggression. In the real world, not everyone is going to like you or treat you fairly. Nut up, accept what you can't change, and change what you can---as long as what you're changing is actually responsible for the difference you want to see in the world.
 
Black Irish

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So let's get this straight. Some jerks, who may or may not be UM students, said mean things to black UM students. Someone supposedly made a shit swastika. The University president instituted mandatory diversity training, condemned racism, and met with a student group to listen to their concerns and demands. And for that, he had his car blocked and surrounded on a city street, illegal BTW. He is being pressured to resign because he did not give in to extreme demands about university hiring and personnel decisions. Yeah, he's obviously a huge villain for not being able to snap his fingers and eliminate all the bad things in the world for the luxury of this student group.
 
irishff1014

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Black Irish said:
So let's get this straight. Some jerks, who may or may not be UM students, said mean things to black UM students. Someone supposedly made a shit swastika. The University president instituted mandatory diversity training, condemned racism, and met with a student group to listen to their concerns and demands. And for that, he had his car blocked and surrounded on a city street, illegal BTW. He is being pressured to resign because he did not give in to extreme demands about university hiring and personnel decisions. Yeah, he's obviously a huge villain for not being able to snap his fingers and eliminate all the bad things in the world for the luxury of this student group.
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Awesome post.

Start pulling scholarships.
 
woolybug25

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MNIrishman said:
The term 'microaggression' needs to disappear.
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No shit. I can't believe that a guy saying someone yelled at him from a moving truck can cause this much turmoil. The reality is that the "activists" at Mizzou have created a self fulfilling prophecy. Where if they yell and scream about something long enough, the perceived issue will become real. P

If I was Pinkel, I would start telling these players that their micro aggression against the program will not stand, man. They have a contract where the school gives them free tuition for their effort on the field. If they are consciously choosing to not honor that, then they can pay their own tuition.
 
Rhode Irish

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I think the guy on the hunger strike is an idiot, just because I still do not understand the logic of a hunger strike. But as far as the football players, I applaud them for following their conscience - I am not on the ground there so they have a much better sense of whether their action is called for or not than I do from reading this one article about it. And if I was their teammate and they were sincere about it, I'd stand with them. It sounds like the athletic department is supporting them, which is good. It isn't surprising that many here feel differently - that is one of the most demographically predictable things imaginable.
 
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Cackalacky

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Its highly likely that the Ferguson issues are playing a role in shaping the on campus perception of racism. It's not like Missouri does not have a tumultuous racial history both past and present.
 
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Cackalacky

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Rhode Irish said:
I think the guy on the hunger strike is an idiot, just because I still do not understand the logic of a hunger strike. But as far as the football players, I applaud them for following their conscience - I am not on the ground there so they have a much better sense of whether their action is called for or not than I do from reading this one article about it. And if I was their teammate and they were sincere about it, I'd stand with them. It sounds like the athletic department is supporting them, which is good. It isn't surprising that many here feel differently - that is one of the most demographically predictable things imaginable.
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Hunger strikes are mainly used to put pressure on the target of the protest by means of guilt. I don't agree with guilting anyone into anything and would rather a battle of ideas win out.
 
kmoose

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Rhode Irish said:
It isn't surprising that many here feel differently - that is one of the most demographically predictable things imaginable.
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What's ironic is that it is almost a mirror image of many of the police threads that have been debated here.

On one side you have a group that is saying, "If what's being reported is the whole story, then fvck that group of people"

On the other side, you have "Hey, let's wait and see what the whole story is before we jump to any crazy conclusions."
 
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