Missouri Journalism School Will Review Appointment of Professor Who Blocked Journalist

The dean of the Missouri School of Journalism announced Tuesday that the school was taking immediate action to review the appointment of the professor who called for “muscle” on a journalist taking video of a protest Monday.

Missouri senior Tim Tai was covering ongoing protests of the school’s handling of racial issues on Missouri’s Carnahan Quad when protestors blocked his access to take photos with their hands, surrounding Tai and confronting him verbally about his right to take pictures. The incident with Tai was caught on camera by another photographer.

After Tai was confronted, Melissa Click, an assistant professor at Missouri, called for “muscle” to remove the cameraman, identified by the New York Times as Mark Schierbecker, after he approached her.

Dean David Kurpius confirmed that Click is a media professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, with an appointment to the School of Journalism, and commended Tai’s efforts in a statement Tuesday.

“The events of Nov. 9 have raised numerous issues regarding the boundaries of the First Amendment,” wrote Kurpius. “Although the attention on journalists has shifted the focus from the news of the day, it provides an opportunity to educate students and citizens about the role of a free press.”