Editor – Page 131 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Missouri House, Senate to hold joint hearing on Syrian refugees coming to Missouri

Posted on November 21, 2015November 20, 2015

Missouri House Chamber File Photo — Missouri House Chamber
File Photo

(Missourinet) – The state House and Senate will hold a joint hearing of their respective budget committees to look at what the governor could do to respond to refugees entering the state of Missouri; specifically to look at how assistance programs for refugees are funded.

In a joint release, House Speaker Todd Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff) and Senator Leader Ron Richard (R-Joplin) said a hearing on November 30 will “thoroughly examine the various programs the governor could utilize to provide assistance to refugees.”

The hearing will be Monday, November 30 at the State Capitol.

Nixon, in a statement earlier this week, said it is up to the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to screen refugees, and said they should use, “the strongest possible safeguards to protect our state and nation.”

In that statement, Richardson wrote, “Our governor has yet to fully articulate a plan or take a stand on this issue that has generated immense concern from the people of Missouri. Our sympathies go out to those who have been impacted by the strife in Syria, but we must place the safety and well-being of Missourians as our top priority. As a result, I have asked chairman Flanigan and Haefner to work with Sen. Schaefer and members of their committees to fully review the various programs that could be used to provide assistance for refugee resettlement within our borders.”

Richard wrote, “Because of our governor’s lack of leadership and this administration’s failed federal foreign policies, we will try to find ways to protect the safety and well-being of the citizens of the Show-Me State. While we are compassionate to the victims of the Syrian Civil War, our first and most important duty as legislators is to keep our people safe from harm’s way.

Several of Missouri’s state and federal lawmakers and gubernatorial candidates have called on Nixon to act to halt refugees coming into Missouri at least until the screening program refugees undergo can be reviewed.

KFEQ Trading Post 11-21-2015

Posted on November 21, 2015

. KING SIZE QUILTS $80.00

EACH DIFFERENT COLORS TABLE AND 4 ROLLER CHAIRS PEDESTAL TABLE MED OAK PADDED CHAIRS.ROUND TABLE WITH LEAF $180.00

SEWING MACHINE CABINET $45.00

PLEASE CALL 816-262-1704

. Genie garage door opener. brand new. Designed for up to a 16 foot door. assembled but can shorten up to take it home. $75

Kenmore gas dryer. XL capacity. white. $75

Antique magnabox tabletop radio. $100

816 261 2148

. Homelight chainsaw. parts to fix it but hasn’t put it together. all it needs is the throttle switch $50 obo.

Lee Rifle reloader. Includes start up kit. $45 obo

Firewood: Mixed loads are $35 or $40 depends how big. Hedge by itself 80 a load

816 294 1990

. One male and one female registered chihuahua puppies. any decent reasonable offer

660 928 3221

. Chain link gate 47×47. $20

Old time sewing machine cabinet. $10

AT&T microcell booster. boosts the signal. $100

Green and white home made afghan that fits a full size bed. $60 obo

660 928 3238

. Real nice magnabox stereo. doesn’t work needs fixed. $15 dollars but may come down

816 364 2774

. FREE: Big screen Mitsubishi televistion. 40 inches wide screed. Big tv in a cabinet. works well. Takes a couple guys and a pickup truck to move.

816 646 9801

. Looking for laying hens or hens up to a year old. prefer brown egg layers.

660 562 7787

. Looking to a buy a small wheel disk.

785 548 6621

. Earlier 20th century Smith and Wessen. would like to trade for silver dollars or around $200 in cash

816 446 6165

. Looking for anybody that would like to haul some junk furniture today. Can work out what you want to be paid for it

816 262 0626

. Hay for sale. Grass mix good quality horse hay. Cow hay for sale as well, but can be put in the bottom of a dog pen. $2 or $3 a bale depending on what you want.

