MISSOURI GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JEFFERSON CITY
JEFFERSON CITY – More than 100 Republican House members and 18 members of the Senate Majority Caucus signed on to letters submitted to the MU Board of Curators today, calling for the immediate firing of Assistant Professor Melissa Click. Lawmakers joined together to admonish Click for her role in assaulting and suppressing the First Amendment rights of student journalists, and further inciting the unrest on the Columbia campus.
In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “As a professional representing our University, Click failed to meet the obligations she has to her supervisors, fellow professors, University students, and the taxpayers of Missouri. As an academic professional, her first goal should have been to promote a safe and stable learning environment for all students, and to represent the University to the public in a way that strengthens the image of our flagship state institution of higher education. Instead, Professor Click’s comments served to inflame an already caustic situation that was clearly out of line.”
The letter focuses on Click’s actions, which include “a complete disregard for the First Amendment rights of reporters” and her assault on a “student videographer by grabbing his camera” and her calling on “those around her to bring in ‘some muscle’ to help remove the reporters.”
“At every turn, Click’s actions were unacceptable and inflammatory in a situation where the students and the public needed and expected university employees to serve professionally and as a calming influence,” said State Rep. Caleb Jones, R-Columbia. “It’s imperative that the university act swiftly to remove her from her position.”
“I expect more out of the faculty and staff at the University of Missouri-Columbia,” said Sen. Schaefer. “The actions of both Basler and Click were unacceptable and inflammatory in nature; the university needs educators who display civility and patience even during emotional moments.”
The group of lawmakers concluded their letter by noting that, “the university now has the opportunity to send a strong message that leadership can and will act quickly and decisively to root out bad behavior. We urge you to do so immediately.”
The letter submitted to the University of Missouri Board of Curators is attached.
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