University Of Missouri Racism Scandal: 30 Black Football Players Stage Boycott

In a statement released by the university president, Wolfe did not indicate he was at all interested in stepping down from his post but noted that "change is needed" on the campus.

The University of Missouri football team has three games remaining on its regular season schedule. The team will play Brigham Young University on Saturday. Canceling the game due to a lack of players could reportedly cost the school more than $1 million.

"The athletes of color on the University of Missouri football team truly believe 'Injustice Anywhere is a threat to Justice Everywhere,'" the players said in a statement. "We will no longer participate in any football related activities until President Tim Wolfe resigns or is removed due to his negligence toward marginalized students' experience. WE ARE UNITED!!!!!"

Pinkel shared an image of the players and coaches locking arms with text that read, "The Mizzou Family stands as one. We are united. We are behind our players."

Months of racial unrest at the University of Missouri campus are coming to a head today: https://t.co/6xYyD17QSb pic.twitter.com/CaFheynl96

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) November 9, 2015

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) November 9, 2015

"Our focus right now is on the health of Jonathan Butler, the concerns of our student-athletes and working with our community to address this serious issue," a statement issued by University of Missouri Athletic Director Mack Rhoades and Coach Pinkel said.

The student group, Concerned Student 1950, has been the leader of many of the campus protests. The group got its name from the year the college allowed the first black student to enroll. The #ConcernedStudent1950 hashtag has gone viral on Twitter.

University of Missouri faculty plan walkout https://t.co/WjNzLKJW5V via @indystar

— S. Paredes Scribner (@smpscrib) November 9, 2015

— S. Paredes Scribner (@smpscrib) November 9, 2015

The Concerned Student 1950 group is calling for campus walkouts on Monday and Tuesday and is demanding that Tim Wolfe "acknowledge his white male privilege." The protesters also want the school to make a racial awareness program mandatory for all students. They also want more black staff and faculty to be hired on campus.

Abigail Hollis, a University of Missouri black undergrad, said the campus is both "unhealthy" and "unsafe" for minority students.

"The way white students are treated is in stark contrast to the way black students and other marginalized students are treated, and it's time to stop that," Hollis added. "It's 2015."

The undergraduate population on campus is approximately 80 percent white and 8 percent black. In the state, the population is about 83 percent white and almost 12 percent black.

Governor Jay Nixon (D) said the university must address the racism concerns of students and work to ensure the campus boasts an environment of "respect, tolerance and inclusion." Senator Claire McCaskill said a "clear message' must be sent by the Tim Wolfe administration so students know that racism will be addressed.

The choice of words and vehicle adornments by University of Missouri students and the community are protected by the First Amendment -- even if such choices are deemed offensive. Unless the individuals who allegedly uttered racial slurs and flew the Confederate Flag threatened black students engaged in any other type of illegal behavior, their speech and freedom of expression cannot be criminalized by the university.

How do you feel about the University of Missouri racism claims and the call for Tim Wolfe to acknowledge his white privilege and step down?

[Image via Shutterstock.com]