Students and members of Concerned Student 1950 protested Thursday afternoon outside a UM System Board of Curators meeting in support of [suspended communications professor](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2016/1/27/melissa-click-suspended-um-system-board-curators-p/) Melissa Click.
The demonstrators initially met in the Student Center before making their way to Speakers Circle. While in the Student Center, students chanted and held up signs that read things such as “Wake up,” and “Ain’t nobody messin’ with my Click.”
"I believe that we will win!" Demonstrators in the Student Center are chanting @TheManeater pic.twitter.com/iBIySdnoqi
— Elizabeth Loutfi (@Fleur_de_Liz720) February 4, 2016
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At Speakers Circle, the group read off their list of [demands for the UM System](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/11/4/mizzou-fails-fully-meet-demands/) that have not been met, including a handwritten apology from former UM System President Tim Wofle. At one point, a demonstrator asked a Columbia Missourian reporter to stop reporting, and the group used their signs to block the reporter from recording footage of the event.
#ConcernedStudent1950 is stopping tour groups and listing racial issues at Mizzou @mutv23 pic.twitter.com/0SFzBefN4f
— Danny Konstantinovic (@Dannykons) February 4, 2016
The group then marched to Reynolds Alumni Center, where the curators were meeting, and linked arms outside the public meeting room at about 12:50 p.m., although no curators were present. The curators had been scheduled to begin the public portion of the meeting at 12:45 p.m., but remained in closed executive session until 1:20 p.m.
#cs1950 is settled in to lower level of alumni center, no indication of how long they'll stay @TheManeater pic.twitter.com/yMxExTqzni
— Emily Gallion (@emigallion) February 4, 2016
Group members again read aloud their demands for the UM System. Students then listed reasons they supported Click, whom the curators suspended pending further investigation Jan. 27.
- “Because she is the real definition of an ally. There are many wannabe allies and fake allies, but she is a real ally.”
- “She represents what this university claims to represent: respect, responsibility, discovery and excellence.”
- “Because unlike that reporter, she understands how the First Amendment works.”
- “We love this university, which is why we are critical of this university.”
The demonstrators closed with the Assata Shakur chant they’ve used at past protests before exiting the Alumni Center.
“It is our duty to fight for our freedom,” they chanted. “It is our duty to win. We must love and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.”
The curators reconvened at 1:20 p.m. for the first part of their public meeting. About 15 minutes later, the students returned.
Interrupting a speaker presenting on the UM System’s credit ranking, the students again read their demands and spoke in support of Click.
“I stand with Melissa Click because she’s not the problem,” one student said. “You all sitting here not doing anything are the problem.”
Chairwoman Pam Henrickson used her gavel to try to gain order, but the curators did not respond to the students. After about 15 minutes, the students left, chanting “Ashé power.”
“I don’t consider that an interruption,” curator David Steelman said as the meeting resumed.
_Follow The Maneater for updates on this story._
