Posted on 02/25/2016 12:17:35 PM PST by abb
Assistant Professor Melissa Click, captured on video calling for “some muscle†to remove reporters from a campus protest site, was fired Wednesday by the University of Missouri Board of Curators, Chairwoman Pam Henrickson said in a prepared statement.
The board voted 4-2 in favor of termination during a closed session in Kansas City, with Henrickson and curator John Phillips opposing the move, UM System spokesman John Fougere wrote in an email Thursday. Curators David Steelman, Donald Cupps, Maurice Graham and Phil Snowden voted in favor of firing Click.
Click did not respond to a message seeking comment Thursday. The board earlier voted to suspend Click with pay on Jan. 27.
“The board respects Dr. Click’s right to express her views and does not base this decision on her support for students engaged in protest or their views,†Henrickson said in the prepared statement. “However, Dr. Click was not entitled to interfere with the rights of others, to confront members of law enforcement or to encourage potential physical intimidation against a student.â€
The statement from Henrickson cited Click’s behavior at the Homecoming parade, when she cursed at a police officer who was moving protesters out of the street, and on Nov. 9 at Concerned Student 1950’s protest site on the Carnahan Quadrangle. Her actions at the protest site, Henrickson said, “when she interfered with members of the media and students who were exercising their rights in a public space and called for intimidation against one of our students, we believe demands serious action.â€
The investigators hired by the curators reviewed videos, documents and conducted more than 20 interviews, Henrickson said.
“She has the right to appeal her termination,†Henrickson said. “The board went to significant lengths to ensure fairness and due process.â€
Interim MU Chancellor Hank Foley released a statement Thursday admitting the process the curators used to fire Click was "not typical."
"These have been extraordinary times in our university’s history, and I am in complete agreement with the board that the termination of Dr. Click is in the best interest of our university," Foley said. "Her actions in October and November are those that directly violate the core values of our university."
Foley said the process and investigation that led to Click's termination had been fair.
Click’s employment has become a political liability for the university. The House Budget Committee will consider a spending bill next week that cuts $402,000 from the Columbia campus budget — the amount of Click’s salary as well as that of her department chair and the dean of the College of Arts and Science — and $7.6 million from the UM System’s administrative budget.
State Rep. Chuck Basye, R-Rocheport, wrote to members of the Downtown Community Improvement District board that Click is a symbol that is hurting the university.
“Everybody that I talked to said it would be a step in the right direction and would show some leadership,†Basye said Thursday. “I firmly believe she should have been terminated after the first video.â€
Click “is a flashpoint that allows us to potentially begin to move away from a backward-looking dialogue to a more forward-facing dialogue,†state Rep. Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, said Thursday before the announcement. “I think it would help†if she were fired, he said.
The curators’ earlier decision to suspend Click has been criticized by the MU Faculty Council and the American Association of University Professors.
I’m sure the Hillary and Sanders campaigns have already made offers.
‘Feel good’ story.
She’s probably on the short list for Hillarys Cabinet.
No problem. She’ll find another commie college to give her another do-nothing job.
Good riddance to that liberal b*tch.
Here’s what it takes to get a “not typical” process going ...
Click’s employment has become a political liability for the university. The House Budget Committee will consider a spending bill next week that cuts $402,000 from the Columbia campus budget — the amount of Click’s salary as well as that of her department chair and the dean of the College of Arts and Science — and $7.6 million from the UM System’s administrative budget.
She was screaming like an idiot,and the student reporter was very calming saying “I don’t have to leave.” Good riddance to trash!
Good move, of course. As an aside I really hope FR does something soon about all the gibberish characters that populate stories like this. This was borderline unreadable.
I can finally say again
I am proud to be from Missouri
Somewhat. The vote should have been 6-0 to fire her, not 4-2.
She was also a legal liability for the University. The reporter had a huge civil rights lawsuit against the University, and if they didn’t fire her, they were on the hook for higher damages. Plus, a loose cannon like this is another lawsuit waiting to happen.
When it comes to spending their own money, liberals are conservative.
Here’s the sort of “work” she was doing ...
Current research projects involve 50 Shades of Grey readers, the impact of social media in fans’ relationship with Lady Gaga, masculinity and male fans
All those missing donations must’ve really hurt.
Maybe she can flip burgers at Micky D’s.
The Trump Effect.
Don’t underestimate it. The Rats are always the first to desert their ship in times of trouble. Rule #1 for any Rat is to save their own @ss first and above all other considerations.
They smell Trump coming.
Cue the student protests. Again.
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