Tag: Black 2 Class

The University of Missouri (Mizzou) has canceled a planned student block party, ‘Black 2 Class,’ organized by the Legion of Black Collegians (LBC). University administrators deemed the event’s name to be “unlawful discrimination” and “race exclusive,” despite assurances that all students would be welcome.

Federal Regulations and Event Restrictions

This decision comes in the wake of new federal regulations that Mizzou has reportedly complied with, stemming from the Trump administration’s stance against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The university spokesperson stated that organizations and events must not suggest exclusion based on race. This policy led to the cancellation of the LBC’s block party, which was intended as an alternative after a previous event, ‘The Welcome Black BBQ,’ was also removed due to similar concerns.

Administrators found the name ‘Black 2 Class’ to be too provocative because it explicitly mentions Blackness, even though the event was open to all students. The LBC shared the cancellation on their Instagram, calling it an “act of erasure” and detailing how they feel consistently shut down. “Things as simple as putting ‘Black’ in a name, result in consequences… Recreational spaces for students of all identities are crucial.”

The LBC highlighted increased racial tensions on campus, noting that Black students constitute only 1,700 of the university’s 23,000 students. They mentioned that a student hunger strike led to the resignation of two university leaders due to rising racist encounters. The organization feels that Mizzou’s actions, while perhaps intended to be “more inclusive,” are paradoxically “directly exclusive” and push Black students away from community-building activities.

Demands for Inclusion and Condemnation of Racial Harassment

In response to these restrictions, the LBC has presented Mizzou with a list of demands. These include a public condemnation of racial harassment by university administrators, a town hall meeting, and campus-wide messaging to denounce discriminatory actions. The organization stressed the importance of unity, resilience, and maintaining their voice amidst these challenges.

A university spokesperson, Christopher Ave, defended Mizzou’s stance, clarifying that the Legion itself is not in jeopardy but that event circumstances are evaluated individually. He reiterated that the decision was based on the event’s name suggesting race exclusivity, which contradicts federal civil rights law. Each event, he stated, is assessed in context, and this decision does not set a precedent for all future events.