Mizzou Professor Charged with Assault
[guest post by JVW]
The interminable saga of University of Missouri Assistant Professor of Communication Melissa Click reached a new milestone today when the Columbia, Missouri City Prosecutor formally charged her with third-degree assault for swatting at a student journalist who was photographing a Black Lives Matter gathering on campus this past November. Recall that Click was also caught on video asking for “some muscle” to come and forcibly eject the photographer. She faces up to 15 days imprisonment if found guilty.
Meanwhile, the university is either taking due diligence or dragging their feet (depending upon one’s disposition to Click’s actions) in reaching a decision about Melissa Click’s continuing status on the faculty. This was the year that Click was to come up for tenure review, and according to the local ABC News affiliate she remains under consideration:
Interim Chancellor Hank Foley announced Monday afternoon that Click will keep her job while a task force determines whether she will receive tenure.
Foley said she is currently working from home and will continue to do so the rest of the week.
Foley said a task force made up of scholars, MUPD, administrators, and students will sort through everything that happened on November 9.
“When we deviate from our processes, we tend to make mistakes. We have our ways of doing things that are not hasty,” said Foley in regard to the task force process.
“People are held accountable for their actions at the University. This is not being looked over.”
Foley said “Dr. Click is frankly aggrieved by this. I doubt she would do anything like this again.” [emphasis added]
Is it just me, or does Foley sound like he would absolutely love to find a way to forgive and forget and grant Click tenure? I guess Mizzou simply can’t do without her ground-breaking research into the Fifty Shades of Grey novels and “Thomas the Tank” television series.
Anyone have any bright ideas for Chancellor Foley as to how he and his colleagues can grant Professor Click tenure without being the laughingstocks of academia?
– JVW
As for me, I think they should hire her as head football coach too.
JVW (d60453) — 1/25/2016 @ 4:25 pm“People are held accountable for their actions at the University. This is not being looked over.”
Don’t you suppose he meant to say, “This is not being overlooked”? Kind of a Freudian slip there, isn’t it?
JVW (d60453) — 1/25/2016 @ 4:27 pmthis is a lot like that Center for Medical Progress indictment
people are being held accountable
how weird
happyfeet (831175) — 1/25/2016 @ 4:41 pmthe lesson is you must not interrupt the sacrifice to Cthluthu, perhaps Dagon, another of the old ones,
narciso (732bc0) — 1/25/2016 @ 4:45 pmI guess this should put her on the fast-track for tenure at most colleges.
If she could only hook up with Bill Ayers and bomb a few government offices she would be a shoe-in!
WarEagle82 (3f92a9) — 1/25/2016 @ 4:57 pmIf convicted, she may experience the feeling of having teh “muscle” applied to her when Large Marge gives her a welcoming “hug”.
Colonel Haiku (33489e) — 1/25/2016 @ 5:03 pmLooks like the Planned Parenthood filmmakers were indicted by a Grand Jury in Texas. Isn’t that the same county that indicted Perry? (Harris County)
Dejectedhead (0c7c2f) — 1/25/2016 @ 5:15 pmSure. Compare her to Angela Davis.
Bill H (dcdd7b) — 1/25/2016 @ 5:15 pmI think that may have been Bexar County, dejectedhead, but I could be wrong.
Colonel Haiku (33489e) — 1/25/2016 @ 5:21 pmaustin is travis cty, a whole other country,
narciso (732bc0) — 1/25/2016 @ 5:27 pmNo, it’s Rick Perry was targeted by the drunken Travis county DA Lehmberg.
Steve57 (f61b03) — 1/25/2016 @ 5:29 pmyes, the successor to ronnie earle, texans for public justice, are the local version of crew,
narciso (732bc0) — 1/25/2016 @ 5:31 pmYou know the really sick part of the joke? They charged the film makers with organ trafficking, not PP.
Also tampering with a government document. I don’t know how they got that, considering the film makers don’t maintain government records.
Oh, the other sick part of the joke. The film makers were actually indicted by PP itself.
http://thefederalist.com/2016/01/25/houston-grand-indicts-david-daleiden-for-organ-trafficking-issues-no-charges-against-planned-parenthood/
Certainly no conflict of interest there.
Steve57 (f61b03) — 1/25/2016 @ 5:35 pmLooks like it was Travis County vs Harris County.
