‘I Need Some Muscle’: Missouri Activists Block Journalists

[Jesus Malverde]

Source: NYTIMES

video that showed University of Missouri protesters restricting a student photographer’s access to a public area of campus on Monday ignited discussions about press freedom.

Tim Tai, a student photographer on freelance assignment for ESPN, was trying to take photos of a small tent city that protesters had created on a campus quad. Concerned Student 1950, an activist group that formed to push for increased awareness and action around racial issues on campus, did not want reporters near the encampment.

Protesters blocked Mr. Tai’s view and argued with him, eventually pushing him away. At one point, they chanted, “Hey hey, ho ho, reporters have got to go.”

“I am documenting this for a national news organization,” Mr. Tai told the protesters, adding that “the First Amendment protects your right to be here and mine.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/10/us/university-missouri-protesters-block-journalists-press-freedom.html?_r=2

---

Bizarre

https://m.

[sharp_stick]

1. And this professor

is part of the Communications department? You'd think she might have a clue what the First Amendment is.

If she's a professor it's no wonder the students are so clueless.

[jayschool]

25. Communication Professor

Not a journalism professor. Comm professors endlessly critique media. Many hate journalists and the journalistic enterprise.

Of course, it didn't stop her from tweeting two days ago to the national media that there was a great story to be had in Columbia if only they'd contact her.

Duplicitous woman. Hypocrite. Shame on her.

[Ed Suspicious]

29. Comm = PR?

[jayschool]

43. Communication Professor

No.

In most universities, whether they have stand-alone journalism schools or not, PR courses and professors train students to produce messages meant to sell something, be it Coca-Cola or the idea that recycling is a good thing. It's a mixed-bag product, just as journalists produce both good and bad content.

Communication professors specialize in media criticism, which is a necessary field. But when they cross over into hostility to the very freedoms that make this enterprise so important, then they're also a stain on the idea of a liberal education.

So fvck Melissa Click. Figuratively, of course.

[Ed Suspicious]

56. Thanks for clarification.

[Sunlei]

94. The tired crankie Professor, have to credit with a genuine apology & even contacted reporter &

apology accepted.

And she didn't wait days either or 'double down' on her stupid-forgetting of Americas' "Freedom of the Press"

[loyalsister]

57. This professor

has done research on the differences in coverage during hurricane Katrina, and the menacing portrayals of Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin.

There is huge a problem with how the events are depicted and these students are refusing to participate.

She has been hearing racial slurs from fellow faculty members. People don't realize how painful this is. They are all hearing racial slurs regularly. We usually respect people who don't want to have their pain documented for public consumption. Why not these students?

[Throd]

62. Then don't have a public protest and complain that people are covering it.

[loyalsister]

63. Yeah...

In this context, that's kind of like saying don't protest and complain about being threatened and the subject of racial slurs. You have no clue what they are going through here.

The everyday racism has gotten more overt and more extreme. People want to be safe and they want their peers to be safe.

MU students tell their stories of everyday racism

Throughout the Missourian's coverage of race, we've heard from readers who say they can't relate to stories of racism. Many have said they don't see racism in their worlds, and they just don't think it's still a problem.

We set out to ask people — on campus and around Columbia — what everyday racism looks like to them. Here's what we've heard so far from MU students.

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/higher_education/mu-students-tell-their-stories-of-everyday-racism/article_81f35cfe-84af-11e5-b4e4-ef223ec60553.html

[Throd]

65. Are we watching the same clip?

That guy was exceedingly polite and wanted to document the event.

[loyalsister]

66. And FOX, Rush Limbaugh, etc

would have picked it up and distorted it. I wish more people would say NO because of what infotainment does with their stories in the name of the 1st Amendment.

[romanic]

68. The damage is already done

The right-wing rags and blogs have already taken the video of this loony confrontation and ran with it. So in the end your concerns about infotainment and the 1st Amendment mean jack squat.

