What the Hell Just Happened at Mizzou?
The week that doomed the University of Missouri’s president.
Bill Greenblatt/UPI, via LANDOV
The University of Missouri’s president resigned on Mondayfollowing a sudden strike by the school’s football team.
Students criticized Tim Wolfe for not adequately responding to a spate of incidents where the student body president and several others were called “n***er” by white men and a swastika made of human feces was found in a campus restroom.
“The frustration and anger that I see is clear, real, and Idon’t doubt it for a second,” Wolfe said. “Please, please, use this resignationto heal, not to hate, and let’s move on together for a brighter tomorrow.”
On Monday, Nov. 2, Jonathan Butler went on hunger strike,saying he would refuse to eat until Wolfe stepped down.
On Saturday, Butler met with the football team following agame against Mississippi State. By 8 p.m., sophomore safety Anthony Sherrilsannounced the team would “no longer participate in any football relatedactivities until Wolfe resigns or is removed to due to his negligence towardsmarginalized students’ experiences.”
On Sunday morning, several players met with coaches toexplain their decision to boycott next practice and next week’s game againstBrigham Young University. Forfeiture would automatically cause the universityto pay BYU $1 million, plus it would see the university lose out on revenuefrom ticket sales.
At 11:39 a.m., head coach Gary Pinkel tweeted his supportfor the team. That night, he announced his support for the “Concerned Student1950 movement,” named after the first year Mizzou let a black student in.
Two hours later, Wolfe released a statement saying hewouldn’t resign but would try to improve the campus climate.
“We will share next steps as soon as they are confirmed.”
At 4 p.m., Athletic Director Mack Rhodes issued a statementwith Pinkel explaining all football activities would cease until Butler resumeseating.
Early Monday morning, faculty staff announce they would walkout in support of Butler’s hunger strike.
At 10 a.m., the university’s regents met and soon after,Wolfe resigned.
“This is not, I repeat, not, how change should come about,” Wolfe said in an announcement, while adding that change comes from listening to others. “I take full responsibility for the inaction, and I take full responsibility for the frustration that has occurred.”