News Summary
The University of Missouri has canceled the Legion of Black Collegians’ Black 2 Class Block Party, citing concerns about racial exclusivity in the event’s name. Despite attempts to rename the event, university officials reaffirmed the cancellation, leading to disappointment among LBC members. This incident highlights ongoing issues of race and inclusion on campus, along with calls for better support for Black students and organizations. The decision comes amid reported incidents of racial harassment at the university, raising significant concerns about the campus climate for Black students.
Columbia, Missouri – The University of Missouri (MU) has canceled the Legion of Black Collegians’ (LBC) Black 2 Class Block Party, expressing concerns about the event’s name suggesting exclusivity based on race. The cancellation comes just days before the event was set to take place on Friday, causing disappointment among LBC members and raising questions about event naming policies at the university.
MU officials communicated the decision to LBC on Monday, leading to a subsequent meeting between the organization’s executive board and university leaders, including Vice Chancellor Angela King Taylor and UM System President Mun Choi. During the meeting, LBC characterized the cancellation as “a deliberate act of erasure” and highlighted the difficulties they face in naming their events while still being inclusive.
Initially, LBC proposed renaming the event to “Back 2 Class Block Party” in an attempt to appease university concerns, but MU rejected this alternative and reaffirmed the cancellation. This situation mirrors a previous incident this year in which the university required LBC to change the name of its “Welcome Black BBQ” to “Welcome Black and Gold BBQ,” prompting LBC to withdraw from that event altogether.
The university’s rationale for the cancellation centered on its commitment to creating a non-discriminatory environment on campus. MU officials articulated that any event name that implies racial exclusivity would not be permissible. However, LBC expressed frustration that no alternative solutions were proposed during discussions, and many members felt let down by the university’s handling of their organization and events.
Compounding the issue, LBC has reported multiple incidents of racial harassment on campus, indicating that many Black students have faced racial slurs during various campus activities in the past school year. During the recent meeting, LBC called for MU to publicly denounce racial harassment and enhance the clarity of its nondiscrimination policies so that all students feel safe and included.
A spokesperson for MU elaborated on the cancellation, noting that problems regarding the permit for the event also factored into the decision. The spokesperson emphasized that LBC did not obtain the necessary approval for holding the block party at its proposed location. This claim, however, contradicts a previous email received by LBC that suggested they had permission to host the event at the Black Culture Center.
Support for LBC has emerged from various campus organizations, including Phi Beta Sigma, a historically Black fraternity at MU. The fraternity has criticized the university’s decision to cancel the block party, asserting it further reinforces barriers faced by Black organizations and students on campus.
The situation raises broader concerns about campus culture and the experience of Black students at MU. Throughout the meeting, issues related to campus safety and student experiences of racial harassment were extensively discussed. LBC emphasized the importance of creating a more equitable environment and ensuring that all students feel welcome and valued without discrimination.
As this incident unfolds, both LBC and the university are at a crossroads that will likely have implications for future events and the overall climate for Black students at MU. While LBC continues to advocate for their rights and representation, the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion will be tested in the wake of this event.
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Additional Resources
- KMIZ: Black Student Group Meets with MU Over Cancellation of Event
- KMIZ: MU Cancels Welcome Event for Black Student Group
- Columbia Tribune: Rapper Talib Kweli Coming to Columbia, MO
- WIS TV: Columbia Police Non-Profit Collaboration for Block Party
- Wikipedia: Cultural Inclusivity
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