[loyalsister]

73. Some alumni, local citizens, many white students

Are being hateful and threatening. The media is enabling it no matter what images they see. The professor was fired, BTW.

[romanic]

75. All media?

[loyalsister]

77. According to a media insider on the ground, much of the media coverage

is misrepresenting what is happening.

http://kbia.org/post/kbia-reporter-reflects-being-inside-confrontation-between-reporters-and-mu-demonstrators?nopop=1

[TipTok]

90. Rightfully so...

She shouldn't have access to anything beyond round tip scissors and glitter...

[Throd]

69. Well, they certainly gave Rush Limbaugh what he wanted. On that we can agree.

That clip will be used a million times to portray the left as a bunch of intolerant hypocrites. Great going.

[loyalsister]

72. He would have gotten it either way

They refused to give more.

[Snow Leopard]

95. there are thousands of clips that can do that

....just sayin'

intolerant hypocrites cover the political spectrum

[TipTok]

89. She's a special snowflake...

.. Who just happened to blab on national media how special she is.

What an idiot..

The only place for these folks is academia...

[HassleCat]

2. Our Constitution protects me,not you

I am right, and my cause is just so the First Amendment protects me and nobody else.

[Jesus Malverde]

9. I'm not sure what you mean?

Who is you and me etc.

[HassleCat]

13. Usually it's just me, personally.

But sometimes I feel generous and include others who agree with me.

[Jesus Malverde]

14. Still confused...nt

Was the sarcasm thingy missing?

[HassleCat]

18. Yes, I never include that.

The point is, so many people see how constitutional rights apply to themselves, but not to others, and certainly ever to anyone with whom they disagree. Thus, the protestors believe the 1st Amendment allows them to stage a protest, set up a tent city, and so on. But they physically assault someone trying to get photos because his pictures might not convey the message they want conveyed.

[Jesus Malverde]

82. Thanks hassiecat!..nt

[dogknob]

27. Dear Lord, Really? n/t

[Jesus Malverde]

83. You are obviously a lot smarter than me.

[Oneironaut]

30. That's sadly how a lot of Americans think these days.

"You can say whatever you want as long as I agree with it" - Free Speech

[valerief]

3. The First Amendment protects the oligarchs who can afford to use Citizens United.

After all, free speech has nothing to do with words. Free speech is money.

[geek tragedy]

4. so the protestors turn out to be authoritarian goons as well. Charming situation there. nt

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

5. That scrared the bejeezus out of me. These are college students?

They might as well go hang out with the haters and baggers. I've never seen young people be so completely ignorant about the freedom of speech and the press.

They didn't do the University of Missouri any favors. If I was that guy, I would take that video to the President of the university and demand:

1) an apology
2) protected access to take his photos - with a wide grin on his face!!

Unbefuckinglievable!!

[Jesus Malverde]

8. It's bizarre..nt

[Captain Stern]

11. I don't think the University President could help right now.

My understanding is, the position is currently vacant.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

16. Well they must have a chancellor or someone in charge.

[loyalsister]

58. Chancellor resigned, too

effective at the end of the month. He has no real authority right now, though.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

61. OMG! That's crazy. They should shut the shool down.

[Recursion]

92. No, the chancellor left too. In most schools the Provost is next in line

Though I don't know how the Missouri system works specifically.

[geek tragedy]

17. the president of the university resigned, looking like a smart move now nt

[Throd]

6. That video clip reads like scripted parody.

I kept waiting for Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein to appear.

[Jesus Malverde]

7. Two references that I have no clue about

Like the rationale of the students and administrator who called for muscle. Much less the cause that started it all.

All I know is a protestor saying someone doesn't have a right to take their picture...lives on some other parallel universe. I thought that was the point of protests. Someone somewhere and something jumped the shark...I'm still clueless.

[Throd]

10. From the comedy sketch show "Portlandia".

[Jesus Malverde]

12. Is that on television?

Quit that years ago, along wit high fructose corn syrup. Is it on YouTube? Then post it here.

