The University of Missouri Board of Curators on Wednesday announced the resignation of Curator Yvonne S. Sparks of St. Louis and said it had suspended an assistant professor accused of assault stemming from a campus run-in with student journalists during protests in November.
The resignation of Sparks, who Gov. Jay Nixon appointed in 2015, is effective immediately.
"After careful consideration of the demands of my professional obligations and those required to engage in the work of the board at the level that I expect of myself, I have concluded that it is not possible to do both well," Sparks said. "This is an important and demanding time for the system, the role deserves a representative that is able to that devote."
Sparks' term had not yet been confirmed by the Senate.
"Although new to the board, Yvonne brought a valued perspective to the group," said current board chair Pamela Henrickson of Jefferson City. "I regret to hear of her resignation as I know her experience would have contributed a great deal to the university as a board member. We certainly wish her well in the future."
The board of curators is the governing body of the University of Missouri and consists of nine members who are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Curators serve six-year terms although, any replacement for Sparks will serve only the remaining portion of her term.
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In other action Wednesday, Henrickson said in a statement that professor Melissa Click has been suspended "pending further investigation."
The board called for its general counsel to conduct an investigation so the board can determine whether additional discipline "is appropriate."
Click had a confrontation with a student photographer and a student videographer on Nov. 9 during protests at the Columbia campus over what some saw as university leadership's indifference to racial issues. Click called for "some muscle" to help remove the videographer from the protest area on the Columbia campus.
Click has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge.
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Earlier in the day, the interim chancellor at the University of Missouri's Columbia campus spoke about the November protests during his "State of the University" speech, calling that chapter painful, but declaring that the school's push toward more inclusivity is a priority.
"One way to regard student unrest is a sign that the institution has not kept pace with change, especially with students' and the public's expectations," Hank Foley, who took the helm at the campus less than three months ago, said. "The tension around race relations and the campus climate shows that we need to do more to be fully inclusive."
Foley said having the system's troubles draw national scrutiny was difficult but added, "I'm asking our Mizzou family to come back together around a love for this great institution."
Foley took over after R. Bowen Loftin resigned Nov. 9, along with the system's president, Tim Wolfe, amid discord that included a student's hunger strike and members of the school's football team pledging to boycott the rest of their season until Wolfe was gone.
Foley's speech did not mention Click. Amid calls by a system administrator and Republican lawmakers to fire the professor, Foley told reporters this week that the university "must allow due process to play out." He said he would not rush when it comes to determining her future at the school, including a decision on tenure.
Foley's address and Click's suspension came the same day several newspapers reported that Wolfe, in an email to supporters and donors after his resignation, criticized most officials involved in the turmoil leading to his exodus.
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