WOW, Mizzou's football team quits

[smootness]

The vibe I'm getting from several of you is, 'These players are receiving benefits from the university for playing. Therefore, they shouldn't have concerns beyond football and should fall in line and do what they're told. And the university president is a man with intelligence and experience, he knows best and shouldn't be questioned. Those in leadership shouldn't be vulnerable to any potential consequences instigated by those they lead.'

Please explain how this viewpoint isn't exactly like that found in communist China or the USSR?

[smootness]

This is false.

Please show me where he responded to them before these protests began.

[smootness]

These 'students' are dysfunctional, unruly and want nothing more than to create chaos. And they reason they do that, is because they think they will advance themselves through the chaos.

They need to be stopped. Protests are fine, but stopping parades (disturbing the peace) and the like need to be handled swiftly. They are NOT being discriminated against by this president. It's freaking unbelievable that reasonable humans would give these morons the time of day.

'I will assume the worst about these protesters. Their concerns are immaterial, our parades must not be compromised!'

[Taog Redloh]

I identify as these two, but not with the Mao part...I guess 2 out of 3, ain't bad.

Ah, a useful idiot, eh? Feel free to tell us how wrong we are and how you know better, while behind the safety of your gated community.

[THE Bruce Dickinson]

These issues that you speak of are isolated incidents from ignorant students. What is the president supposed to do? Throw on his cape and lock them up? Please tell me specifically what the president has done that warrants his removal because not being sensitive enough to the needs of this group is not an acceptable answer.

Here is the list of demands:

We demand that University of Missouri System President, Tim Wolfe, writes a hand-written apology to Concerned Student 1-9-5-0 demonstrators and holds a press conference in the Mizzou Student Center reading the letter. In the letter and at the press conference, Tim Wolfe must acknowledge his white privilege, recognize that systems of oppression exits, and provide a verbal commitment to fulfilling Concerned Student 1-9-5-0 demands. We want Tim Wolfe to admits his gross negligence, allowing his driver to hit one of the demonstrators, consenting to the physical violence of bystanders, and lastly refusing to intervene when Columbia Police Department used excessive force with demonstrators.

2. We demand the immediate removal of Tim Wolfe as UM system president. After his removal, a new amendment to thd UM system policies must be established to have all future UM system president and Chancellor positions be selected by a collective of students, staff, and faculty of diverse backgrounds.

3. We demand that the University of Missouri meets the Legion of Black Collegians’ demands that were presented in the 1969 for the betterment of the black community.

4. We demand that the University of Missouri creates and enforces comprehensive racial awareness and inclusion curriculum throughout all campus departments and units, mandatory for all students, faculty, staff and administration. This curriculum must be vetted, maintained, and overseen by a board comprised of students, staff and faculty of color.

5. We demand that by the academic year 2017-18, the University of Missouri increases the percentage of black faculty and staff members campus-wide by 10 percent.

6. We demand that the University of Missouri composes a strategic 10-year plan on May, 1 2016 that will increase retention rates for marginalized students, sustain diversity curriculum and training, and promote a more safe and inclusive campus.

7. We demand that the University of Missouri increases funding and resources for the University of Missouri Counseling Center for the purpose of hiring additional mental health professionals, particularly those of color, boosting mental health outreach and programming across campus, increasing campus-wide awareness and visibility of the counseling center, and reducing lengthy wait times for prospective clients.

8. We demand that the University of Missouri increases funding, resources and personnel for the social justice centers on campus for the purpose of hiring additional professionals, particularly those of color, boosting outreach and programming across campus and increasing campus-wide awareness and visibility.


Given this list i think my analogy is not that far off.

[AlmostPositive]

I haven't heard anyone say the players aren't free to quit the team and pay their own way. They should be able to do this for any reason.

In the meantime, with the state of public discourse as it is, I'm sure the media will be as honest in their portrayal of this little saga as they were with the "Hands up Don't Shoot!" fraud. They did a lot of damage then and they will be happy to do more now.

[PendingTransaction]

Again, I'm shocked by the beliefs of my fellow Bulldogs surrounding this issue. Perhaps I shouldn't be. It clear that heritage, culture, politics, parenting, and sadly, religious beliefs have framed the minds and hearts of many. If our players and coaches would ever take a similar position on an issue, I'm sure that DWS would be burned to the ground.

[Taog Redloh]

'I will assume the worst about these protesters. Their concerns are immaterial, our parades must not be compromised!'

Damn right, in this situation. We've seen this whiny bullshit time and time again, with various people groups. Being a victim of discrimination is a way of advancing oneself in the modern United States. You KNOW this is true.

You know better than what you type. My question is, when did you allow this poisonous thought to overcome you? I think you just want to appear high and mighty.

[BeardoMSU]

while behind the safety of your gated community.

I live in Starkville, enjoying the luxurious accommodations of a cramped 2 bedroom apartment with my GF and our 4 pets. Sorry to buck your stereotypes, Smitty.