[Throd]

19. Here.

[Dorian Gray]

46. Hahaha

I need to watch Portlandia. (I live in Brooklyn, so there is a lot of that here!)

[closeupready]

47. Heehee - that's funny.

[Jesus Malverde]

84. Lol

Thanks

[tazkcmo]

85. Are the hazel nuts local?

lol! Loved the chicken's papers/portfolio. As a food service career professional, I'd probably clock those two then go find a new job.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

15. I know. They don't want anyone to know about their protest? Very odd...

[OnlinePoker]

20. Not only that...

...the fact that the woman calling for muscle is an associate professor of mass media is unbelievable.

[MowCowWhoHow III]

21. Bait and Click

Last edited Tue Nov 10, 2015, 02:58 PM - Edit history (1)

[jayschool]

26. She's not in the journalism school

She's a communication professor. There's a huge difference.

Comm departments produce media critics. They hate the journalistic enterprise.

[MowCowWhoHow III]

39. Noted.

[GusBob]

40. not to parse anything

but the article indicates she is an asst professor of mass media.....is that the same thing as communications?

[jayschool]

45. Well

She's not a journalist and never has been.

Mizzou's J-School is very much a hands-on media production enterprise, for both undergrads and MA students. That means the Journalism School professors are former journalists who, in many cases, are still practicing journalists.

Mizzou's School of Communication doesn't teach students how to produce journalism. She has a full-time appointment in the Comm School, with tenure.

So her appointment in the School of Comm is very different than if she were appointed full-time in the J-School.

The J-School has given her a courtesy appointment, which means she can teach a class in the J-School (in self-loathing, apparently), but the J-School is currently reviewing that appointment. Expect it to be rescinded. Soon.

[GusBob]

52. Thx for the clarity

[deutsey]

50. She's on faculty with the Program in Communication (from her faculty page):

Dr. Melissa A. Click earned her Ph.D. from the Department of Communication at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her research interests center on popular culture texts and audiences, particularly texts and audiences disdained in mainstream culture. Her work in this area is guided by audience studies, theories of gender and sexuality, and media literacy. Current research projects involve 50 Shades of Grey readers, the impact of social media in fans’ relationship with Lady Gaga, masculinity and male fans, messages about class and food in reality television programming, and messages about work in children's television programs.

https://communication.missouri.edu/faculty/click

[GusBob]

53. Thx for the info nt

[B2G]

54. 50 Shades of Gray and Lady Gaga?

And we wonder why these kids can't get a job with a 4 year degree...

[snagglepuss]

55. It doesn't matter what faculty she's in, the fact is that she is clearly

incompetent. Every Tom Dick and Harry as a matter of general knowledge should know what free speech entails, that she is an asst prof and doesnt know is shocking.

[romanic]

22. Taking page from the right-wing and tea partiers

who don't want to be around "dah librul mediyah". Indoctrinated crybabies.

They may not know better but the professor should. I think someone's due for a pink slip.

[romanic]

23. BTW

Does it not bother anyone else that the student journalist they're pushing around is Asian? What happened to making a "safe space" for people of color on campus? Telling him to back off and physically threatening him for doing his job doesn't sound so god damned safe to me. Melissa Click (and the other woman) you should be ashamed of yourself for actively doing the same thing you and others on Mizzou are fighting against. Go get your pink slip because you deserve to be fired!

[TipTok]

91. It would be equally innapropriate to do the same thing...

... To a blonde white male.

That's insulting to the photographer frankly...

[AzDar]

24. Wow.

[FrodosPet]

28. We want to protest in secret

Our message is too important for anybody to know what it is, or that we support it.

[merrily]

31. Most protestors would cut themselves just to get a bit of coverage. (If it bleeds, it leads.)

[Comrade Grumpy]

32. The smug wrath of the self-righteous and nd apparently clueless students.

They must not have taken Civics 101.

