A communications professor who came under attack after trying to prevent a student journalist from filming has been fired, according to NBC News. The University of Missouri announced on Thursday that Melissa Click would no longer be working for the institution partially as a result of her conduct in the incident, which was caught on film.
Click attracted controversy last November after a video surfaced of her confronting a student journalist at a protest and attempting to get him to stop filming. The protest was a response to racial prejudice on campus organized by a group called ConcernedStudent1950, which describes itself as "[seeking] the liberation of all black collegiate students." Click can be seen grabbing at the camera and trying to push the journalist away, asking toward the end of the video, "Who wants to help me get this reporter out of here? I need some muscle over here."
Click also clashed with police officers in October, footage of which was also released onto the internet. In this video, Click can be heard swearing at officers while part of a protest in which students were attempting to block a homecoming parade, according to the New York Times.
After both videos gained some traction, many called for Click's dismissal, including more than 100 Missouri lawmakers. The decision by the University System Board of Curators was weighted 4-2 against Click for her dismissal, with board president Pam Henrickson citing Click's conduct as the reason, according to USA Today.
"The board believes that Dr. Click's conduct was not compatible with university policies and did not meet expectations for a university faculty member," Henrickson said. "The circumstances surrounding Dr. Click's behavior.... when she interfered with members of the media and students who were exercising rights in a public space and called for intimidation against one of our students, we believe demands serious action."
Click may appeal the firing but is no longer being paid by the University of Missouri and has been officially removed from her post as assistant professor. She could not be reached for comment on the decision.
