A look the University of Missouri's issues

Columbia, Mo. (AP) — Efforts are underway at the University of Missouri to address the racial issues that led to demonstrations by students, a strike by members of the school's football team and the resignation of two top administrators. Here's a look at the situation:

The latest

The University of Missouri's governing board on Thursday appointed a retired senior administrator to be interim president of the four-campus system and announced that the timetable for replacing the Columbia campus chancellor has been moved up.

Also Thursday, Chuck Henson, who was named earlier in the week to the new position of interim vice chancellor for inclusion, diversity and equity on the Columbia campus, told the media that he has been shocked by the number of people who want to prevent the university's community from having a good relationship, noting that some people online talked about wanting to see him dead.

His comments came the same day a man accused of making online threats against black people on the Columbia campus was ordered to remain jailed on a charge of making a terroristic threat. Two other Missouri college students were also charged with threatening campus violence.

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The background

The turnover in administration began after campus groups, including Concerned Students 1950, started protesting the treatment of minorities on the Columbia campus and school leaders' perceived lack of response to their complaints.

Missouri's student government president, who is black, said he was called a racial slur by someone in a passing pickup truck. Days before the Oct. 10 homecoming parade, members of the Legions of Black Collegians said racial slurs were directed at them by an unidentified person. And a swastika drawn in feces was found recently in a dormitory bathroom.

One student went on a hunger strike Nov. 2 and said he wouldn't eat until Tim Wolfe was replaced as president of the university system. The football players issued a statement Saturday night supporting the protesters and saying they would not play the following weekend. Coach Gary Pinkel supported them on Sunday.

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Key players

Michael Middleton, a retired senior administrator, was named the university system's interim president, replacing Wolfe. Middleton, who is black, retired as deputy chancellor of the Columbia campus in August. Since his retirement, he worked part-time with the campus' former chancellor, R. Bowen Loftin, on a plan to increase inclusion and diversity at the school. Middleton said Thursday that he understood the widespread frustration with the university but was optimistic about the future.

Middleton, 68, has spent 30 years at the university — as an undergraduate, law student, faculty member and, now, administrator. Students and faculty praised the appointment Thursday.

Hank Foley has begun serving as interim chancellor of the Columbia campus, replacing Loftin. The university initially said Loftin would stay as chancellor until the end of the year. Loftin will take a different position at the university.

Hunter M. Park, a 19-year-old sophomore studying computer science at a sister campus in Rolla, is in custody on a charge of making a terroristic threat, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison. Authorities say Park, of Lake St. Louis, posted threats directed at the Columbia campus on the anonymous messaging app Yik Yak and other social media. He was the first of the three male students charged with threatening violence.

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Looking ahead

The Tigers play Brigham Young University in Kansas City on Saturday, one week after they threatened to stay on the sidelines. That threat vanished Monday when Wolfe resigned. Pinkel said Wednesday that he asked his coaching staff to stay in close touch with the players through texts and phone calls.

Missouri brings a four-game losing streak into Saturday's game at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium against the Cougars (7-2). Pinkel said it is impossible to predict how his team will respond to a most unusual week.

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The Gayly – November 13, 2015 @ 8:10 a.m.