[romanic]

33. There's mounting backlash on Twitter right now.

Both Melissa Click and Janna Basler (the white woman with the sunglasses) have deleted their twitter accounts. Cowardly to the last.

[closeupready]

48. The sunglass woman was awful, just insane!

[snagglepuss]

67. They deserve all the flack they'll be getting, however

they'll just spin that to show how they've been victimized.

[MisterP]

34. the main figure is a communications professor specializing in Stephenie Meyer

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/11/how-campus-activists-are-weaponizing-the-safe-space/415080/
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/mo-students-faculty-shoved-journalists-tent-city-article-1.2428944
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/10/us/university-missouri-protesters-block-journalists-press-freedom.html
https://communication.missouri.edu/faculty/click

oddly it reverses the situation at Yale--maybe it's a pattern of student/faculty aggression now? we need to know what to do when someone pops up, puts their hand in your face, closes ranks, and orders you to leave a public space, because this sort only has as much power as we give them

[TM99]

36. Wow!

Research on 50 Shades of Grey and social media and Lady Gaga fans?!

Both of my parents were university English professors. I won't repeat what they often said about the Communications department!

[Android3.14]

35. That's a stupid move

They pull a stunt like that again, and they will see the complete absence of media coverage and watch their cause die from lack of attention.

You don't mess with journalists.

[brentspeak]

37. Protesters look like a bunch of idiots

And that professor is a disgrace.

[Elmergantry]

38. Meet our future leaders...

morons..

[apnu]

41. Check out the 12:20 PM update at this link. MizzU protestors are now allowing journalists in.

http://chicagoist.com/2015/11/10/video_mizzou_prof_asks_for_muscle_t.php

[GusBob]

42. "teachable moment" indeed

Looks like they have wised up, so I will give them the benefit of the doubt. They shoulda woulda coulda known better.

The part that sticks in my craw for some reason: The guy says 'I have a right and I am just doing my job' (paraphrase) and the response being: 'we don't care about your job'.....someone is in for a rude awakening in the real world, better hope any employment recruiters don't see that part

[apnu]

44. I get it if the kids screw up, they're kids after all, but the teachers and adults amongst them?

Nope. They should have known better.

[geek tragedy]

49. Maybe those kids have a future in law enforcement nt

[Codeine]

51. College students aren't kids.

Infantilizing people sucks even when those people crave to be infantilized.

[apnu]

59. They're kids

Science has proven that 20-25 year olds, especially males, are still growing at that age.

Thus, they're kids. Furthermore, they don't know better. They are in college to learn the skills they need as an adult. That doesn't just mean a major course of study. But also life skills and consequences. College is the place where its OK to fall on your face a few times before one figures out what one is doing.

When I was 21-22 I was making bad decisions out of inexperience. We all did.

So I get they'd make this kind of mistake. Everything about their protests are well intended but also highly inexperienced. The way they decided to handle this and execute their plan of media blackout shows how inexperienced they are.

But, obviously they've seen their error of their ways and issued the PSA which I already brought up in this thread. So that's a testament to those kids that they can learn from their mistakes.

However, amongst them are grown adults who have years of wisdom and learning. They failed those kids, especially Click. That's my point.

[apnu]

81. I think the demands are pretty adult

See them here: http://www.kmbc.com/blob/view/-/36332870/data/1/-/202nsaz/-/-PDF-Concerned-Student-1950-list-of-demands.pdf

[loyalsister]

60. WOW!

This thread is interesting. It looks like the sense of entitlement that the 1st amendment has been morphed into is exactly what enables the trash that has become mainstream media.

We are typically unified in criticism of it, but when someone rejects coverage because they know where it will lead, even DUers demand that FOX news gets to have their moment with this story.

I wish more people would rebel against infotainment rather than enjoying 15 minutes of being the subjet of trashy cable coverage.

