University of Missouri Hurting; Losing Tens of Millions Over 2015 Protest

A huge drop in enrollment is taking its toll at Mizzou.  It recently announced it would put three more student dormitories ‘offline’ next year, bringing the total to seven.  The administration is expecting the already dwindling student population to drop even more.

Fall 2015 enrollment totaled 35,448, including 6,191 freshmen.  Fall 2016 saw 33,266 students with 4,772 freshmen.  In addition to shutting down dorms, the University is also laying off staff.

20 employees are to be laid off from MU’s Division of Operation.  Spokesman Christian Basi tells the media those staffers are primarily responsible for campus safety.  However, he insists this will not adversely affect student safety.

According to Basi, “We’re at a point now where our budget shortfalls are cutting into the core of our operations.”

In addition to losing tuition money, the University is also losing state funding.  Governor Eric Greitens is withholding $31.4 million from Missouri’s fiscal budget originally allocated to the school.

The reduced staff will save the organization some $1.7 million in salary and benefits. However, this is a far cry from recouping losses.

This fiscal hardship comes in the direct wake of a 2015 incident involving an assistant professor named Melissa Click. 

During an on-campus protest, she confronted a student journalist who did not agree with the protests.  She demanded “muscle” to physically remove the student, leading to her nickname “Melissa Muscle.”

The University relieved Ms. Click from her duties following this incident.

Bad press soured the University’s reputation immediately after, resulting in the staggering losses.