Melissa Click, a faculty member in the department of communication at the University of Missouri, who additionally holds a ``courtesy appointment’’ in the school of journalism, is in the process of having her appointment revoked by members of the journalism faculty, according to Brian Brooks, Professor and Associate Dean Emeritus at the Missouri School of Journalism.
Click was shown on video https://goo.gl/y59u3R ordering an Asian American photographer, Tim Tai, a student photographer on freelance assignment for ESPN away from the campus squad where a student activist group (Concerned Student 1950-who bring increased awareness to racial issues around campus) indicated they didn’t want reporters near the encampment.
Crowds are seen thickening around the photographer, while Melissa Click is heard screaming: “Who wants to help me get this reporter out of here? I need some muscle over here.”
When pressed to leave, Mr. Tai held his ground, saying, “I am documenting this for a national news organization…the First Amendment protects your right to be here and mine.”
Because Professor Click acted in a ``belligerent manner’’ that could have resulted in a mob turning on the photographer, Professor Brooks said ``she has been reported as a racial harassment violator of the Title IX Act.’’
``That’s all we in Journalism can do'' Professor Brooks said. `` Her department chair is responsible for any further punishment or reprimand.''
David Kurpius, dean of the Missouri School of Journalism, meanwhile, recently issued a statement, which states that the ``Missouri School of Journalism is proud of Photojournalism senior Tim Tai for how he handled himself during a protest on Carnahan Quad on the University of Missouri campus.''
``The news media,'' Kurpius went on to write `` have First Amendment rights to cover public events. Tai handled himself professionally and with poise.''
According to one colleague of Click, ``she has unplugged herself from conversation and no one has been able to talk to her. We're all willing.’’
Sandra Davidson, who teaches communications law at the Missouri School of Journalism, said she was hoping to talk with Click before the day is out.
``Asking for "muscle" was clearly a mistake, and my understanding is that she has acknowledged that it was a mistake.’’
In struggling to understand her motivation, Davidson said ``perhaps fatigue played a role in the incident. Again, I have not gotten the chance to hear from her but hope to do so soon. A lot of people on this campus are tired and perhaps not thinking too clearly.''
Campus life has been torched with months of protests over the lack of response to racial tensions by university officials, which culminated in Timothy M. Wolfe, president of the University of Missouri System and the chancellor of the flagship campus in Columbia, R. Bowen Loftin to step down on Monday.
According to her home page at the University of Missouri, Melissa A. Click earned her Ph.D. from the Department of Communication at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her research interests center on popular culture texts and audiences, particularly texts and audiences disdained in mainstream culture.
In 2010, she received the Provost's Outstanding Junior Faculty Teaching Award. MU's Association of Communication Graduate Students has additionally recognized her as an “Outstanding Mentor” (2011) and as “Graduate Advisor of the Year” (2013).
Click teaches classes in ``Television Criticism’’, ``Television Program Analysis and Criticism’’, and ``Visual Literacy’’, among others.
-Bill Lucey
November 10, 2015
****
UPDATE
Melissa Click, assistant professor of the Department of Communication, recently issued a statement of apology regarding the Carnahan Quad protests:
``Yesterday was an historic day at MU — full of emotion and confusion. I have reviewed and reflected upon the video of me that is circulating, and have written this statement to offer both apology and context for my actions. I have reached out to the journalists involved to offer my sincere apologies and to express regret over my actions. I regret the language and strategies I used, and sincerely apologize to the MU 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.
"From this experience I have learned about humanity and humility. When I apologized to one of the reporters in a phone call this afternoon, he accepted my apology. I believe he is doing a difficult job, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to speak with him. His dignity also speaks well to the Journalism program at MU. Again, I wish to express my sincere apology for my actions on Carnahan Quad yesterday.”
If Melissa Click really cares about people's rights, especially children, why hasn't she organized a protest or coalition to address America's expanding and shameful *National Epidemic of Childhood Abuse and Neglect*, *Poverty*, that for more than two generations has deprived untold numbers of American kids from experiencing and enjoying a fairly happy American kid childhood with Safe Streets to travel and play on,
*Child Abuse and Neglect* that is primarily responsible for populating our prisons with depressed, angry, frustrated, undisciplined, unpredictable, sometimes suicidal teens and adults full of resentment for irresponsibly being introduced to a life of hardships and struggles.
*Early Childhood Abuse and Neglect* that often leads depressed, sometimes suicidal *(NY Times May 18, 2015 - Rise in Suicide by Black Children Surprises Researchers)* children to develop into depressed, angry, frustrated, unpredictable, sometimes suicidal teens and adults lacking empathy and compassion for others, though needing to vent their pent up negative emotions, often causing emotional and physical harm to peaceful people...instead of venting their anger, resentment and pain on the immature single moms and/or dads who introduced them to a life of pain and struggle by irresponsibly building a family before acquiring the practical skills, *PATIENCE* and means to successfully raise and nurture a developing young child who matures into a fairly happy responsible teen and adult.
https://knutesniche.wordpress.com/2015/09/24/end-americas-shameful-destructive-epidemic-of-child-abuse-and-neglect/
*Black (Children's) Lives Matter; Take Pride In Parenting; End Our National Epidemic of Child Abuse and Neglect; End Community Violence, Police Fear & Educator's Frustrations*
Posted by: Avery Jarhman | 11/11/2015 at 03:05 AM