MU investigating threats on social media

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The latest on the protests and turmoil over racially charged incidents at the University of Missouri (all times local):

10:15 p.m.

The University of Missouri says it is investigating threats made on social media and has increased security on campus.

A post Tuesday night on the college's website says campus police are "aware of social media threats" and are investigating. The MU post doesn't indicate the nature of the threats. However, comments and screenshots posted on Twitter by various student accounts indicate threats were made anonymously on the social media app Yik Yak.

Campus police Capt. Brian Weimer tells The Associated Press additional officers are on campus.

A university spokesman couldn't immediately be reached for further comment.

Updates: mualert.missouri.edu


7:15 p.m.

New York Jets defensive Sheldon Richardson says he isn't surprised the University of Missouri football team was able to have a large impact when players staged a two-day walkout as part of protests over the school's handling of racial issues.

Richardson played for the Missouri football team from 2011-2012. He made his comments Tuesday at the Jets' team's practice facility in Florham Park, New Jersey.

Two days after the Missouri football team joined the protest, the president of the University of Missouri system, Tim Wolfe, resigned.

Richardson said, "congrats to my boys," and that he was "proud of them."

He said that because of the money the team makes for the school, he wasn't surprised the players had an effect. He said, "It's a numbers game."


6:45 p.m.

The University of Missouri system's governing board plans to meet Wednesday afternoon.

The Board of Curators' meeting comes two days after system President Tim Wolfe and Columbia campus Chancellor R. Bowen resigned after protests of their response to complaints about racial strife on campus.

A news release says the curators are scheduled to meet at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and go into executive session at 4:35 p.m. The release doesn't say what the board will be talking about.

Wolfe's resignation is effective immediately. Loftin will resign Jan. 1 and take a new position promoting research efforts at the university.


6:30 p.m.

Student protesters at the University of Missouri are removing an encampment in the center of campus that they've called home for more than a week.

Group members and their supporters began breaking down tents, folding up blankets and removing their belongings Tuesday evening as forecasters predicted possible severe weather for Wednesday.

The severe weather threat includes the possibility of tornadoes.

Participants weren't sure whether the tents would return after the severe weather passes.

Students have been protesting the schools' handling of racial issues on campus.


6 p.m.

An assistant professor of communications at the University of Missouri is apologizing for confronting a student who was videotaping during protests on university's campus.

Melissa Click says in the statement released Tuesday that she regrets her actions a day earlier. She is seen in the video challenging student Mark Schierbecker and calling for "muscle" to help remove him from the protest area.

Schierbecker was filming a confrontation between a student photographer and protesters, who were preventing him from taking pictures. The confrontation drew national attention and criticism.

Click says she has apologized to Schierbecker and he accepted her apology. She also apologized to all journalists and the university community for detracting from the students' efforts to improve the racial climate on the Columbia campus.


4:30 p.m.

The dean of the Missouri School of Journalism is praising a student photographer who was confronted by protesters trying to block him from recording their demonstration.

Dean David Kurpius said in a statement Tuesday the school was proud of senior Tim Tai, who was trying to take pictures Monday of protesters celebrating after hearing that President Tim Wolfe had resigned. A video of the confrontation has gotten a lot of attention online.

Kurpius said the news media have First Amendment rights to cover public events, and Tai handled himself professionally and with poise.

The statement stresses that Melissa Click, an assistant professor who called for someone to help her physically remove a videographer from the scene, has only a courtesy appointment to the School of Journalism, which was reviewing that appointment Tuesday.


1:30 p.m.

About 200 people have gathered on the University of Missouri campus to hear graduate students decry the school administration's handling of racial issues on campus.

Timothy Love, a black graduate fellow in the English department, called for the school to require courses that address racial issues. He told those at the rally that students have "a long fight ahead of us."

Other speakers called for shared governance and urged graduate students to unionize.

The graduate student organization believes that unionization would help all minority student groups on campus and address some equity issues.

Protesters on Monday helped force the resignation of the University of Missouri System's president and the chancellor of its flagship campus, which is in Columbia.


11:35 a.m.

The University of Missouri has named its first-ever interim vice chancellor for inclusion, diversity and equity.

University of Missouri Provost Garnett Stokes said Tuesday that Chuck Henson will fill the role. Henson is associate dean for academic affairs and trial practice at the School of Law.

His appointment comes a day after the University of Missouri System's president and Columbia campus' chancellor announced their resignations amid student anger over their handling of racial issues.

The university has said it also plans a review of all policies related to staff and student conduct and to provide more support to those subjected to discrimination. It also pledges to work toward employing a more diverse faculty and staff.

Task forces addressing inclusion will be required on all four of its campuses.

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