U of Missouri: Racial unrest, a hunger strike and football players on strike

[Tyrone Biggums]

I think you forgot to add that you hope that the racist activity on the campus stops

I think that goes without saying...I said from the beginning that how racism exists in 2015 is mind boggling. We've come so far as people in some areas and others...it's insane. I focus on the academic portion of it because last time I checked generally people go to college for an education. Clearly you need to feel safe but the main objective in a perfect world is to get an education from a great school and apply that craft in the future.

 

[soxfan121]

TB - thanks. I still don't get how you're using "privilege" but I don't think we're gonna bridge that divide.

Per #3, I think that's a pretty uncharitable reading, but I get it as you seem to have major problems with Butler's background in general. I think Butler was a useful tool for CS 150 because of his background.

Per #4, it is really important to distinguish individuals, and groups, so as not to conflate the actions of an overzealous dum-dum (Click) and the "organization". It's kinda like faulting the Red Sox front office because a ticket sales guy decided to get involved in a security matter.

On your last point - it is very, very rare for a student protest to make CNN or FOX. Can you point at some examples of these networks covering "socially wronged" or "public interest" stories? Maybe an example of them covering a hunger strike, or calls for a school president to be fired?

I think questioning of Butler's "sincerity" is a red herring, and meaningless. He didn't eat for six and a half days.

And I think you're wrong the students got what they wanted. Butler got what he wanted - Wolfe out. Now, whether UM can listen, and discuss, with the concerned students and take steps to address all student concerns out of this remains to be seen.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

TB - thanks. I still don't get how you're using "privilege" but I don't think we're gonna bridge that divide.

Per #3, I think that's a pretty uncharitable reading, but I get it as you seem to have major problems with Butler's background in general. I think Butler was a useful tool for CS 150 because of his background.

Per #4, it is really important to distinguish individuals, and groups, so as not to conflate the actions of an overzealous dum-dum (Click) and the "organization". It's kinda like faulting the Red Sox front office because a ticket sales guy decided to get involved in a security matter.

On your last point - it is very, very rare for a student protest to make CNN or FOX. Can you point at some examples of these networks covering "socially wronged" or "public interest" stories? Maybe an example of them covering a hunger strike, or calls for a school president to be fired?

I think questioning of Butler's "sincerity" is a red herring, and meaningless. He didn't eat for six and a half days.

And I think you're wrong the students got what they wanted. Butler got what he wanted - Wolfe out. Now, whether UM can listen, and discuss, with the concerned students and take steps to address all student concerns out of this remains to be seen.

The students also wanted him out as well. But Butler did get everything he wanted. They have all of the power on the campus now so as long as the student body uses this power to change things on campus for the better it's fine. The only fact on Butler that I feel can't be debated is that he didn't eat for 6 + days. He was an amazing tool for the group. Whatever his interests were in regards to this he ended up receiving everything that he demanded.

In terms of CNN and Fox and others covering a student protest I cannot think of any off the top of my head but I'm sure this isn't the first. I was looking at it in the sense of an interest group protesting. Something such as a labor union for example will make the news every so often. It's all about which side will blink first and once the football team crossed and money was on the line it was only a matter of hours.

All of this crap could have been avoided if both sides engaged in dialogue. Communication is everything and in this case it was sorely lacking.

 

[soxfan121]

We agree there. And it was the combination of a well-organized student operation AND Wolfe looking and sounding like an asshole on a street corner AND mostly, almost entirely...about the involvement of the football team.

UM has some issues on campus, and I sincerely hope they get addressed and everyone stays safe.

But can WE talk about the football team having the big stick? The media keeps citing the $1M cancellation fee - as if the money is limited to that number. The real number can't be cited because if the football team found out, they'd want a piece of the pie (their labor earns). The university caved, quickly, not because of Butler, the hunger strike, the fact that Wolfe is a bozo, or the racial issues on campus - they caved because the football team (and coach) went on strike.

Up thread, we talked a but about the potential for some dumb stuff to happen. They're college kids. Of course some dumb stuff is gonna happen.

But as a tool, or lever, for change in and around campuses across America, the game has changed. Now, you win if you get the football team to strike. I'm getting my popcorn now - this could get real fun.

 

[singaporesoxfan]

It's funny, this is the logical offshoot of the NCAA pushing forward the student-athlete ideal. You want players to be student-athletes, you have to accept that they will do things that students do including protesting causes - and accept that you probably can't revoke their scholarships without a lawsuit. You don't want them holding that kind of power, you should let them unionize and include a no-strike provision in the CBA.

 

[TigersSox]

I think it's sad that some people now think it's possible that many of the alleged racially-charged incidents that lead up to all of this might have been fabricated by CS1950 to gain more attention although I am glad that the KKK thing turned out to be a hoax. They're also people that are questioning whether Butler really didn't eat anything for 6 days. I think that's besides the point. The bigger issue is the amount of power that these football programs have on campuses. Most are the number one money generator. A power play between Pinkel and Wolfe may have played a role in his resignation. Having a 4-5 season so far this year may also have helped with enabling the strike. I wonder if they would have done it if they were 9-0. Speaking of records Pinkel's record on racial issues may be strong, and I am sure that he has his players' backs, but his record when it comes to issues affecting women on campus leaves a lot to be desired. There has been a fair amount of friction between Mizzou athletics and the administration over the past several years as a number of sexual assaults/rapes committed by football players have been either ignored or swept under the rug, including one that involved a victim who later committed suicide. I think it's time that we separate these football programs from the schools and just call them what they are: Minor League Football. Then these kids can get paid and not have to be bothered with going to classes that many of them couldn't care less about anyway.

 

[OCST]

It's funny, this is the logical offshoot of the NCAA pushing forward the student-athlete ideal. You want players to be student-athletes, you have to accept that they will do things that students do including protesting causes - and accept that you probably can't revoke their scholarships without a lawsuit. You don't want them holding that kind of power, you should let them unionize and include a no-strike provision in the CBA.

Ding ding ding

"They can't strike. Look at how well they're paid... Um... er.... Fuck"

I have said it before. End the hypocrisy:

-create a separate for-profit entity to operate the football team
-entity pays school to license school name, identity, colors, etc, and to rent facilities
-players get paid (compensation includes R&B, and tuition, if they want to go to school, otherwise no requirement to take classes)
-99% of NCAA bullshit goes away
-fans get what they want
-schools go back to being schools; school presidents no longer subordinate to football coach

Since the players now realize they have the hammer, some variant of this is both desirable and inevitable IMO.

 

[OCST]

Or what Tigers said