Looking for some tractor fenders. Farm all 460 or 560 model

816 262 2616

. 95 Mercury martee. 25-27 mile per gallon. excellent condition. $2500

816 616 7071

. Four little walnut trees apprx 2 feet tall. you want to dig them up you can have them’

Looking for running boards for a 2008 Ford regular cab

816 233 8048

. Several tires in real good shape. 235 65 17’s, 265 70 17’s and 245 65 17’s.

Car tires. new new.

816 262 9510

. Romax 14. 2 with a ground. $10

816 273 3471

. Kawasaki brand new engine. never ran with a muffler. 21 horsepower. vertical shaft. $1150

Burn barrels or trash barrels. $16 each with the tops cut out

Firewood Oak. seasoned and split. you load. $70 a load

Mixed wood you load. $60 a load

Electric oil heater. two of them $50 obo

816 671 0234

. Brand new never used, Range with new top built in. $400

Two old dishwashers and two old built in ovens. $20 for each one

trash compactor. $25

Corner computer desk. $40

816 271 3070

. Whirpool refrigerator. Double door. $50

table top stereo. Plays cassetes, CD’s and records. $40

Table that is oak. 4 chairs that go with it. seats are wooden with high backs. $35

816 261 9524

. 97 Dodge half ton 4 wheel drive. 8 foot box. 318 in it. 190,000 miles. $2000

Ford Jubilee tractor with blade. new battery in it. $2500

2001 Chrysler seabreeze that has been wrecked. 30 V6 motor. 53,000 miles. $600

Big red honda 3 wheeler. 1984 model. with reverse. $1000

816 387 7451

. Hand stitched old quilt. double wedding ring.

Pretty large button collection. old buttons

old canning jars for sale.

real nice wheelbarrow and other yard stuff

816 244 0139

. HO gauge train set. Sante Fe double deisel. 6 new freight cars. all in original boxes. comes with an 18 inch metal bridge. $65

Baseball glove. Wilson A 2000 XLO. right handed thrower. made in USA. made in the late 70’s. $150

816 273 9154

. Looking for overhead console with temp and direction for a 2002 Ford pickup.

816 390 6266

. Trojan propane tank haeter for sale. goes in a livestock water tank. $125

Sherwood AM/FM stereo amplifier. $75

816 752 3676

. Printer for computer. old one is gone and would like to find another one.

816 324 0058

. 67 t 72 GMC truck parts.

15 inch 5 lug steel wheels for a trailer

chrome autobox covers.

Tire on a 5 lug steel wheel

Looking to pick up scrap metal and scrap appliances

816 351 9976

. 1991 Jetta volkswagon deisel. needs a little work on it. $300

15 foot something (call for details couldn’t understand)

402 801 2307

. DF 27 semi automatic powered action tool. Used for concrete work or masonary. new in the box. $75

2 ducks unlimited framed and signed prints. $125 each obo

816 261 0702

. Two propane heaters. one is for a garage and the other can be used in a room or office. Blue flame wall heater. $100 for it. $40 for the garage/ shed heater

Hot dog machine. has a bun warmer and a pretzel warmer. $350 for all 3

816 261 4683

. Looking for a 4 wheel drive used pickup. Can be a regular cab or super cab. Chevy Dodge or Ford. just looking for a good used pickup.

660 582 0816

. 6 large crystal pieces. looking for $150 to $180 a piece

Nice older Brownie semi automatic shotgun. $800

913 772 1459

. Looking for some silver coins. any silver coins you want to sell at today’s prices

Looking for a deer rifle.

816 261 4683

. Complete set of high school musical twin sheets. heart shaped pillow. one quilt, two blankets a pillow sham. lamp window curtains and a throw rug . $100 for all of it

913 367 0516

A gas tax increase proposal will be filed again in the Missouri legislature

Posted on November 19, 2015

(Missourinet) – The chairman of the House Transportation committee says he’ll pre-file a bill for the 2016 legislative session that would increase the gasoline tax by two cents. Representative Glen Kolkmeyer said if Missouri doesn’t provide more of its own transportation dollars, it could lose federal matching funds.

