University of Missouri president, provost warn students to stay out of part of downtown at night

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

University of Missouri President Mun Choi and Provost Matthew Martens warned students to stay away from an area of downtown at night in an email sent to students on the first day of classes.

"Incidents downtown typically occur between midnight and 3 a.m.; make sure you’re home safely before then," the officials wrote in the message Monday.

The message was also posted online under the heading "Welcome to a historic new year at Mizzou!"

The warning comes after a shots-fired incident and a large street brawl downtown over the summer, when most students were away on summer break.

Both incidents happened near East Walnut and Ninth streets, which is an area that Choi and Martens warned students about in their email.

"Some areas of downtown Columbia should be avoided at night, specifically sections of Walnut Street between 8th and 10th streets," the email reads.

Choi called out Reign Bar, located in the area where MU leaders ask students to avoid late at night, in an email to Columbia city leaders.

"It happened again at Walnut and 9th Streets. We continue to experience violent fights and gunfire outside Reign Bar. How many warnings about this establishment do you need to hear before meaningful action is taken?” Choi wrote.

Owner of the bar Son of a Gun, located at 16 N. Ninth Street, Greta Gunderson said it's not fair to call out a bar like that.

"I don't know that they're the ones that are having or causing a lot of these issues. They haven't even been open a year. So, I think they're doing everything in their power to make sure that they are of safe spaces as well," Gunderson said.

She said she supports Choi's push for increased downtown safety, but there's only so much that bar owners can do.

"I can only control what happens inside my building and then the four seats that are right outside, and the same thing with Reign Bar," Gunderson said. "Now, there's that sour taste in people's mouths about Reign Bar, and they can't do anything to protect themselves once that's been said."

Owner of Room 38, which is very close to the warned area, Todd Myers didn't use a specific bar name, but he said safety downtown needs to be strengthened.

"I don't want to call out and hurt any small business. I would just ask that they just be held accountable, as I would be accountable for my actions if I were having an issue," Myers said.

He said he's on Choi's side when it comes to making downtown safer.

"He's got a very tough job, very tough position, and now he's working on safety in a public area that's not necessarily his responsibility, but something--he definitely has safety responsibility for the students," Myers said.

Choi has demanded increased downtown safety from Columbia leaders since a Stephens College student was shot and killed on Broadway -- the heart of downtown Columbia -- nearly a year ago.

The email also touts the work of MU's safety collaboration with the Columbia Police Department, Boone County Sheriff’s Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. According to the email, the partnerships are increasing patrols and supporting safety measures in downtown and surrounding areas.

Thousands of students come to Columbia every year. The university reported a total student enrollment of 31,650 and over 9,000 new students on the first day.

The school year also started with a serious accident on Sunday. A former MU student fell off Harpo's rooftop bar, an establishment popular with students. Corbin Rodenberg, 21, is in critical condition.