10 groups denied entry into MU’s homecoming parade
Euphenie Andre
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The University of Missouri is providing the courts with a list of groups approved and denied for next week’s Homecoming Parade. This follows a court order earlier this week and changes to the university’s parade application policy.
This year’s parade had 28 invited guests, 15 sponsors, 26 community organizations, 43 student orgs, seven bands and two groups who withdrew their applications.
According to court documents, the 10 organizations who were not approved for this year’s parade included:
Brazilian Student Association
Central Missouri Chapter of The Links Inc.
Girl Scouts of Northern Boone County
League of Women Voters Columbia/Boone County
Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine
Be Smart for Kids (Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America)
Spanish Theatre Club
The Diva University
The Elite Royal Lionettes
University of Missouri Children’s Critical Care
An MU spokesman said the denials were based on several factors, including safety concerns, failure to explain how the entry supported the theme, and missed payment deadlines.
This is the second year in a row that Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine has been denied entry. A university spokesman last week said the group was declined because of “safety concerns.”
This comes as the university says it has updated its policy on what is accepted at the parade and a lawsuit was filed last month by CAIR — the largest Muslim civil rights organization in the country. Hearings in the case were held this week.
According to the updated policy, the purposes of the parade are to:
Celebrate MU’s traditions and accomplishments
Cultivate alumni connections
Honor university-selected achievements of MU students, personnel and alumni
Rally support and enthusiasm for the Homecoming football game
The policy also reads:
“It is not an open forum for expression on topics identified by participants, but rather is limited to expression on topics identified by the University for the purposes noted above. The University provides ample other opportunities for participants to express themselves on topics of interest to them.”
MU alumni Tesha Alexander planned to bring her dance team ‘Diva University.’ Alexander said the team had attempted to participate last year, but missed the deadline. This year, scheduling conflicts prevented them from completing the application process, including paying the fee.
“At first, he mentioned our payment hadn’t been received,” Alexander said. “But then, at the bottom, it said after reviewing our application, it didn’t fit the theme.” She said the response rubbed her the wrong way.
Previous reporting indicates MSPJ argued that before the group’s application was denied for last year’s parade, the university asked the student group to not carry a banner reading “END THE GENOCIDE,” despite allowing fraternities to display “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” banners.
“I don’t think it should be political. Homecoming is supposed to be fun. We should leave politics out and just enjoy it,” MU freshman Amelia Kavanagh said.
Others students said it depends on the message.
“I think it depends on the message they send. At the end of the day, we should all be sending positive messages out into the world,” senior Daniel Droege said.
According to it’s policy the university is supposed to contact all participants and notify if they have ben accepted or denied, if denied they will include a reasoning.
The Brazilian Student Association, another group that was not approved, said they had no plans to include political content.
“We’re not expressing anything political. Overall, we’re just a place for sharing culture and making friends,” Andrew C. Zheng, president of the Brazilian Student Association said.
Zheng said the group has not yet received a reason for their denial but expects an email from the Homecoming team explaining it by Friday.
The university said it is still working with a handful of entries to finalize their applications over the next few days.