“It’s a four to one match, so we definitely need to secure those funds that we are not leaving that money on the table,” said Kolkmeyer. “A couple years down the road, we are going to fall short of matching our federal funds. That comes to we put up one dollar and the feds put up four dollars.”

Kolkmeyer said he and the committee are open to other funding ideas, but anything over a two-cent fuel increase would require a public vote. He said he favors a gas tax increase instead of tolls roads and many of his constituents are voicing their opinions.

“They’re not very much in favor of tolls roads. I-70 runs right through the middle of my district and I have one of the largest sections of I-70 in my district. However, I think at this point we need to look at all options,” said Kolkmeyer.

The Legislature couldn’t agree on a transportation funding bill this year, though most lawmakers believe it must be increased. Missouri’s fuel tax is 17 cents per gallon, which is one of the lowest in the country.

Lawmakers can begin filing bills December 1.

New Mexico man who took Missouri girl pleads guilty, will serve 20 years

Posted on November 17, 2015

(Missourinet) – The New Mexico man who in March took a 13-year-old girl from her home in western Missouri to live with him has pleaded guilty in federal court to transporting her across state lines to engage in sexual activity.

56-year-old Raymond C. Vallia, III, met the Montrose girl online and she went with him March 29 to live in his apartment in New Mexico. The two spent the night in Amarillo, Texas where they had showered together and had sexual contact. They were caught the next day in New Mexico on the way to his home in Albuquerque.

The two had exchanged nude photos and had explicit conversations online. They intended to live together in his apartment, with her claiming to be his daughter and attending a local high school.

Under the plea agreement, he will spend 20 years in federal prison without parole followed by 10 years of supervised release, and must pay restitution to the victim. He will also register as a sex offender.

Group of Missouri farmers urging state officials to support EPA’s Clean Power Plan

Posted on November 14, 2015November 13, 2015

(Missourinet) – The EPA’s Clean Power Plan is backed by more than 60 Missouri farmers and they are urging state elected officials to support it. Emily Rosenwasser with the Sierra Club said the political climate on the issue needs to change.

“There are really strong clean energy solutions that are possible in Missouri, but there’s been a lot of efforts to keep the status quo going and to protect frankly a system of aging power plants,” said Rosenwasser.

She said the plan could create jobs in Missouri.

“I think that it will hopefully bring a few more people to the table and take an approach to this issue that is outside of the realm of political and more about finding good clean energy solutions that are going to bring a lot of benefits to the state of Missouri,” said Rosenwasser.

The EPA’s regulations would cut carbon emissions nationwide 30% by 2030.

Last month, Missouri’s Attorney General joined a multi-state lawsuit against the EPA saying its carbon emission limits overstep its authority. Some against the EPA’s rule argue that energy rates for Missourians could double by 2030.

KFEQ Trading Post 11-14-2015

Posted on November 14, 2015

. Carhart coat like new XL. 45.00. Big Smith Brown canvas chore coat like new XL. $25.00.

ph.816-262-0241

. Old iron wagon wheels. 5 or 6 foot tall $50 a piece

wood stove for a garage. 55 gallon. commercial door on it. $40

World of different size tires. $10 a piece call for size details

816 617 4646

. Computer.

Calculator.

Game

Watch

816 238 7907

. Rolex 14.2 with a ground. its a roll $10 obo

816 273 3471

. Kawaskai motor. never been ran. Brand new muffler. 21 horse. vertical shaft. $1150 obo

55 gallon burn barrels. $16

Barrels with lids $20

Plastic Barrels with lids $20

Oak Firewood. Split and seasoned. you load. $70

Mixed wood $60

816 671 0234

. Kawai X Keyboard pefect for beginners. universal pedal. $100 obo

816 724 1086

. Gate. Chain link. 47×47. $20

AT&T microcell signal booster. $100

Chichauah puppies. APRI registered. ready to go today. male and female. $375 each

660 928 3238

. Overhead wire for outdoors

816 724 5868

. 10 or 12 bales of straw.