Dejectedhead (0c7c2f) — 1/25/2016 @ 5:36 pmOf course, Travis County, should’ve been hard to forget with all of their “ham sandwich” indictments…
Colonel Haiku (33489e) — 1/25/2016 @ 5:39 pmHow did U Mass Amherst let this class A progressive wander off the reservation?
mg (31009b) — 1/25/2016 @ 5:40 pmThird degree assault is when you raise your hand (weaponless) like you’re going to hit somebody but don’t actually touch him. I’d be ashamed to sign a complaint against a woman for something like that. This photographer sounds like some kind of sissy boy to me.
nk (dbc370) — 1/25/2016 @ 5:44 pmDon’t diss that guy. He stood up to a pack of wolves. I saw the video.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 1/25/2016 @ 5:56 pmnk, did you miss the part where she threatened the kid with physical harm from the goons following her?
This 3d degree assault charge was a plea bargain down from criminal menacing.
Steve Malynn (b5f891) — 1/25/2016 @ 6:11 pmThis 3d degree assault charge was a plea bargain down from criminal menacing.
Steve Malynn (b5f891) — 1/25/2016 @ 6:11 pm
Plea bargain? She pleaded guilty? And yes, I’ve seen the video, the 6-minute version where she appears for about 30 seconds at the end. They don’t make wolves like they used to. No wonder they’re on the endangered species list.
nk (dbc370) — 1/25/2016 @ 6:22 pmThreaten a student at a protest, I don’t know if you’ll get denied tenure, but you sure will if too many of them complain that calculus is too hard.
Gabriel Hanna (3d8e32) — 1/25/2016 @ 6:27 pmNk, trust me that campuses are weird places indeed.
Simon Jester (bd63d7) — 1/25/2016 @ 6:40 pmRecall that “microaggressions” are considered to be forms of aggression, for example.
I think that if it an issue one way, it is an issue the other. Period.
Simon Jester (bd63d7) — 1/25/2016 @ 6:41 pmSo, nk, if I just raise my hand like I was gonna slap somebody but I stop and put my hand down it’s third degree assault? So basically wanting to hit somebody but deciding not to is a crime? Whooda thunk? Would thinking about hitting somebody be fourth degree assault? You lawyer types gots yoselves all kinda money makin’ stuff.
Man, I’ve done third and fourth degree assaults all my life. I’m a bloody criminal. Even worse, a repeat offender.
Rev. Barack Hussein Hoagie™ (f4eb27) — 1/25/2016 @ 6:46 pmYeah, I have some mixed feelings about the assault charge. On the one hand, I agree with nk that a fella shouldn’t be intimidated by some wiry little campus crybully raising her bird-like hand; on the other hand, pressing charges is probably the only thing that could keep this kerfuffle in the news this long and thus prevent Mizzou from sweeping all of this under the rug and quietly awarding tenure to Prof. Click. Did I hear at one point last December that the guy said he wouldn’t press charges if he could be assured that Click would no longer be a candidate for tenure?
JVW (d60453) — 1/25/2016 @ 6:46 pmThey all looked like nice kids, Simon. They were calling the Chinese photographer “Sir” when they were asking him not to photograph them. I will grant you that Melissa looks like she could use some Midol and a couple of beauty products.
nk (dbc370) — 1/25/2016 @ 6:49 pmPretty much, Hoagie, pretty much. Actually, Missouri does have fourth-degree assault. I don’t even want to look at the elements.
nk (dbc370) — 1/25/2016 @ 6:53 pmThis martinet of a leftist professor is mainly (in the eyes of the university) guilty of letting the mask slip. Her angry face shouting for “muscle” to come and shut up a student journalist was the perfect portrait of the fascism that is the modern American campus. If these people had the power they would put us conservatives in the gulag in a hot second. Believe it.
Funeral Guy (fd1434) — 1/25/2016 @ 7:21 pmSo the communications director was justified in threatening with harm a student who was doing his job? During a student protest out in the open? You mind explaining to me just how that’s right? Also, “sissy boy”? Because he didn’t respond in kind during what appeared to be a physically dangerous situation? Not everyone is a big bad-ass like you, NK.
Bill H (dcdd7b) — 1/25/2016 @ 8:07 pm
nk (dbc370) — 1/25/2016 @ 8:43 pmAt college age?I would not get into a hair-pull with a woman, at any age. I would not touch the lady, and I would not be in much of an apprehension that she could hurt me. Did you see the video, Bill H?Oh, nk. If we were friends IRL, I could share some stories that would get you on a plane out here to knock heads together.
Simon Jester (bd63d7) — 1/25/2016 @ 8:53 pmTIL. They knew the diameter of the Moon and its distance from Earth at the time of Edgar Allan Poe.
nk (dbc370) — 1/25/2016 @ 9:16 pmI wouldn’t either, NK. Then again, that’s not a situation I would be getting into because I’m not a student journalist attempting to exercise my First Amendment rights. I guess from your answer that yes, it is OK to use the threat of force when the coverage won’t be in your favor.
