Mizzou Prof Apologizes, Quits Journalism Post

Cops investigating campus threats
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 11, 2015 12:56 AM CST
Updated Nov 11, 2015 6:03 AM CST

The University of Missouri professor who called for "some muscle" to get a journalist away from student protesters says she's sorry—and she has resigned from her courtesy appointment at the Missouri School of Journalism. In a statement, Melissa Click apologized to the campus community "and journalists at large, for my behavior, and also for the way my actions have shifted attention away from the students’ campaign for justice," reports the Missourian, which notes that Click is a mass media professor in the Communication Department and that the courtesy appointment at the university's journalism school had allowed her to "serve on graduate committees for students from other academic units."

David Kurpius, dean of the Missouri School of Journalism, tells the Missourian that Click resigned the appointment just before the executive committee held a vote on the issue. "She was intelligent and thoughtful and apologetic for many of the things that had happened," he says, adding that it is "unacceptable" that she has been receiving threats. Click isn't the only one receiving threats amid controversy over racial issues: Police are investigating threats made on the social media site Yik Yak Tuesday night, including one from a user who wrote he would "shoot every black person I see," the Los Angeles Times reports. The controversy over the university's handling of racial incidents led to the resignations this week of the university's president and chancellor. (More University of Missouri stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X