Over 500 small square bales of grass hay. good for horses or cows. $2 and $3 bales

Looking for: fenders for a 460 Farm all tractor.

816 262 2616

. 1991 Volkswagon. needs a little work. $300

402 801 2307

. Old motors for sale. 455 Buicks. and a 430. all together.

Looking to buy: 52 Chevy car parts would consider a whole car.

Whole pottery. 300 pieces

913 683 2422

. Looking for a plumber for a rural front residence. Someone that knows something about springs and stuff like that.

816 685 3236

. Looking for an 8 foot spock rack. wooden or metal.

Looking for some goats.

641 202 1733

. 3 point 6 foot blade like new

816 232 8826

. 1 owner 2005 Toyata forerunner. silver gray. excellent shape. $12,995

2010 Camry one owner. Red. 4 138,000 miles. $7,000

Pair of antique ice skates. $30

816 671 0803

. Windows for sale. Bay Window. 88 inches by 54 inches $100

Two other windows. 38 uiches by 63 inches. both for $100

Weight bench with weights $25

816 253 9371

. Looking for: any kinds of silver dollars, silver bars. Collector not a dealer

Smith and Wessen. that only uses smith and wessen ammunition. will trade for silver dollar coins or $225

816 446 6165

. Pair of 235 75 R15 tires all season.

6 foot rotary mower.

Grill guard for a 2000 GM half ton 3 quarter ton truck

660 582 9798

. Skylights 30×48.

Trailer axel for a small lawn mower trailer

mens coats

mens boots

Looking for: Parts for a 2006 exploerer. front end parts

816 244 4557

. Food grade totes. 275 gallon $35 per tank

non food grade. $25 per tanks

55 gallon burn barrels. $12

15 gallon barrels $6

816 383 1777

. Looking for: 22 rifle or a 410 shotgun

Looking for: old coins

816 344 8648

. 1995 Mercury marquee. apholstry like new. good gas mileage. new brakes. Tires about 75%. $2500

816 616 7071

. Looking for: 22 410 shotgun. over under.

REO mower. push mower. $150

913 683 2422

. Round drop leaf table. $25

816 364 2159

. 2 ducks unlimited. lmited edition signed prints from the artist. $125 for each

816 261 0702

. table. oak top. for a kitchen or an apartment. solid table. Chairs are metal backs and wooden bottoms. $35 for the set

set of books. Civil war books. really nice pictures. 4 of them. $40 for the set of 4

1930’s Central high school yearbook. $25

816 261 9524

. 2002 International 9900 Semi. C15 cab. 10 speed transmission

New Holland combine TR86 with a 2015 head.

kabota tractor. 4 wheel drive

660 373 2867

. 2000 Buick Lasabre limited. 139,000 miles. excellent shape. $3500 obo

1997 Dodge half ton 4 wheel drive. regular cab. $2000

1984 Honda big Red 3 wheeler. shaft driven. got reverse. $1000

Ford Jubilee tractor. 12 volt. tires in decent tread. $2500

816 387 7451

. Firewood for sale. mixed load $45 you load.

Rifle releoader. everything with it. $40

Homelight chainsaw. All the parts but the back handle is missing. all the parts to fix it. $45

290 Chainsaw. 20 inch bar. $10

816 294 1990

. Stove pipe. Stainless steel. been moved a time or two so needs some cleaning. pipe through a wall has been painted red. can be transferred to a 6 inch pipe. Has everything to hook up a stove. $140 for all of it

816 689 7384

. Lumber for sale.

