密苏里大学种族歧视事件引来活动人士和媒体

AS IT IS 2015-11-11 Activists¹ Versus³ Media at the University of Missouri 密苏里大学种族歧视事件引来活动人士和媒体

For several weeks, #ConcernedStudent1950 activists were looking for media coverage⁴ of their protest at the University of Missouri or #Mizzou.

The protesters called for university president Tim Wolfe to step down. They said he did not respond to months of incidents of racism⁵ on campus.

The protest and pressure on social media led to the resignation of Tim Wolfe and the chancellor⁶ on Monday.

Now at #Mizzou, it is #Concerned1950 versus the media. An online debate has started on First Amendment⁷ rights.

 “The right of the people peaceably to assemble” and “the freedom of the press” are both rights protected in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The activist² group has tweeted several requests on social media for the media to respect their privacy.

They have set up a campsite in a public space on campus called the Carnahan Quad⁸. But because it is a public space, members of the media also have the right to be there.

Student journalist Mark Schierbecker posted a video Monday night from the campus. The video showed a photographer being pushed away and shoved by #ConcernedStudent1950 activists.

In the video, photographer and college student Tim Tai explained to the activists that the First Amendment “protects your right to be here and mine.” One protester told Tai to “forget the law, how about humanity?”

A group of activists then encircled Tai to prevent him from taking photos. “You’re pushing me,” Tai says to the group.

Tai has received support on social media. But he later tweeted that he did not wish to receive attention, and that he did not have “ill will toward the people in the video. I think they had good intentions though I’m not sure why it resorted to shoving.”

Schierbecker, who filmed the scene between Tai and the activists, made it into the campsite. On camera, he asks a woman, later identified as a Mizzou professor of mass media, if he can talk to her.

The professor, Melissa Click, tells Schierbecker that he does not have the right to be at the campsite. The professor tells the student he must leave.

“I actually don’t,” Schierbecker is heard saying.

Click then shouts that she needs help removing the reporter from the campsite. She says she is going to “need some muscle.”

The video started a social media debate about First Amendment rights and free speech.

In a statement Tuesday, University of Missouri Dean David Kurpius said the events Monday provided an “opportunity to educate students” about the rights to a free press.

“The events of Nov. 9 have raised numerous issues regarding the boundaries of the First Amendment. Although the attention on journalists has shifted the focus from the news of the day, it provides an opportunity to educate students and citizens about the role of a free press.”

By mid-day Tuesday, signs on the campus protesting the media had been removed. The group began handing out pieces of paper that said the group should instead “welcome and thank” members of the media.

Words in This Story

resignation - n. an act of giving up a job or position

versus - preposition use to indicate two people, teams or groups that are competeing or fighting against each other

assemble - v. to meet together in one place

humanity - n. all people

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

3 versus   

prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下

参考例句：

• The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
• The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。

4 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

5 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

6 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

7 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

8 quad   

n.四方院；四胞胎之一；v.在…填补空铅

参考例句：

• His rooms were on the left-hand side of the quad.他的房间位于四方院的左侧。
• She is a 34-year-old mother of quads.她是个生了四胞胎的34岁的母亲。