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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

U. of Missouri Prof. Agrees to Community Service

COLUMBIA, Mo. (CN) - A University of Missouri-Columbia assistant professor charged with misdemeanor assault stemming from a confrontation with student journalists last fall reached a deal with Columbia prosecutors on Friday.

Melissa Click, a communication professor, agreed to perform 20 hours of community service and will not break the law for one year, according to the agreement.

"Based on the facts of this case, I believe this disposition to be appropriate," Columbia City Prosecutor Stephen Richey said in a statement.

Click was caught on video attempting to block a student journalist's access to a student protest in a public quad on campus. The video shows Click attempting to grab the student journalist's camera and shows her calling for "muscle" to remove the student journalist from the public area.

The video quickly went viral and was followed by calls for Click's immediate firing by Missouri lawmakers and others.

Shortly after the video went viral, David Kurpius, the dean of Missouri's prestigious journalism school went on Twitter to clarify that Click was not a "J-School faculty member" and announced that the department had removed Click's courtesy title with the journalism school.

Click's current research projects involve "50 Shades of Grey" readers and the impact of social media in fans' relationship with Lady Gaga, according to the University's website.

On Wednesday, Missouri's Board of Curators suspended Click indefinitely while the university's general counsel conducts an investigation to determine whether more discipline is necessary.

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