Truck tires. 11 225 truck tires

4 25 65 R225 Super singles

816 279 0375

. Looking for: Old western coat. As long as the lining is good wants to cut it up for a pattern. Size extra large. 44’s

816 324 3981

. 2000 Ford 4 door car. like new tires. $2595

660 935 2266

. Metal storm door. like to give away to someone if they can use it. like brand new. 8 inches long

816 232 9121

. Whirlpool. super plus. Used only a couple of months and put in storage for 14 years. still has blue celophane on the console $75

816 617 4567

Missouri’s Pinkel resigning due to health reasons; diagnosed with lymphoma

Posted on November 13, 2015November 14, 2015

Gary Pinkel (photo courtesy Missourinet)

(Missourinet) -University of Missouri Head Football Coach Gary Pinkel will resign his position following the conclusion of the 2015 season, and he will remain as Mizzou’s coach through December 31, 2015, or until a new head coach is in place, as announced today by MU Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades. Pinkel informed his staff and team this evening, and will address questions following Saturday’s game against BYU at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

Pinkel and Rhoades are discussing a role that would keep him associated with Mizzou Athletics once he steps away from coaching duties.
Pinkel’s decision is health-based, as he was diagnosed in May of 2015 with lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer of the blood.
He received multiple treatments in May and June, and after doctors indicated that the treatments wouldn’t interfere with his coaching duties, he decided that he would continue to coach the Tigers in 2015.

“I made the decision in May, after visiting with my family, that I wanted to keep coaching, as long as I felt good and had the energy I needed,” Pinkel said. “I felt great going into the season, but also knew that I would need to re-assess things at some point, and I set our bye week as the time when I would take stock of the future. After we played Vanderbilt (Oct. 24), I had a scheduled PET scan on Oct. 26th for reassessment, and then visited with my family and came to the decision on October 27ththat this would be my last year coaching. I still feel good physically, but I decided that I want to focus on enjoying my remaining years with my family and friends, and also have proper time to battle the disease and give full attention to that,” he said.

“It’s been an honor working with Gary since I joined the Mizzou family,” said Rhoades. “Gary is truly a coaching legend as the winningest coach at two Division I institutions while leaving a profound impact on a countless number of young men. We are extremely appreciative of all that he has done for Mizzou. It’s tough emotionally knowing that his fight with cancer is bringing his run to an end sooner than any of us thought. I want to commend Gary with how open he’s been with me the whole time, from the first day he came to my office in May and told me about his diagnosis, all the way to now and when he met with me personally on October 28th to tell me he’d made up his mind. He’s been nothing but first class in how he’s handled the situation the whole way.”

“I want to make very clear that I’m not doing poorly, and that this is a manageable disease, but it’s one that will never go away,” Pinkel said. “So many people have bigger struggles with other forms of cancer and other serious diseases, and I feel blessed that I’ve got something I can fight and still enjoy a good quality of life. I don’t know how many years I have left, but I want to turn my focus to life outside of the daily grind of football,” he said.

“Words can’t express how grateful I am to the University of Missouri and all of the amazing people who make it up, from the administration to the students and our fans. Obviously, I’m so appreciative to all of my coaches and athletes. Leaving them makes this decision so tough, but I do so feeling good that the Mizzou Football program is in a better place than it was when we came in 15 years ago. I feel that Mizzou is a great job at a great school and has so much going for it that they’ll find an outstanding coach to move the program forward,” Pinkel said.

Pinkel, 63, transformed Mizzou into a national program after taking over on Nov. 30, 2000, and will conclude his career as the winningest coach in school history. He’s amassed a 117-71 record at Mizzou in 15 seasons, and his 190 career wins stand as the 19th-most all-time in NCAA FBS history. Under his guidance, Mizzou won five conference divisional titles (2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014), reached 10 bowl games (winning six) and had five teams post a final top-20 national ranking (including two top-five finishes). His Tigers posted winning seasons in 10-of-15 years, following a stretch where Mizzou had only two winning seasons in the 17 seasons (1984-2000) prior to his arrival. He was named the National Coach of the Year in 2007 by FieldTurf, and won conference coach of the year honors in 2007 (Big 12) and 2014 (SEC).
Two times, Pinkel likely had his Tigers one win away from playing for a national championship, as wins in the 2007 and 2013 conference championship games could have propelled MU into title game appearances. In 2007, Mizzou surged to the school’s first-ever number one national ranking since 1960 after a watershed win over rival Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium on Nov. 24, 2007, when the Tigers were ranked fourth and the Jayhawks second coming into the game. That team would eventually end the season with a school-record 12 wins that included a Cotton Bowl title and final national ranking of fourth.