[Taog Redloh]

Again, I'm shocked by the beliefs of my fellow Bulldogs surrounding this issue. Perhaps I shouldn't be. It clear that heritage, culture, politics, parenting, and sadly, religious beliefs have framed the minds and hearts of many. If our players and coaches would ever take a similar position on an issue, I'm sure that DWS would be burned to the ground.

Honest question - why does your side always have to bring out this shaming bullshit? Can you not just have a reasonable debate? We disagree, dude. It's no big deal. No one is better or lesser of a person.

[AlmostPositive]

Again, I'm shocked by the beliefs of my fellow Bulldogs surrounding this issue. Perhaps I shouldn't be. It clear that heritage, culture, politics, parenting, and sadly, religious beliefs have framed the minds and hearts of many. If our players and coaches would ever take a similar position on an issue, I'm sure that DWS would be burned to the ground.

This is the kind of sanctimonious blather that makes me embarrassed that I was ever a political liberal.

[Taog Redloh]

This is the kind of sanctimonious blather that makes me embarrassed that I was ever a political liberal.

I think you just summed this whole deal up.

[AlmostPositive]

Here's my list of demands:

1. If you sign on to play football, play football.


That is all.

[Coach007]

His job is to lead the university and its students. He clearly hasn't done that effectively. If his life is affected by this, it's at least partially on him for it getting to this point. You act like one random incident happened and everyone immediately said, 'Hey, our president should be removed.'

Are you saying students without life experience shouldn't have rights? Or that they should be more easily controlled.

Perhaps Pinkel actually agrees with the football players that there is an issue?

No, I'm acting like 2 things happened that were addressed by the chancellor. His efforts were blown off.

[smootness]

Damn right, in this situation. We've seen this whiny bullshit time and time again, with various people groups. Being a victim of discrimination is a way of advancing oneself in the modern United States. You KNOW this is true.

You know better than what you type. My question is, when did you allow this poisonous thought to overcome you? I think you just want to appear high and mighty.

Good gosh, man.

Literally the only things I've said here are:
1. The students have a right to do this. It's actually what makes our society great.
2. The degree to which their opinions catch on and produce change will be determined by how many others agree with them.
3. The university has a right to take action as well. Similarly, the degree to which those actions will be accepted and won't be counterproductive will be determined by how many people side with them.
4. The UM president has not shown great leadership in this whole situation, beginning a few months ago, and he is reaping the consequences of that now.
6. We don't know everything about the situation.

I likely don't agree with everything these protesters believe or want. My political views in General might surprise you. But suggesting this is somehow mob rule, or comparable to the actions of the communist party in China, or that these students shouldn't be able to do this, is absurd.

Only you and a few others have made assumptions about anyone in this situation. Those assumptions are baseless at this point.

[smootness]

No, I'm acting like 2 things happened that were addressed by the chancellor. His efforts were blown off.

Ok, so show me where you found this information.

[Blackout]

Again, I'm shocked by the beliefs of my fellow Bulldogs surrounding this issue. Perhaps I shouldn't be.

Inform me on the specific wrongdoings of the president.

Just because someone screams loudly does not give their cause merit. Just because others fear being shamed and join in (Pinkel) doesn't increase the validity of the cause. Facts matter. Civil society matters.

It's not up for a vote either Smootness. You keep saying "depends on how many agree with which side". That's bullshit. I don't care if the entire student body and faculty agree, if he did nothing wrong he doesn't deserve to lose his career

[BeardoMSU]

why does your side always have to bring out this shaming bullshit? Can you not just have a reasonable debate?

From the guy who just called me the "useful idiot". Does your memory only go back 5 minutes?

[PendingTransaction]

Shaming bullshit and sanctimonious??? I have no desire to nor do I believe that "shaming" will counter such deep-seated beliefs. Sanctimonious...I try to take the moral high ground. When given the opportunity, I Encourage others to do likewise. I understand that you are not ashamed and you are comfortable in your morals.

[smootness]

Inform me on the specific wrongdoings of the president.

Just because someone screams loudly does not give their cause merit. Just because others fear being shamed and join in (Pinkel) doesn't increase the validity of the cause. Facts matter. Civil society matters.

It's not up for a vote either Smootness. You keep saying "depends on how many agree with which side". That's bullshit. I don't care if the entire student body and faculty agree, if he did nothing wrong he doesn't deserve to lose his career

Who said he would lose his career? When I say it depends on how many agree, I'm mostly talking about those who actually are in a position to make a decision on the president.

If a university president no longer has the confidence of the students, faculty, and/or public, he can't effectively lead. Or if his reputation causes the reputation of the university to suffer, or their bottom line to be hurt, those are legitimate reasons to let him go.

I'm not even arguing that's necessarily fair. But it's reality in our society and happens to countless people every day. If he is a skilled and effective leader, he should be able to resolve this, one way or another. If he can't resolve it, he shouldn't be in that position.