What's happening at UMSL, UMKC, Missouri S&T to avoid racial tensions

Columbia Missourian

COLUMBIA — Tim Wolfe's resignation as UM System president will affect students at the three other University of Missouri campuses in Kansas City, St. Louis and Rolla. While protests of Wolfe at MU have called attention to a tumultuous racial climate in Columbia, students attending other UM System schools said the racial climates are different than at MU.

University of Missouri-St. Louis

Steps are being taken to avoid having racial tensions like those at MU, said Brandi Fields, an UMSL sophomore and Associated Black Collegians event coordinator.

"Policies need to be put in place so students feel like they are safe and welcomed on campus because, at the end of the day, students pay thousands of dollars to attend that certain college and to feel the way they do right now at Mizzou is not acceptable at all," Fields said Monday.

While there have not been any demonstrations on campus, Fields said, the Associated Black Collegians at UMSL have been working with faculty members and students to make sure all students can have their voices heard and feel safe. Fields said one such plan is for the Associated Black Collegians to meet with UMSL Chancellor Thomas George once or twice a month to voice student concerns.

Wolfe's resignation marks the time to start overhauling the UM System, Fields said.

"It all boils down to starting all over and creating those policies and enforcing those policies on campus when it comes to racial issues," Fields said.

A statement from George urges UMSL's Chancellor's Cultural Diversity Council to organize a forum for students to express concerns about how to improve UMSL.

"I think it best at this point to accept President Wolfe's resignation as an opportunity to talk more — and louder — about longstanding issues ... bringing about positive change at UMSL and influencing change in the larger community," George said in the statement.

University of Missouri-Kansas City

"I don't think we see any race issues at UMKC, like I don't know why there would be a demonstration," UMKC junior Josh Pihl said. "Of course, I'm not black, so maybe that's all I'm seeing."

UMKC released a statement Monday promising a reinforced commitment to diversity with plans to fight systemic injustice and address concerns about the health and welfare of students within the UM System.

"This is a time when many people will have strong feelings, and a desire to give voice to those feelings," reads the statement, which is signed by 13 people including UMKC Chancellor Leo Morton and several vice chancellors. "We ask all members of our community to listen attentively, and with respect, to those who wish to be heard."

UMKC's Student Government Association plans to hold an emergency meeting at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the campus' climate for "students of color and other marginalized groups on campus, especially with everything going on at Mizzou," according to the Facebook page for the event.

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri S&T senior Christopher Schaaf said Monday he also hasn't seen much of a racial problem on the Rolla campus.

"It's definitely a more diverse population there," Schaaf said. "Not that there isn't diversity here, but it's primarily one major and a like mindset."

Schaaf said he hadn't seen any race-related protests or demonstrations recently on the Missouri S&T campus.

Missouri S&T Chancellor Cheryl B. Schrader told the Missourian she "would like to express and reaffirm my support of our African American students and employees," and said the university "must do everything within our power to make our campus a safe and welcoming environment" for students and employees.

"Racism has no place at Missouri S&T," Schrader said in an email.