Embattled Mizzou Professor Will Do Community Service

During last fall’s protests against racism at Mizzou, one of the university’s journalism instructors came under fire for — of all things — preventing a student reporter from filming the celebration following the resignation President Tim Wolfe. Melissa Click was arrested on charges of third-degree assault and now, prosecutors in Columbia have reached a deal with the assistant communications professor.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Click won’t be prosecuted for the misdemeanor assault charges if she completes 20 hours of community service and doesn’t break any laws for a full year.

Columbia City Prosecutor Stephen Richey claimed that the decision was appropriate, saying it “adequately serves the interest of justice by ensuring the defendant will not engage in similar conduct.” For his part, interim Mizzou Chancellor Hank Foley declined to fire Click, even as legislators and community members called for her termination. He said he would wait to make a final decision until due process had played out.

Click is not the only Mizzou employee to face disciplinary action following November’s protests. Director of Greek Life Janna Basler was placed on administrative leave following the release of the same video that launched Click into the public eye. Both of them can be seen barring student journalist Tim Tai from recording the demonstration. Basler later apologized for “getting in the face” of the young man as Click called for “muscle” to remove him from the Carnahan Quadrangle.

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