Columbia Mayor: Issues at Mizzou ‘a Microcosm of Race in America’
MCDAVID: "Well, I think what this represents is a seminar in civics and a seminar in democracy. It shows what an organized, dedicated group of students can do when they feel the need to redress wrongs. So the fact that they stuck together and the fact that they accomplished their goal says a lot for the organization. Let's face it, protest is American. It's a right of democracy. It's uniquely part of what we do in the United States of America. And I'm - I congratulate the students on achieving their goal."
BANFIELD: "So you have probably heard the words of President Wolfe. He said that will be met with joy and sadness. And there are those who are upset over this, even suggesting that if football players had walked off the field that they should suffer the consequences in the way of having their scholarships pulled as well. So there is another side of this issue as well. Do you feel, as mayor of that town, that this was the right move? That this university president, again systems president, responsible for four universities, needed to step down because of what the students said was inaction due to their complaints? Do you think it was the right thing and that he needed to step down?"
MCDAVID: "I respect the president's decision, and I think that it will allow healing to occur. Let me say this, Columbia - this is a Columbia problem. This is a Mizzou problem. But make no mistake, this is a microcosm of race in America. We have 35,000 students in Columbia, and they come from all over the state of Missouri, all over the country, and they've come from other countries around the world. So what we have seen here is a problem that we have not completely addressed. Certainly we don't have slavery. Certainly we don't have the Jim Crow law. Certainly we don't have overt segregation. But until we deal with the pain that minorities have, until we eliminate disparities in education achievement, disparities in income, disparities in employment, our work is far from done."
BANFIELD: "And do you think that the resignation of this president will bring about the change that these students say is needed? And I don't think anyone is suggesting that what the students have gone through isn't terrible. No one should be subjected to racial epithets. No one should be subjected to slurs on the street. But when you're looking for change, is just calling for, you know, the highest head going to bring that change?"
MCDAVID: "I think you'll see a series of initiatives at the University of Missouri. There will be a continuation of initiative at the city level. And I think you'll see these initiatives around the country, at all institutions of higher education. Change is hard. Change is difficult. Change will take time. I think it's unrealistic to expect the problem to be solved today at this point. This is a conversation. As I said before, we have a lot of work to do. We're only done when every student has the freedom to fulfill her hopes and dreams unimpeded by a prejudice or racial epithets."
