A professor of Mass Media at the University of Missouri was seen on a video demanding “muscle” to stop reporters from covering the demonstrations on the campus’ quad.

CNN reporter Dylan Byers pointed out on Twitter that Melissa Click, an Assistant Professor was seen telling a camera man to “get out” in the video.



“Hey who wants to help me get this reporter out of here?” Click says. “I need some muscle over here.”

The incident happens at around 6:17 in this video taken by a man who identifies himself as a reporter. “I’m media, can I talk to you?” he asks.

Click holds a PhD in Communication and focuses her research on “popular culture texts and audiences, particularly texts and audiences disdained in mainstream culture,” according to her faculty page. Her current research projects include “50 Shades of Grey readers” and “the impact of social media in fans’ relationship with Lady Gaga.”

Shortly after the video was posted Click made her Twitter private.

Oddly, just a few days before she was demanding that reporters stop reporting, Click had posted on her Facebook page hoping to get her message “into the national media.”

@JoeWalljasper @CaitlinSwieca yet a couple days ago she was courting the media... pic.twitter.com/8uZsQQfv2k — Kevin Hardy (@kevinmhardy) November 10, 2015

The demonstrations followed a boycott by the university’s football team in reaction to the school’s lack of response to a series of racist incidents on campus. One student went on an eight-day hunger strike, demanding the president to step down.

On Monday, University of Missouri system president Tim Wolfe stepped down, followed quickly by chancellor R. Bowen Loftin.

A group that’s been leading the push for the faculty members to step down, Concerned Student 1950, have pushed back against reporters covering the demonstrations.

With that in mind pic.twitter.com/2m0g12TGu4 — ConcernedStudent1950 (@CS_1950) November 10, 2015

But, as others have pointed out, a hand-painted lawn sign just can’t trump the First Amendment.

[Image via YouTube]