MU plan to restructure social justice centers pushed back

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A plan to restructure the University of Missouri's social justice centers this summer has been pushed back indefinitely.

MU spokesman Christian Basi said Friday that the plan had been postponed to give Maurice Gipson, vice chair of diversity, inclusion and equity, more time to communicate with those affected by the changes.

MU operates five social justice centers: the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center, LGBTQ Resource Center, Multicultural Center (MCC), Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) Center and the Women's Center. Students held two large protests when word spread through campus about the restructuring.

Several students are being investigated for possible violations of the university's code of conduct for the second protest, which disrupted MU administrative operations in Jesse Hall, Basi said.

The university has said the restructuring will mean more resources for the social justice centers. However, protesters said they are worried that many of the people working at the centers could lose their jobs, affecting service.