Pinkel worked perhaps his finest coaching job in 2013, one year after Mizzou joined the vaunted Southeastern Conference and suffered an injury-plagued 5-7 season in 2012. Picked to finish sixth in the SEC Eastern Division by pre-season pundits, the Tigers jumped out to a 7-0 record and finished 11-1 and East Division champs. They would go on to a 12-win season, with another Cotton Bowl title, and final national ranking of fifth.

Pinkel’s emphasis on molding young men into successful student-athletes was evidenced by the great achievements they had in the classroom.

Mizzou has improved its NCAA Graduation Success Rate for nine straight years, and has graduated 97 percent of its seniors the past five seasons.

Getting athletes to the next level has been another mark of success for Pinkel and his program. In his time at Mizzou, 32 Tigers were selected in the NFL Draft, including seven in the first round. Mizzou had 12 players taken in the first round of the NFL Draft in the previous 64 years combined (1937-2001) prior to Pinkel taking over.

Pinkel came to Missouri after spending 10 very successful years as head coach at Toledo (1991-2000), where he amassed an impressive 73-37-3 record and left as UT’s all-time winningest coach. Prior to becoming a head coach, Pinkel learned the trade from one of the all-time great coaches, the legendary Don James. For 12 years as an assistant under James at Washington (1979-90), Pinkel helped guide the Huskies to a combined record of 104-37-2 (73.4%) and three Pac-10 Conference titles. He served as UW’s offensive coordinator for seven seasons (1984-90), and helped mold one of the nation’s most potent offensive attacks.

Pinkel played under James at Kent State University, where he was an all-conference and honorable mention All-American tight end. He received his bachelor of science degree in education from Kent in 1973, and did post-graduate studies at Kent and Bowling Green.

University of Missouri interim president to seek to meet demands of Concerned Student 1950, and own demands from 1969

Posted on November 13, 2015

Mike Middleton addresses reporters after being officially introduced as the interim president of the University of Missouri System. (photo courtesy Missourinet)

(Missourinet) – The University of Missouri’s interim system president has been with the University of Missouri for 30 years, including as a law professor and deputy chancellor. Before that, Mike Middleton was active in the civil rights movement while a student at the university in the 60s. He was a founder of the Legion of Black Collegians, and was one of the students who demanded more black faculty be hired and that threats and harassment toward black students be stopped.

Middleton, who is African-American, told reporters he suspects his race did play into his being asked to take on the role of interim system president.

“Color, in this country, is an issue that is considered – that effects many, many decisions that are made, positively and negatively. We need to understand that, accept it, and get beyond it eventually,” said Middleton, who said for him to have been asked whether his race figured into his selection is reflective of the institutional racism that so many are trying to move beyond.

Middleton told reporters during his time at MU he has felt marginalized because of his race, whether it was when he was a student, a faculty member, or an administrator.

“Every day. In all three capacities,” said Middleton.

He said he will work to satisfy all the demands of students that can be satisfied, and not just those made this year.

“The demands that were submitted in 1969, the demands that were submitted in 2005, and the demands that were most recently submitted to administration involve complex interactions among many in this university,” said Middleton. “I intend to lead this university towards satisfying each and every one of those demands that can be satisfied.”

Some students have told the media and others they don’t feel safe due to threats, some made on social media in recent days. Middleton seemed to echo the instructions given by the University of Missouri Police to students – to report hurtful or hateful speech or actions – in discussing how such threats would be dealt with.

