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| University of Missouri under fire again over response to attack threat | University of Missouri under fire again over response to attack threat |
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| Parts of the University of Missouri campus appeared all but empty on Wednesday after a man was arrested overnight for allegedly threatening black students and faculty days after protesters were successful in forcing the school’s president to resign. | Parts of the University of Missouri campus appeared all but empty on Wednesday after a man was arrested overnight for allegedly threatening black students and faculty days after protesters were successful in forcing the school’s president to resign. |
| Students and faculty at the University of Missouri protested for weeks, accusing administrators of not taking racism concerns seriously. Outrage reached a fever pitch last weekend when the football team, a powerful Division I athletics program, threatened to boycott an upcoming game. By Monday, both the school’s chancellor and president had resigned, and a new vice-chancellor of diversity had been appointed. | Students and faculty at the University of Missouri protested for weeks, accusing administrators of not taking racism concerns seriously. Outrage reached a fever pitch last weekend when the football team, a powerful Division I athletics program, threatened to boycott an upcoming game. By Monday, both the school’s chancellor and president had resigned, and a new vice-chancellor of diversity had been appointed. |
| I can count the number of people walking to the student center right now. #Mizzou @CoMissourian pic.twitter.com/ODVdvDwEIP | I can count the number of people walking to the student center right now. #Mizzou @CoMissourian pic.twitter.com/ODVdvDwEIP |
| Not a student in sight. @CoMissourian pic.twitter.com/vkdAmLLEtl | Not a student in sight. @CoMissourian pic.twitter.com/vkdAmLLEtl |
| On Tuesday, university police confirmed to the Missourian that a meeting at the black cultural center was closed after activists there received a phone threat. That evening, after days of protests, at least two threats were posted to the anonymous sharing app Yik Yak, a social media platform popular on American college campuses. The app uses commenters’ geographic location to curate conversations. | On Tuesday, university police confirmed to the Missourian that a meeting at the black cultural center was closed after activists there received a phone threat. That evening, after days of protests, at least two threats were posted to the anonymous sharing app Yik Yak, a social media platform popular on American college campuses. The app uses commenters’ geographic location to curate conversations. |
| One user posted that they would “shoot every black person I see”. | One user posted that they would “shoot every black person I see”. |
| Another said: “Some of you are alright. Don’t go to campus tomorrow,” according to the Associated Press. The threats provoked alarm among students. Recent mass shootings, including one in Oregon where nine people were killed, have been connected to online manifestos and threats. | Another said: “Some of you are alright. Don’t go to campus tomorrow,” according to the Associated Press. The threats provoked alarm among students. Recent mass shootings, including one in Oregon where nine people were killed, have been connected to online manifestos and threats. |
| By Wednesday morning, one person was in the University of Missouri police’s custody. Hunter Michael Park, a 19-year-old St Louis resident, was charged with making terroristic threats. | By Wednesday morning, one person was in the University of Missouri police’s custody. Hunter Michael Park, a 19-year-old St Louis resident, was charged with making terroristic threats. |
| “This sort of misbehavior is NOT what Yik Yak is to be used for. Period. It is not condoned by Yik Yak, and it violates our Terms of Service,” the company wrote in a blogpost on Wednesday. “Yik Yak works alongside local authorities to help in investigations, and we may share information with law enforcement as set forth in our privacy policy and legal page.” | “This sort of misbehavior is NOT what Yik Yak is to be used for. Period. It is not condoned by Yik Yak, and it violates our Terms of Service,” the company wrote in a blogpost on Wednesday. “Yik Yak works alongside local authorities to help in investigations, and we may share information with law enforcement as set forth in our privacy policy and legal page.” |
| But criticism of the school’s administration was only spurred by the incident. Activists said students were not sufficiently notified of the threats, and questioned whether the incidents were not taken seriously because of the race of students threatened. | But criticism of the school’s administration was only spurred by the incident. Activists said students were not sufficiently notified of the threats, and questioned whether the incidents were not taken seriously because of the race of students threatened. |
| “Do Mizzou folks remember how fast the [student center] was cleared when there were bomb threats?” Concerned Student 1950 posted on Twitter, using the University of Missouri’s nickname. The group has organized protests on campus since October. “Meanwhile the [black culture center] & black students get threatened & …”. | “Do Mizzou folks remember how fast the [student center] was cleared when there were bomb threats?” Concerned Student 1950 posted on Twitter, using the University of Missouri’s nickname. The group has organized protests on campus since October. “Meanwhile the [black culture center] & black students get threatened & …”. |
| Nevertheless, classes were not canceled on Wednesday despite a request from the student government Missouri Students Association to cancel the school day in light of the threats, the AP reported. | Nevertheless, classes were not canceled on Wednesday despite a request from the student government Missouri Students Association to cancel the school day in light of the threats, the AP reported. |
| Criticism of Mizzou’s emergency notification system is not new. Earlier this year, the alert system was under scrutiny after administrators failed to notify students that police shot an armed suspect in a campus parking garage until 30 minutes after the incident. Two weeks later the alert system was criticized again when administrators failed to tell students about a bomb threat. University police also came under fire on Tuesday for asking students to report “hurtful” speech, which is not criminal. | Criticism of Mizzou’s emergency notification system is not new. Earlier this year, the alert system was under scrutiny after administrators failed to notify students that police shot an armed suspect in a campus parking garage until 30 minutes after the incident. Two weeks later the alert system was criticized again when administrators failed to tell students about a bomb threat. University police also came under fire on Tuesday for asking students to report “hurtful” speech, which is not criminal. |
| Controversies stemming from the protests have also led to the resignation of two professors. A communications professor, Melissa Click, apologized on Tuesday after a video emerged of her asking for “muscle” to stop reporters from filming the public protests. | |
| Another professor, Dale Brigham of the nutrition department, was criticized after he asked students to come to class despite the threats to prevent “bullies” from winning. | Another professor, Dale Brigham of the nutrition department, was criticized after he asked students to come to class despite the threats to prevent “bullies” from winning. |
| “It’s really disheartening and proves the point of why these protests and boycotts were necessary,” Gaby Rodriguez told the AP about the threats. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt this unsafe at Mizzou.” | “It’s really disheartening and proves the point of why these protests and boycotts were necessary,” Gaby Rodriguez told the AP about the threats. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt this unsafe at Mizzou.” |
| On Yik Yak, those sentiments were echoed in an emotional, and anonymous, conversation about protests and fear. | On Yik Yak, those sentiments were echoed in an emotional, and anonymous, conversation about protests and fear. |
| “Just because one person that made a threat is now in custody does not mean campus is safe,” wrote one user. “When tensions are this high I do not feel comfortable walking to class. Stay safe fellow students.” | “Just because one person that made a threat is now in custody does not mean campus is safe,” wrote one user. “When tensions are this high I do not feel comfortable walking to class. Stay safe fellow students.” |
| Such sentiments were mixed with mundane college talk. “Who is the best professor for American Govt?” and expressions of solidarity. “We are still onemizzou [sic]. We will come back from this.” | Such sentiments were mixed with mundane college talk. “Who is the best professor for American Govt?” and expressions of solidarity. “We are still onemizzou [sic]. We will come back from this.” |