[philosslayer]

70. Eye opening, isn't it.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

74. Yeah, I never thought I'd see the day on DU when someone is calling for.....

.....or at the very least cool with a student journalist (not FOX, not Brietbart, not even fucking ABC) being physically threatened as they are banned from a public protest.

And yet......

[closeupready]

80. "And yet.......", here we are.

[riderinthestorm]

87. And a member of another minority group as well

SMH

[geek tragedy]

76. Perhaps this is unclear to those who have an authoritarian mindset, but

criticizing the behavior of journalists is not the same thing as advocating physically intimidation/force against them and censoring them.

[Uponthegears]

71. Question

Why is it so many people are so quick to want to discuss this admittedly clear cut attempt to suppress media coverage of this part of the student activism at the University of Missouri when so few are willing to discuss how offensive it is for people of color to hear establishment figures like Mr. Wolfe dismiss institutional racism as something which exists only in the minds of people of color? Until the UMo football team became involved, the press, including supposedly liberal press outlets, virtually ignored what was happening in Columbia (both in terms of the University's dismissiveness of student complaints of institutional racism and of the subsequent protests). Just one day after this incident, the video has spread from far right media to far left media with pundits at both poles more than willing to offer their condemnation.

[totodeinhere]

79. We are well able to multitask. We can oppose racism and support press freedom at the same time.

It's not that hard.

[riderinthestorm]

88. They're bullying a member of another minority group. You cool with that?

[Uponthegears]

93. And it continues

Indeed, we are all capable of multi-tasking. My question is, "Why are we not doing it? (particularly when it comes to the subject of institutional racism). The institutional racism component of the student unrest at the University of Missouri-Columbia began soon after the death of Michael Brown. That is over a year ago. When during that year did the corporately-controlled media run a single story about that aspect of the unrest? For that matter, when did the alternate media run a story?

Let me offer an observation regarding the least complex example of how institutional racism is being ignored, or at least marginalized, in popular culture. Especially since the protests following the death of Michael Brown, the only right vs. left debate acknowledged by the popular culture has been between: (1) those on the right who (even at their "center&quot claim that people of color who are killed by police deserve to die and that the protests which follow are an indictment of a particular demographic; and, (2) those on the left who claim that many police forces are infected with racism and that the violence arising during some of the protests is not representative of all people of color. Allow me to suggest in taking the latter position, we as liberals, and our handful of friends in the media, are not being courageous, but, rather, cowardly. People of color are not being murdered by cops, imprisoned, disenfranchised and relegated to second-class citizenship because Darren Wilson may be a racist cop, or because most of the officers on the Ferguson PD may be racists, or even because a significant percentage of cops may be racists. It happens because our criminal justice system (just to name one institution) is specifically designed to produce those results. Michael Brown is not dead because he was targeted by a racist cop. His fate was determined before he was even born. People of color know this. What they also know, however, is that almost no one within the power structure will say it.

One more thing. Whenever someone challenges fellow liberals to more completely address racial injustice issues, Bernie supporters appear to perceive it as an attack on Bernie. While their defensiveness is understandable considering the incredibly misdirected actions of some of those who feel passionately about racial injustice, let me just say one thing. Over the years, I have had the pleasure to speak for literally hours with the man I consider to be one of the great Americans of our times on the very issue of institutional racism. While it may well be true than many folks on DU don't, and honestly can't, fully understand the full extent of racism in this country, BERNIE SANDERS GETS IT. That is why his focus has always been on institutions and not just the people who run them. The last thing he needs is his supporters lashing out at anyone who challenges his fellow liberals to do the same. We were brothers and sisters in Harlan. We were brothers and sisters in Selma. We are brothers and sisters now. #FeeltheBern

[Skittles]

86. WTF are these people thinking?

seriously: W.T.F.

[tabasco]

96. Unbelievable

that the idiot professor is a professor and the idiot students got into college.

[47of74]

97. Of course if this was some GOP stooge blocking access to a GOP self pleasuring circle...

...the righties would have no problem with it at all.