JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Disappointment lingers for State Rep. Courtney Allen Curtis, as four members of the University of Missouri’s leadership have decided to forgo attending Rep. Curtis’ upcoming hearing on the Urban Issues Committee. The hearing takes place next week during the University’s spring break. Members who have declined attending are Chancellor Henry Foley, President Mike Middleton, Chairmen of the Board of Curators, Pamela Hendrickson, and Dr. Noor Azizan-Gardner. The only University official confirmed to attend is Dr. Denice Adkins.
The University of Missouri recently disclosed that they would be hiring an outside firm to conduct an audit on Missouri’s flagship university to evaluate diversity. Hiring from an outside firm is just one more example of the University postponing any real action or response to the evident problem, according to Rep. Curtis.
“It’s time that we begin to seriously question the University’s leadership. This audit is a poor excuse to buy more time and demonstrates a lack of real commitment to their students. The University is having trouble keeping black faculty. A problem that has can be traced directly to President Mike Middleton’s actions, or lack there-of, both during, and prior to his interim presidential position. Typically when presidential leadership fails, universities can look to the Board of Curators for direction; but this has failed to be the case with the University of Missouri. Chairmen of the Board of Curators, Pamela Hendrickson, when declining to attend the hearing during spring break, said that there were other people much more capable of addressing the questions that would be posed. With University officials believing themselves incapable of answering these questions, who are the students and legislators to look to during this time of need. This audit does nothing but raise questions about the ongoing lack of leadership from the University; questions that could have been addressed and answered in next week’s upcoming Urban Issues Committee Hearing, had the University’s leadership deemed it worthy of their time. Hopefully members will reconsider and attend the hearing next week, to demonstrate a true commitment to leading this university with a hands-on approach. Spring break should never be an excuse for someone in their position, especially when the issues at hand have proven to be so severe,” said Curtis.
The Committee on Urban Issues will be holding this hearing, Tuesday, March 29 at the Missouri Capitol. The hearing will start at 11:00am in House Hearing Room 7.
For further information, contact Representative Curtis’ office at 573-751-0855.
