University of Missouri Fires Instructor After Student Run-Ins

She famously called for "some muscle" to remove a journalist last year
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Feb 25, 2016 5:10 PM CST
University of Missouri Fires Instructor After Student Run-Ins
Melissa Click, an assistant professor at the University of Missouri, is seen during a run-in with student journalists during protests on campus last year. She was fired Thursday.   (Mark Schierbecker)

The University of Missouri fired an assistant professor on Thursday who had been suspended after run-ins with student journalists during protests last year, including a videotaped confrontation where she called for "some muscle" to remove a videographer from the Columbia campus, the AP reports. Melissa Click's actions were "not compatible with university policies and did not meet expectations for a university faculty member," said Pam Henrickson, chairwoman of the University of Missouri System's Board of Curators. Henrickson said Click's conduct demanded "serious action." More than 100 state lawmakers had called for the dismissal of the 45-year-old assistant communications professor, who was also recorded on police body camera in October telling police to get their hands off students and cursing at an officer who grabbed her.

Click, who was suspended last month, has said she regretted her actions. A video clip that went viral showed Click calling for "some muscle" to remove a student videographer during protests on Nov. 9 that were spurred by what activists said was administrators' indifference to racial issues on campus. Click was later charged with assault, but a Columbia prosecutor ultimately agreed to drop the case if Click completed community service. More recently, police body camera footage was released from the October homecoming parade that shows Click's confrontation with police, telling one officer to "get your hands off the children" and cursing at an officer who grabbed her shoulder. "Her conduct and behavior are appalling, and I am not only disappointed, I am angry, that a member of our faculty acted this way," the university's interim chancellor said (More University of Missouri stories.)

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