And yes, I have watched the video. My reaction is markedly different from yours. I am extremely cheesed off that an anti-First movement has taken hold at the very places where free expression of ideas should be at it’s zenith. The threat of force, the color of authority, the fear of violence, all in the name of “safety”- I’ll ask you again: why is this OK with you?
Bill H (dcdd7b) — 1/25/2016 @ 10:17 pmHoagie, the definition of assault is putting someone in reasonable fear of physical harm. It does not and has never required actual harm. Contrary to the popular saying, your right to swing your fist stops well before the other fellow’s nose begins; in fact the moment you swing your fist as if to hit him you have assaulted him. The fact that you always intended to pull your punch before it connected is irrelevant. The test is whether a reasonable person, in your victim’s place, would be afraid you were going to hit him.
Milhouse (87c499) — 1/25/2016 @ 10:20 pmBy the way, Steve, I answered your question about names beginning in K.
Milhouse (87c499) — 1/26/2016 @ 5:33 amThere’s a tension of competing First Amendment rights in a public space (a government space in the case of Mizzou). Does David Letterman have a right to video me walking around Times Square and shoe me on Stupid People Tricks on his show? If the First Amendment prevents the government from protecting my privacy, what do I do? Why not get in the face of the cameraman, short of actual bodily harm, and make the situation “uncomfortable” for him? Maybe even hurt his feelings, and make him cry, and run to his mommy to wipe his nose and give him a hug and ice cream?
nk (dbc370) — 1/26/2016 @ 6:16 am“This is not being looked over.” That is completely opposite of “This is not being
iowaan (eaf455) — 1/26/2016 @ 8:01 amover-looked.”
Interesting legal theory, nk. Not sure that “privacy” (which is privacy against GOVT intrusion) is part of the First Amendment. But even if it were, the answer to your question is “Yes, you can be filmed on a public street, including by Letterman.” If it were illegal, then every newpaper, magazine, news station, and the whole damn internet would be out of business. But since they aren’t, I’d say that what that young man was doing was completely, totally legal and moral.
So anything short of “actual bodily harm” is fine in your world? So how about I chamber a round, safety off, and put it to your head? Is that OK? No actual physical harm, right? Or perhaps taking a swing (and missing) and then calling over a couple of thugs to provide “muscle” to physically eject you? The missed blow does no harm, calling thugs to accost you causes no bodily harm, and if they simply grab you and push you away, there is no bodily harm. Strange world you live in. Glad it isn’t the real world the rest of us inhabit, because in the real world all of those are illegal.
prowlerguy (3af7ff) — 1/26/2016 @ 8:16 amGlad it isn’t the real world the rest of us inhabit, because in the real world all of those are illegal.
Well, the gun part might be considered attempted suicide depending on whom you pulled it on. But I understand what you’re saying because I also believe that people should be free to do anything I want to do.
nk (dbc370) — 1/26/2016 @ 8:25 amGreetings:
Me, I was kinda hoping for some “hate crime” action or maybe a “protective order” keeping her off campus. I went to a Catholic high school in the Bronx of the ’60s that was fond of after-school detention so maybe she’ll get some of that.
Alternatively, I’d settle for having the professorette drug into Judge Judy’s court for some pocketbook adjustment.
11B40 (69b9c8) — 1/26/2016 @ 8:45 amYes, he does.
Because actual bodily harm is not and has never been the standard. You have no more right to intimidate someone than you have to physically harm them.
Milhouse (87c499) — 1/26/2016 @ 8:55 amThe Letterman question was rhetorical. A Massachusetts court has held that you can take upskirt photos of women riding the subway. The sluts! Wearing skirts on the subway! What were they thinking? And if they get into the pervert’s face, like Melissa did, scaring him but not touching him, he can have them charged with assault.
nk (dbc370) — 1/26/2016 @ 9:06 amIn the long run, Melissa Click will be taken care of and this will all blow over. Lefties take care of their own. They rarely ever pay the price for their actions or beliefs, witness Bill Ayers, Bernadine Dorhn, Angela Davis, et al. Click may lose her chance at tenure at Missouri (I doubt it, but you never know) but there are hundreds of other schools where she could end up and plenty of government agencies that would pay her much more to be part of their HR departments or administrations. Mark my words.
Ipso Fatso (10964d) — 1/26/2016 @ 3:57 pm