MU students reiterate need for change on 10-year anniversary of the 2015 racial protests

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A group of students gathered at the University of Missouri’s Black Culture Center Saturday night to honor Concerned Student 1950, the student organization that led the 2015 protests over racial discrimination on campus.

Several attendees said they came to pay respect to the organizers who pushed for major change at the university, and to learn more about Mizzou’s history.

Aleena Simons, a first-year sophomore, said the gathering was important because, in her view, the university has not fully considered the perspectives of Black students.

“Mun Choi has shown to not really take into perspective the Black students' opinion,” Simons said.

A sign displayed at the event included a quote from the documentary Concerned Student 1950: “Racism lives on Mizzou's campus and so do we.” it was signed with signatures and messages from students.

Matikah Cole, a freshman, said “Outside of Black Mizzou, there are spaces where it's still kind of like I feel out of place, if that makes sense.”

A decade ago, students camped out on campus demanding action, saying racial inequalities had been ignored for years. Students of color reported being called racial slurs, discriminated against, and harassed both physically and verbally.

Back then, protest leaders called on administrators to make meaningful changes, and many students at the anniversary event said some of those concerns still remain today.

"For me as a film studies and political science major, it's been a little difficult," Simons said. "I don't really see as many people of color in the classroom, and so it's hard if there's a group project or something I'm kind of always the last person to find a partner," Simons said.

Over the past decade, Freshman applications have risen 64% to 27,290, and freshman enrollment has grown 46% to 6,033. Overall graduation rates have also improved, with the four-year rate climbing 16 percentage points to 64% and the six-year rate rising 8 points to 77%, according to University spokesperson Christopher Ave.

For Black students, the four-year graduation rate has increased nearly 16 points to 45%, while the six-year rate has grown almost 9 points to nearly 64% since fall 2015. Research at the university has expanded as well, with the value of proposals increasing 138% to $1.9 billion, and the annual operating budget has grown 70% to $3.9 billion.

While some progress has been made, many students said concerns from that time still linger today.

Amaya Morgan, president of the Legion of Black Collegians, said the event was about reflection and moving forward.

“It's important to have those things [10-year anniversary commemoration] because we're facing similar situations as in 2015, so we want to be able to give space to make sure everybody's kind of seeing the place that they were at, see where we are at right now, and how we can all appreciate that and move forward,” Morgan said.

The anniversary comes the same year the university made headlines for canceling the Legion of Black Collegians’ “Black 2 Class Block Party” after administrators took issue with the event’s name.

At that time MU President Mun Choi responded, "The University of Missouri fosters a non-discriminatory campus environment. When holding events using University facilities, student organizations must avoid excluding individuals based on race. The name of the 'Black 2 Class Block Party' proposed by LBC suggested such exclusivity. For that reason, the decision was made that the event as described would not be held on campus."

Cole said she was disappointed by the cancellation.

“It's just really disappointing. I feel like it would have been a really good way to make Black students feel welcomed on campus, especially freshmen,” she said.

Students are calling on the university to acknowledge and address the racial divide on campus.

“I think for me, in order to feel seen by the university is him actually acknowledging that there is a racial divide on campus. There is a race issue on campus that has solutions that aren't difficult as they are made out to be,” Simons said.

University spokesperson Christopher Ave said the university does not tolerate discrimination or harassment.

“All reported cases are investigated, and individuals who violate our policies or the law are held accountable. Potential consequences for those who commit such violations include being trespassed from campus, expelled from the university and charged with a crime." Ave said.