University Of Missouri Fires Prof Who Blocked Journalist From Protest

FILE - This Nov. 9, 2015 file frame grab provided by Mark Schierbecker shows Melissa Click, right, an assistant professor in the University of Missouri's communications, during a run-in with student journalists at a ... FILE - This Nov. 9, 2015 file frame grab provided by Mark Schierbecker shows Melissa Click, right, an assistant professor in the University of Missouri's communications, during a run-in with student journalists at a campus protest that followed the resignations of the university system's president and the Columbia campus' chancellor in Columbia, Mo. Click, who confronted a student photographer and another student videographer during the protests and called for 'muscle' to remove them, was charged with misdemeanor assault on Monday, Jan. 25, 2106. (Mark Schierbecker via AP, File) MANDATORY CREDIT MORE LESS
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Officials at the University of Missouri on Wednesday fired Melissa Click, the professor who infamously blocked a student journalist from a protest on campus late last year, The Columbia Daily Tribune reported.

In November, Click was caught on camera telling a videographer for the student paper to leave an area where demonstrators had gathered to protest the way the university addressed race issues on campus. Click could be heard calling for “some muscle” to help her remove the journalist.

Officials voted 4-2 to fire the assistant professor, according to the Daily Tribune.

“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,” Chairwoman Pam Henrickson said in a 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.”

Click did not immediately return the publication’s request for comment on Thursday.

She had previously been put on paid leave. In January. Click also was charged with assault after a student videographer filed a complaint with police.

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  1. Avatar for jw1 jw1 says:

    Click bait.

    jw1

  2. Some enterprising lawyer should see if there is a possible class action suit on behalf of users of orange hair dye who then become bullying tyrants who tolerate no dissent.

  3. Took them a while, but ‘freedom of the press’ eventually won.

  4. Melissa Click really has no business posing as an educator. She ought to be happy with this outcome. It will give her a clearly much-needed opportunity to find her true calling. Bouncer comes to mind, assuming all the screeching harpy positions in town are filled.

  5. Avatar for estamm estamm says:

    I really think she was caught up in the moment and went a bit too far in trying to ‘protect’ the students who really didn’t need to be protected. Sort of a harsh penalty, but one that you really can’t argue with when it comes right down to it. She does need to rethink how she deals with student interactions in the future, assuming she goes back to teaching.

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