The University of Missouri is under fire after canceling the Black 2 Class Block Party because the word “Black” was included in the event’s title. The decision immediately sparked backlash from the Legion of Black Collegians (LBC) and the wider campus community.
On Thursday, LBC leaders sat down with MU officials, including Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Angela King Taylor, UM System President Mun Choi, his chief of staff John Middleton, and Dean of Students Michelle Froese, to confront the issue head-on. The meeting followed outrage that erupted Wednesday after LBC publicly accused MU of erasure.In their Instagram statement, LBC didn’t hold back:
“At every turn, we are shut down. Things as simple as putting ‘Black’ in a name results in consequences.”
The move is being compared to past incidents where the school reportedly forced Black student groups to rename events, such as last year’s “Welcome Black BBQ,” which was changed to the “Welcome Black and Gold BBQ.”
Backlash Over The University of Missouri’s Decision
The backlash grew quickly after LBC revealed the university’s reasoning — that the word “Black” could imply the event excluded other groups.
LBC President Amaya Morgan said her team even offered to rename it the “Back 2 Class Block Party,” but MU still canceled the event completely.
“For you to cancel it and not offer any other solutions when we are offering to comply with your standards is what makes people more upset,” Morgan told KOMU 8.This wasn’t the first time. Morgan reminded folks that last year MU demanded changes to another long-standing event, stripping away cultural significance with what many students call performative diversity.
University of Missouri’s Response
In response to the uproar, MU spokesperson Christopher Ave declined to give interviews but did share a written statement:“The University of Missouri fosters a non-discriminatory campus environment. When holding events using university facilities, student organizations must avoid excluding individuals based on race. The event had already been promoted with a name that suggested such exclusivity. For that reason, the decision was made that the event as described would not be held on campus.”
That statement left many students feeling dismissed. For them, it wasn’t just about the word “Black,” but about a pattern of MU blocking Black students from celebrating their culture and identity on campus.
LBC has since called on the university to:
• Publicly denounce racial harassment• Hold a town hall within 60 days of the semester starting• Push campus-wide messaging clarifying policies on harassment and inclusion
