University of Missouri President Tim Wolfe says he won’t resign amid a boycott of team activities by African-American football players after a string of racial incidents across the campus.
Missouri’s Legion of Black Collegians posted a statement on the team’s behalf—the team was not in action Saturday—along with a picture of players unified in support of the boycott:
We are no longer taking it. It's time to fight. #ConcernedStudent1950 #MizzouHungerStrike pic.twitter.com/mnPZBviqJF
— LBC (@MizzouLBC) November 8, 2015
On Sunday, Wolfe released a statement in response to the boycott that reads in part:
It is clear to all of us that change is needed, and we appreciate the thoughtfulness and passion which have gone into the sharing of concerns. My administration has been meeting around the clock and has been doing a tremendous amount of reflection on how to address these complex matters.
Clearly, we are open to listening to all sides and are confident that we can come together to improve the student experience on our campuses. We want to find the best way to get everyone around the table and create the safe space for a meaningful conversation that promotes change. We will share next steps as soon as they are confirmed.
It’s clearly not a unified front, with one Missouri player telling Brett McMurphy of ESPN.com the players and coaches “are pissed” about canceling practice, saying, “If we were 9-0 this wouldn’t be happening.”