Vol82eissue12 by The Maneater Student Newspaper

THE MANEATER

The student voice of MU since 1955

www.theManeater.com

Vol. 82, E-Issue

NOVEMBER 10, 2015

ADMIN DEPARTURE

Wolfe, Loftin resign

JACK HERRICK | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

UM President Wolfe resigns amid growing racial tensions HAILEY STOLZE, NANCY COLEMAN, TAYLOR BLATCHFORD AND WAVERLY COLVILLE

Loftin announces resignation as chancellor effective Jan. 1 TAYLOR BLATCHFORD AND QUINN MALLOY of The Maneater Staff

of The Maneater Staff UM System President Tim Wolfe announced his resignation Monday morning to a room of reporters, MU officials and the UM System Board of Curators following demonstrations on MU’s campus. In a statement, Wolfe addressed the frustration of students and members of the MU community. He also acknowledged that a lack of communication “forced individuals like Jonathan Butler to take … unusual steps to effect change.” “To our students, from Concerned Student 1950, grad students, football players and other students, the frustration and anger that I see is clear, real, and I don’t doubt it for a second,” Wolfe said. A series of controversial events have caused growing tensions on campus this semester. On Monday, Nov. 2, graduate student Jonathan Butler began a hunger strike with the goal of Wolfe’s removal. Wolfe’s resignation fell on the eighth day of Butler’s hunger strike. Social justice groups such as the Student Coalition for Critical Action have staged several protests directed toward administration, including a

Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin announced his resignation, effective Jan. 1, at a meeting with the UM System Board of Curators on Monday, Nov. 9. Loftin will become the director for research facility development. He said he will work with different areas of the university to advance research and “assist the campus community.” “It has been my pleasure to serve as chancellor of this great institution,” Loftin said in a statement. “I hope that every member of our campus community will embrace each person’s right to express their opinions in a respectful manner and to make progress toward our common goal of an inclusive campus that values the contributions of all individuals.” Earlier on Monday, nine deans called for Loftin's resignation in an open letter to the curators, according to the Columbia Tribune. Loftin became MU’s chancellor Feb. 1, 2014, after Brady Deaton stepped down from the position in November 2013. He was formerly the president of Texas A&M University. When he was hired, Loftin said he expected to enjoy a lengthy tenure. “I wouldn’t have even dreamed of coming here without a long-term commitment,” he said at the time.

WOLFE | Page 2

LOFTIN | Page 2

THE MANEATER | NEWS | NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Board of Curators announces new diversity initiatives following Loftin’s resignation The initiatives include a first-ever chief diversity, inclusion and equity officer for the UM System and one at each system campus. NANCY COLEMAN Reporter The UM Board of Curators announced Monday a new series of diversity initiatives to be implemented over the next 90 days. The initiatives will address the racial climate on UM System campuses, and the board announced its plan for “an open communication process that invites perspective from across the system,” according to a UM System news release. The list also includes initiatives that are specific to the MU campus. The announcement came after Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin announced his resignation and transition into director for research facility development, effective Jan. 1. “The Board of Curators will not tolerate hateful activities on our campuses — period,” UM Board of Curators Chairman Donald Cupps said in a UM System press conference. “We are taking additional measures beginning today to ensure that our campuses are free of acts of hatred, so that our campuses all embody a culture of respect.” The initiatives include a first-ever chief diversity, inclusion and equity officer that will be appointed for the UM System. This position will also be established on each individual UM System campus, with the officer reporting to the chancellor. In regards to racial climate on the UM System campuses, the board also announced a full review of all UM System policies as they relate to

WOLFE Continued from page 1

series entitled “Racism Lives Here” since the beginning of the semester. On-campus ac t i v i s m directly affected officials from UM System on Oct. 11 when Concerned Student 1950, a student advocacy movement, held a protest during the Homecoming parade by

LOFTIN Continued from page 1

However, his tenure began with a series of controversies from which he never truly recovered. Just three weeks into Loftin’s time as chancellor, an upper balcony collapsed at the MU-owned University Village apartments, causing the building to be evacuated. One Columbia firefighter, Lt.