“Those kinds of incidents will be investigated quickly, dealt with quickly, and the people responsible will be held accountable. MUPD is an amazing law enforcement agency. They are on the job. They will do what they can to apprehend offenders and bring them to justice, but MUPD can not be everywhere. They can not walk hand-in-hand with every student,” said Middleton. “This is a tense situation, so what I can say to them is be careful. Be careful, report anything you see, cooperate with MUPD, and hopefully at some point this kind of turmoil will dissipate.”

Middleton was appointed after Tim Wolfe resigned on Monday, which followed protests, a hunger strike, and the Tiger football team saying it would not play or practice until Wolfe stepped down. Middleton says everyone in the university community must be willing educate one another and be educated about what led to those actions.

“We need to talk about this. We need to come together, let our guard down, sit across the table person-to-person, and respectfully discuss these issues and move beyond them,” said Middleton.

University of Missouri Police have apprehended and identified suspect who posted threats to campus on social media (UPDATE at 8:35 a.m)

Posted on November 11, 2015November 11, 2015

Hunter M. Park (photo courtesy Missourinet)

(Missourinet) – University of Missouri Police have apprehended the suspect who posted threats to the campus on YikYak and other social media. The suspect is in MUPD custody and was not located on or near the MU campus at the time of the threat.

Police arrested a man in Rolla early Wednesday identified the suspect as 19-year old Hunter M. Park.

Park was arrested in Rolla at 1:50 a.m. Wednesday. He was brought to Columbia and booked on suspicion of making a terrorist threat. Park’s hometown, listed on the Boone County Sheriff’s website, is Lake St. Louis.

He was transported from Rolla to Columbia where he was arrested and charged with making a terrorist threat. He’s being held at the Boone County Jail on a $4,500 bond. Park is a student at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, according to the school’s online directory.

MU Police press release

One of those threats that first appeared on said: “Some of you are alright. Don’t go to campus tomorrow.”

The threats came after a day after University system President Timothy Wolfe resigned and Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin announced he was stepping down from his position.

University of Missouri to remove courtesy title for professor who blocked reporters

Posted on November 10, 2015

MU Assistant Professor Melissa Quick seemed to be instructing students and protesters to block reporters attempting to access protesters’ campsite on public ground. (Photo courtesy Missourinet)

(Missourinet) – The University of Missouri will remove a courtesy title extended to a communication professor who called for, quote, “some muscle,” to block reporters’ access to protests.

Protests against racism on the University of Missouri campus continued yesterday after the resignation of Tim Wolfe as the UM System President. Reporters trying to cover the protests were denied access, some through physical and verbal intimidation.

One such incident was caught on video.

“You need to get out,” MU Assistant Professor Melissa Quick tells Mark Schierbecker, was taping when a student reporter freelancing for ESPN was blocked by protesters as he tried to enter a public area where they were camping.

When he tells her he doesn’t have to leave, she turns and begins calling out to protesters, “Who wants to help me get this reporter out of here? I need some muscle over here!”

Click is a member of the MU Communications Department who before today held a courtesy appointment to the School of Journalism.

The MU School of Journalism has reported the incident as an incident of racial harassment, as the reporter Schierbecker was taping being blocked is Asian-American.

The Department of Communication says it supports the First Amendment rights of reporters, but it will not comment on personnel matters.
Click has since issued a statement, obtained by a St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter, saying she has apologized to the reporters in the video.

“I have reviewed and reflected upon the video of me that is circulating, and have written this statement to offer both apology and context for my actions. I have reached out to the journalists involved to offer my sincere apologies and to express regret over my actions. I regret the language and strategies I used, and sincerely apologize to the MU campus community, and journalists at large, for my behavior, and also for the way my actions have shifted attention away from the students’ campaign for justice,” wrote Quick.

She continued, “From this experience I have learned about humanity and humility. When I apologized to one of the reporters in a phone call this afternoon, he accepted by apology. I believe he is doing a difficult job, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to speak with him. His dignity also speaks well to the Journalism program at MU. Again, I wish to express my sincere apology for my actions on Carnahan Quad yesterday.”