A figure steps out from behind the protestors – and takes charge.

Was getting him into the seat of power what it was all about?

A Washington Post report, while apparently oblivious to this possibility, provides information that stirs our suspicion.

Michael Middleton, it says, “replaces Tim Wolfe, who resigned Monday in the midst of escalating protests over his leadership and what some students have called a hostile campus climate” at the University of Missouri at Columbia [“Mizzou”].

We select these pieces of information:

“[He was] a founder of the Legion of Black Collegians – described by Mizzou as the only black student government in the country”. 

“[He] delivered their [black students’?] list of demands to the then-chancellor in 1969”.

“He was an administrator when a second list of demands was delivered in 2005.”

“Most recently, he said, they [the Legion of Black Collegians?] have the list of demands from Concerned Student 1950, the leaders of the protests that upended the school.”

“He said he has been meeting with members of Concerned Student 1950 for several weeks, and had met with members of the group before it formed, talking about these same issues. He said he would meet with them after the press conference, and would continue to meet with them until problems are resolved. Middleton says he has kept the list on his desk since then, checking things off as they were achieved.”

“‘It is clear to me that a first step is to devote our attention to addressing those demands,’ Middleton said, ‘to ensure that all feel safe and comfortable and all four campuses are living up to their histories and their ideals.'”

“When asked at the news conference announcing his appointment whether that meant meeting the demands, he repeated the word ‘address’, then responded that each time those demands have been submitted by black student leaders, they have involved complex interactions among many people at the university.”

“‘I intend to lead this university toward satisfying each and every one of those demands that can be satisfied,’ he said.”

We invite readers to tell us: do you think we have reasonable grounds for our conspiracy theory, or not?

*

Here is the list of the demands presented by the Legion of Black Collegians.

Notice the shop-worn, empty phrases: “social justice”, “white privilege”, “systems of oppression”, “diversity curriculum” etc. (The grievances listed to justify the protest are few, slight, obscure and unconvincing.)

Notice the spite: the desire to humiliate Tim Wolfe, the president of the university. Could it be inspired by personal envy?

1. We demand that University of Missouri System President, Tim Wolfe, writes a hand-written apology to Concerned Student 1-9-5-0 demonstrators and holds a press conference in the Mizzou Student Center reading the letter. In the letter and at the press conference, Tim Wolfe must acknowledge his white privilege, recognize that systems of oppression exits, and provide a verbal commitment to fulfilling Concerned Student 1-9-5-0 demands. We want Tim Wolfe to admits his gross negligence, allowing his driver to hit one of the demonstrators, consenting to the physical violence of bystanders, and lastly refusing to intervene when Columbia Police Department used excessive force with demonstrators.

2. We demand the immediate removal of Tim Wolfe as UM system president. After his removal, a new amendment to thd UM system policies must be established to have all future UM system president and Chancellor positions be selected by a collective of students, staff, and faculty of diverse backgrounds.

3. We demand that the University of Missouri meets the Legion of Black Collegians’ demands that were presented in the 1969 for the betterment of the black community.

4. We demand that the University of Missouri creates and enforces comprehensive racial awareness and inclusion curriculum throughout all campus departments and units, mandatory for all students, faculty, staff and administration. This curriculum must be vetted, maintained, and overseen by a board comprised of students, staff and faculty of color.

5. We demand that by the academic year 2017-18, the University of Missouri increases the percentage of black faculty and staff members campus-wide by 10 percent.

6. We demand that the University of Missouri composes a strategic 10-year plan on May, 1 2016 that will increase retention rates for marginalized students, sustain diversity curriculum and training, and promote a more safe and inclusive campus. [“Marginalized students ” means those who have failed. They must be allowed to pass regardless of their performance.]

7. We demand that the University of Missouri increases funding and resources for the University of Missouri Counseling Center for the purpose of hiring additional mental health professionals, particularly those of color, boosting mental health outreach and programming across campus, increasing campus-wide awareness and visibility of the counseling center, and reducing lengthy wait times for prospective clients.

8. We demand that the University of Missouri increases funding, resources and personnel for the social justice centers on campus for the purpose of hiring additional professionals, particularly those of color, boosting outreach and programming across campus and increasing campus-wide awareness and visibility.