Univeristy of Missouri cultural organizations to host town hall after news of funding cut
Marie Moyer
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Identity-based University of Missouri student organizations are hosting a town hall on Monday after the university said it would stop funding them.
The affected groups are the Asian American Association (AAA), Association of Latin American Students (ALAS), Four Front, Legion of Black Collegians (LBC) and the Queer Liberation Front.
According to an Instagram post from the LBC and ALAS, there will be a private emergency senate meeting between the groups at 5:30 p.m. Monday followed, by a public town hall at 7 p.m. for questions and comments
View this post on Instagram
“We are moving from outrage to action. We cannot allow this ”intentional erasure’ to happen in silence,” according to the post.
The QLF also made a post announcing the town hall.
According to a release from the University, starting during the Fall 2026 semester, the five groups will be losing their designated funding and instead will be considered Recognized Student Organizations or RSOs, that are the primary title for student organizations on campus.
RSOs can also apply for other funding. According to the release, this funding is “on an equal basis with the vast majority of other student organizations.”
The move is coming nearly two years after MU dismantled its diversity division amid pressure from Republican political leaders who had promised to end DEI, short for diversity, equity and inclusion.
The Legion of Black Collegians clashed with administrators at the start of this school year, canceling an event after MU officials said the students had to strip Black from its name. A similar dustup happened in 2024.
Monday’s town hall begins at 7 p.m. in Schlundt Hall, Room 103.
This is an ongoing story.