MU communication professor Melissa Click fired

ABC 17 News has confirmed a University of Missouri Communication professor has been fired from her position.

MU officials told ABC 17 Thursday afternoon that Dr. Melissa Click is no longer employed at the university.

Click has received backlash after appearing in more than one video clashing with law enforcement and journalists last fall.

University of Missouri Curators released a statement Friday saying the board launched an investigation into whether more discipline was needed for Dr. Click.

Investigators interviewed witnesses as well as Click, and the Board of Curators voted Wednesday night to terminate Click.

Curators said, “Dr. Click’s conduct was not compatible with university policies and did not meet expectations for a university faculty member. The circumstances surrounding Dr. Click’s behavior, both at a protest in October when she tried to interfere with police officers who were carrying out their duties, and at a rally in November, when she interfered with members of the media and students who were exercising their rights in a public space and called for intimidation against one of our students, we believe demands serious action.”

MU Interim Chancellor Hank Foley said, “I am in complete agreement with the board that the termination of Dr. Click is in the best interest of our university. Her actions in October and November are those that directly violate the core values of our university. I can assure you—as Board Chairwoman Henrickson noted—that there has been fairness in this process and investigation.”

Click responded to the investigation, saying she thinks the report leaves out crucial information that “gave context to her actions.”

Click cited events that “escalated racial tension” on campus as her reasoningto support students’ efforts to call attention to those issues.

The professor highlighted several events that transpired and increased unrest on campus starting early last fall, including posts on social media.

Click describes in detail what she witnessed on the day of the MU Homecoming football game, where she was captured on police body camera video yelling at police.

She said she feels the report doesn’t fully characterize the environment that day.

“At the end of the video, you can see the students embracing and hear them sobbing. This is the tense and tricky environment I stepped into. I had no training or experience with public events such as this, but felt that someone should step in to support and protect these MU students,” she said.

Click claimed she had little to do with the Concerned Student 1950 group between the parade and November 9, but got involved again after the football team supported Johnathan Butler’s hunger strike.

“I remained concerned that the students were vulnerable to an attack from angry students or community members,” said Click.

Click describes the environment on the Carnahan Quad on November 9 as tense, and says no police were present at the large protest.

“I firmly believe that the report’s failure to characterize the environment of the Carnahan Quadrangle as a challenging and volatile environment excludes critical details for understanding the actions that took place on that day.”

You can read more of Click’s response here.

Stay with ABC 17 News for the latest on this developing story.