Racial Tensions Inflame Missouri Campus
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Racial tensions continue to rise in Missouri more than a year after riots erupted over the police shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown. This time the protests are 120 miles west of Ferguson, at the University of Missouri.
"Concerned Student 1950," a student activism group named for the year the university accepted its first African-American student, says complaints of recent racist incidents have fallen on deaf ears from University President Tim Wolfe.
Jonathan Butler, a graduate student, initiated a hunger strike asking for Wolfe to step down. This weekend, members of the Missouri football team joined in the protest and tweeted a missive stating they would not engage in football-related activities until the president resigns. The coach says he stands by his team.
The Mizzou Family stands as one. We are united. We are behind our players. #ConcernedStudent1950 GP pic.twitter.com/fMHbPPTTKl
— Coach Gary Pinkel (@GaryPinkel) November 8, 2015
The pressure from the students appears to be working—on Monday, Wolfe announced that he would resign from his position.
Ryan Famuliner, news director at public radio station KBIA, weighs in on the controversy.Â
What you'll learn from this segment:
- What sorts of incidents have caused students to become upset and protest.
- What the reaction has been from President Tim Wolfe.
- Where faculty, students, and athletic teams stand on these issues.
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