Mizzou Prof Resigns After Telling Students To Stand Up To Bullies

The Daily Caller ^ | 11/11/2015 | lake Neff

[E. Pluribus Unum]

A professor at the University of Missouri (MU) has announced his resignation, hounded out after refusing to cancel an exam and telling students to stand up to online threats.

The situation developed with incredible speed to drive nutrition and physiology professor Dale Brigham from his position at MU.

Brigham had scheduled a Wednesday exam for his Nutritional Science 1034 class. Some students emailed Tuesday night asking if they could skip the exam and make it up later, saying they were afraid to attend class due to threats posted online against black students.

Brigham, who is white, initially replied by saying the exam would not be delayed or canceled, and told students to come to class as scheduled.

“If you give in to bullies, they win,” Brigham said in an email to the class. “The only way bullies are defeated is by standing up to them. If we cancel the exam, they win; if we go through with it, they lose.”

“I know which side I am on,” he said to conclude the message. “You make your own choice.” Brigham also pointed out to The Washington Post that MU officials had refused to cancel classes or put out any statements regarded the alleged threats, indicating that they are currently not seen as credible.

“If they confirm any of these threats, I will follow through appropriately,” he said. While MU officials hadn’t detected any serious threats, at about the same time as Brigham’s emails a bogus rumor was sweeping across MU that Ku Klux Klan members were menacing the campus. (RELATED: Mizzou Students Hallucinate KKK On Campus)

Brigham was savaged online for his response by both MU students and others, who accused him of being callous about the plight of black students.

My Teacher had the nerve to email me, "If we cancel class, then we let the bullies win." Like this is a game or something.

— JJ not Jay-Jay (@nugget2times) November 11, 2015

After a few hours, Brigham gave in, sending a follow-up email Tuesday night apologizing for his wording and saying that students would be allowed to make up the test if the missed it:

The email I received in response to my message urging professor Brigham to postpone exams. #Mizzou pic.twitter.com/TOsD2c2B3o

— Gette (@demisoule) November 11, 2015

But events have continued to move rapidly, and after enduring a deluge of hostile emails, Brigham announced Wednesday afteroon he was canceling the exam entirely and quitting his job.

Dale Brigham resignation [Twitter]

Brigham confirmed to KOMU 8 News that he has submitted his resignation to MU officials, though he hasn’t elaborated whether it was due to student criticism, official pressure, or some other reason.

Already, many people claiming to be current or former Brigham students have gone online to vent their outrage:

@Nero I was a student in Dale Brigham's class and can honestly say he was one of the nicest teachers at Mizzou. (I'm brown).

— Bud Hennekes (@Aboundlessworld) November 11, 2015

Damn just saw Dale Brigham resigned. He was easily one of my favorite professors at Mizzou and this shouldnt have happened. What a shame

— Ricky Armola (@SlickRickDaRulr) November 11, 2015

While Brigham is leaving, communications professor Melissa Click, the communications professor who was severe criticized for attacking a student journalist on Monday, remains at her post, having only given up a courtesy appointment she held at the school of journalism (where she did not teach).

[Flycatcher]

University of Missouri:

WORST. UNIVERSITY. EVER!

[Trailerpark Badass]

LOL, Big Academia being revealed for the absolute farce it has been for some time.

I think the "issue" of the rising cost of "college" might just be in the process of fixing itself.

[Iron Munro]

Will just one person in authority on that campus please grow a pair or rent a spine !!!

[Kirkwood]

There should be a class action lawsuit by alumni to sue the university for trashing the value of their education.

[Trailerpark Badass]

After all, a university is about Marxism, sports, sex, drugs and alcohol, not education.

FIFY.

[imardmd1]

Let the Profs and administrators quit as a group, and let the students and Provost have the campus. Watch citizenship in action outside the Political Science buildings . . .

Occupy Campus! ( /sarc )

[Trailerpark Badass]

If any real Harvard Law grad hasn’t done so since Michelle, it ain’t gonna happen.

[gusty]

Reminds of the old saying, “Those who can do, do. Those who can’t do, teach. And those who can’t teach, teach gym.”

[PAR35]

I’d put Marxism after sports, but you are right, it does belong high on the list.

[MasterGunner01]

Give all students in his classes INCOMPLETE and then resign. [Or, FAIL all of them.]