MORGAN MAGID | PHOTOGRAPHER

Chairman Donald L. Cupps speaks at a UM system Board of Curators meeting Nov. 9, 2015, at the Old Alumni Center. During the meeting, Tim Wolfe announced his resignation as president of the UM System.

staff and student conduct; additional support for students, faculty and staff who have experienced discrimination and disparate treatment; and additional support for the hiring and retention of diverse faculty and staff, according to the news release. The board will also create a diversity, inclusion and equity task force to develop both a short- and long-term strategy, plan and metrics for the UM System; establish campus-based task forces to develop diversity, inclusion and equity strategies, plans and metrics on individual UM campuses; and launch a diversity, inclusion and equity leadership training and development education program, which includes the board of curators, president and administrative leadership along with broader faculty

and staff training, according to the news release. Specifically on the MU campus, the press release reads that there will be a process in place to identify external diversity, inclusion and equity consultants to conduct a comprehensive assessment of diversity and inclusion efforts on campus. There will also be mandatory diversity, inclusion and equity training for all faculty, staff and future incoming students. In addition to the diversity initiatives, the board will also continue the comprehensive review of student mental health services to ensure that students are referred to the most appropriate resources for their needs at MU. “I think the biggest part to take away from this is that the administrators are

actually starting to listen to us,” said Andrew Pham, external vice president of the Asian American Association. Dr. Berkley Hudson, chairman of the Faculty Council Committee on Race Relations and an associate professor in the School of Journalism, said in a phone interview Monday night that while he has not had a chance to read the new initiatives at the time of the interview, the main goal for him and the rest of the committee is to “work as closely as possible with administration to make (the initiatives) as effective as possible.” “I’m more hopeful with the addition of diverse faculty,” Pham said. “I think the presence is what’s really needed here on campus.”

blocking Tim Wolfe’s car. Wolfe grew up in Columbia. He graduated from MU in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree from the Trulaske College of Business. Wolfe’s father taught communications at MU’s College of Arts and Sciences, and his mother now teaches law at the Massachusetts School of Law in Andover after earning four degrees at MU. He was also the quarterback on the 1975 state championship winning

team for Rock Bridge High School. His presidenc y was announced Dec. 13, 2011, after a yearlong search by the Board of Curators. “I am very much looking forward to talking to students and trying to understand how we’re doing in delivering a quality education to each and every student on the campuses we serve,” Wolfe said when hired. In 2014, the curators

extended Wolfe’s contract to June 30, 2018. He had originally been contracted through February 15, 2015. At the time of the extension, former board Chairman Don Downing said that enrollment and donations have “substantially increased under Wolfe’s watch.” Previously, Wolfe served as an executive for IBM for 20 years and then became the executive vice president of Covansys in 2000. He then

served as president of the

Bruce Britt, died responding to the incident. The complex was demolished in July 2014. After a report in April 2014 found MU failed to properly handle former swimmer Sasha Menu Courey’s sexual assault case, Loftin pledged to improve MU’s sexual assault procedures. Menu Courey killed herself in June 2011, 15 months after the assault was reported. Loftin later created a full-time Title IX coordinator position, which was filled by Ellen Eardley in

April 2015. Racial tensions on campus have escalated since the killing of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson in August 2014. Several protests from student group MU4MikeBrown and others focused on racism on campus. At race relations forums held on campus, Loftin and other administrators were called out for their lack of action. Graduate students protested in August 2015 after MU

announced they would lose their university-sponsored health care. In a Faculty Council meeting the following week, Associate Vice Chancellor for Graduate Studies Leona Rubin revealed administrators hadn’t reviewed graduate satisfaction data in 12 years. Loftin was criticized for his slow response to Missouri Students Association President Payton Head’s Facebook post Sept. 11 detailing an instance of racism on campus. Loftin

released a statement Sept. 17 condemning discrimination on campus. A few weeks later, members of the Legion of Black Collegians’ Homecoming royalty court were harassed on Traditions Plaza while rehearsing a skit Oct. 5. Loftin responded the next day with a statement and video. On Oct. 8, he announced the development of a mandatory campus-wide diversity and inclusion training for incoming students.

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Wolfe choked on his words with tears in his eyes. “My decision to resign comes out of love, not hate,” Wolfe said. “Use my resignation to heal and start talking again, to make the changes necessary.”

THE MANEATER | NEWS | NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Concerned Student 1950 reacts to Wolfe’s resignation GEORGE ROBERSON Copy Chief Concerned Student 1950 called Tim Wolfe’s resignation a “glimmer of hope” for marginalized students but said Wolfe leaving is “just the beginning” at a news conference Monday afternoon. The UM System president was under pressure to resign after graduate student Jonathan Butler’s weeklong hunger strike, Mizzou football players’ boycott of football activities and a day of national media coverage. Butler spoke publicly for the first time since the end of his hunger strike in front of more than 500 people at Traditions Plaza. “It would be inappropriate if I did not acknowledge the students who have been fighting for us,” Butler said. “This was not Jonathan Butler. This was the Mizzou community for one of the first times I've seen stand together united.” Concerned Student 1950 member Marshall Allen announced a new demand: immediate meetings with Faculty Council, the UM System Board of Curators and Gov. Jay Nixon.

