Update
Timothy Wolfe, president of the University of Missouri, announced this morning that he is resigning after a wave of student protests shed light on the school’s mishandling of racial tensions.
Instances of racism have been very blatant on campus following the death of Mike Brown in Ferguson, approximately two hours away from the university which is in Columbia.
This includes students being called The N-Word in addition to a swastika being drawn with human feces on the wall of a college dorm.
Following Wolfe’s lack of urgency in addressing the current climate on campus, graduate student, Jonathan Butler, began a hunger strike.
Now, the university’s predominately African American football team, as well as their Caucasian coaches are showing their solidarity. According to ESPN, 42 of the 64 football players on Mizzou’s rooster are African American. The team refused to play until Wolfe was stripped of his title.
Missouri’s Legion of Black Collegians announced the strike via twitter: “The athletes of color on the University of Missouri football team truly believe ‘Injustice Anywhere is a threat to Justice Everywhere. We will no longer participate in any football related activities until President Tim Wolfe resigns or is removed due to his negligence toward marginalized students’ experiences. WE ARE UNITED!!!!!”
Members of the faculty joined the crusade by walking out of their classes. “We, the concerned faculty of the University of Missouri, stand in solidarity with the Mizzou student activists who are advocating for racial justice,” read a statement obtained by the ABC News.
Even the Governor of Missouri, Jay Nixon expressed his disappointment in the ongoing situation. “Racism and intolerance have no place at the University of Missouri or anywhere in our state,” he said. “…These concerns must be addressed to ensure the University of Missouri is a place where all students can pursue their dreams in an environment of respect, tolerance and inclusion.”
Follow #concernedstudent1950 for the latest updates on the situation.
Update: University Of Missouri President Resigns Amid Student Protests was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
