University of Missouri Assistant Professor Melissa Click is now defending her actions in a second video.
In the first video Click was seen in November 2015 hitting a student journalist because Click did not want that student to cover an on-campus protest. The new video shows Click in October 2015 linking arms with students who were blocking a road during Homecoming. When police arrived, Click is seen and heard on video cursing at police.
In an interview with KOMU, the assistant professor admitted that there is a pattern.
"Well I would agree there's a pattern, I think the pattern is that I was willing to help this group of students that had been expressing a very moving message about being excluded and marginalized from MU's community. Did I make mistakes, yes, am I sorry for them, yes. But I think the pattern was that I was willing to help these students," Click explained.
When questioned about why she chose to curse at police on video, she said, "I guess I didn't think about it either way. I don't interact with the police very much. I don't think I knew that police officers wore cameras on their bodies but I, I knew there were videos of the Homecoming parade for sure."
MU Interim Chancellor Hank Foley criticized Click calling her conduct and behavior appalling. Click is applying for tenure at MU. If she does not get it, she would have one year to leave the university.
Clicks' actions and the racial unrest at the University of Missouri are convincing some high school seniors to choose different schools.
Rashai Harris is a senior at Central High School in Kansas City. She is attending Penn Valley Early College to get some college credits during her final year in high school. Harris said she dreamed of attending MU in the fall but changed her mind.
"I have been watching the news coverage and seeing what MU students are saying on Twitter and Facebook," Harris explained.
"Honestly, I don't think I would be safe. If my safety is in jeopardy, if there's someone threatening my school and the students there, the teachers there should not be emailing, 'Well if you don't feel like coming to class then there's still going to be an exam and you're still going to be held accountable,' that doesn't make sense to me," Harris concluded.
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Cynthia Newsome can be reached at cynthia.newsome@kshb.com.