Concerned Student 1950 leaders said they criticize MU because they love MU and want to see it change. “I can say the last eight days, I've seen an outpouring of love that has empowered me to continue this fight,” graduate student Reuben Faloughi said. “If you're marginalized, keep fighting. You can get what you want. You can get what you deserve.” The students said they want “full shared governance” over the university, including input in the selection process for Wolfe’s successor. They said in 10 years, they would like to see a more inclusive campus and 15 percent black faculty. At the end of the news conference, Butler led the crowd in chants. “I am a revolutionary,” Butler chanted. “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our freedom.” Chants of “M-I-Z, Z-O-U” broke out after, and one of the Concerned Student 1950 members asked the crowd to stop. “That’s still traumatic for us because it was used against us,” a student said.

PHOTOS BY ALEXZANDRIA CHURCHILL, JACK HERRICK AND ELIZABETH LOUTFI

Concerned Student 1950 group members and supporters celebrate at the Mel Carnahan Quad after Tim Wolfe announced his resignation as UM System president at a UM Board of Curators meeting Nov. 9, 2015.

THE MANEATER | NEWS | NOVEMBER 10, 2015

THOMAS OIDE | PHOTOGRAPHER

Missouri Tigers football players gathered to release a statement on Tim Wolfe’s resignation as UM System president and the conclusion of their boycott Monday at the Mel Carnahan Quad.

In light of Wolfe’s resignation, Missouri football team ‘closer and tighter’ Gary Pinkel: “I got involved because I support my players and a young man’s life was on the line, and basically, that’s what it came down to. My support for my players had nothing to do with anybody losing their job and with something like this, football became secondary.” BRUNO VERNASCHI, ALEC LEWIS AND WILL JARVIS of The Maneater Staff Members of the Missouri football team said Monday evening they had wanted to use their platform as highprofile athletes to make a difference. It worked. Tim Wolfe, the UM System President, announced his resignation at 10:15 a.m. Monday. A number of controversial events on campus brought pressure on Wolfe, who was criticized for his inadequate response to racial issues at MU. “It started with a few individuals on our team and look what it’s become,” sophomore defensive end Charles Harris said. “Look where we are right now. This is nationally known, and it started with just a few.” Wolfe, who had served as system president since 2012, failed to find a different solution to the demands from Jonathan Butler and Concerned Student 1950, who demanded he step down. Graduate student Butler, 25, announced a hunger strike via Facebook on Nov. 2, stating he would not eat until Wolfe either resigned or was removed from office. That night, tents appeared on Carnahan Quad with the hashtag #MizzouHungerStrike displayed on signs outside the camp. Tensions rose on campus all week as Butler’s hunger strike continued, but it wasn’t until the Missouri football team came out in full support that the headlines

surfaced on national media outlets. The team’s involvement began when sophomore wide receiver J’Mon Moore met with Butler on Wednesday morning. The next day, he spoke to safety Anthony Sherrils, his roommate, about the situation. According to Moore, the two brought the idea of getting the football team involved to Harris and senior safety Ian Simon. By Saturday, the entire team had been notified, and Sherrils tweeted out a photo of 32 black football players, arm-in-arm, with Butler in the center. Following a lengthy meeting in the Mizzou Athletics Training Complex on Sunday morning, coach Gary Pinkel sent out a tweet emphasizing unity within his program. Following a statement on Sunday, Pinkel and athletic director Mack Rhoades took the podium Monday to further expand on the events. “I got involved because I support my players and a young man’s life was on the line and basically that’s what it came down to,” Pinkel said. “My support for my players had nothing to do with anybody losing their job and with something like this, football became secondary.” Although players chose to abstain from Monday’s weekly media availability, a group of them, including Sherrils, Moore, Harris and Simon, gathered for a meeting at the Student Center. Following their conference, the athletes, followed by members of the media and accompanied by supporters, walked over to Carnahan Quad, where the Concerned Student 1950 campout was set up. A number of football team members met in private within the sea of tents, after which they approached the media with a statement. “We love the game,” Simon said. “But at the end of the day, it is just that: a game. Through this experience, we have really been able to bridge the gap between student and athlete in the phrase ‘student-athlete.’ By connecting with the community and realizing the bigger picture, we will continue to build with the community and support positive change on Mizzou’s campus.” Moore said he has been in contact with Butler

JORDAN KODNER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

throughout the day, noting that he had resumed eating, though slowly. While the football players spoke to the media, Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin announced his resignation. The four student-athletes who had been key in spearheading the boycott expressed their pride for the Tigers’ unity. “This can do nothing but just make a team closer and tighter,” Moore said. “Like Coach Pinkel always says, ‘Circle the wagons.’ This can do nothing but bring us together and make us stronger.”