Author: KMIZ

Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The University of Missouri Board of Curators met Thursday morning in Rolla, tackling issues including the future of federal funding for research and its impact on the university.

No decision on federal funding cuts has been made, but it could result in a $22 million loss in National Institutes of Health grants, and the potential cuts could impact all colleges in the university’s system, according to documents produced for the curators’ meeting.

Money for higher education is among the items that could be impacted in next fiscal year’s federal budget, as the Trump administration looks to make more cuts. President Donald Trump previously tried freezing NIH research funding around the country before it was blocked by a judge. Trump has since targeted funding at several universities.

During the meeting, University of Missouri System President Mun Choi highlighted the slowdown in research project awards over the past five years.

According to Choi, NIH funded 72,187 projects in 2024, which is a sharp decrease compared to 13,683 between July 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.

“This year we are at a significantly lower number, and that’s because of some of the slowdowns we have been seeing out of NIH and the cancellation of certain programs we see out of NIH,” Choi said. “The work we do at our universities are critically important for gaining a better understanding of cancer treatments, autism, PTSD and so many other types of diseases that affect Americans.”

To do that, Choi said the university is urging the NIH to continue its support of research projects because they are vital to public health. He said it is not only NIH cuts but also the United States Department of Agriculture, as the university recently had $25 million revoked for a project because of its focus on climate change.

“By discussing the impact of that project with leaders at USDA as well as our congressional leaders, we were able to get that $25 million in funding reinstated,” Choi said. “It’s about providing clarification and providing the impact our research has to benefit members of our society.”

School leaders say funding is cut from university research they will approach it the same way the have handled similar situations.

“In the same way when we learn about potential for cuts even before those cuts hit any of our universities we announce that we’re going to take financial measures include cuts, as well as postponing investments.” Choi said.

Choi said the UM System is exploring foundations to support research. He said it will be difficult to replace NIH funding because the agency is the largest funder of university research throughout the U.S.

“To replace a level of funding that is potentially at risk is very significant, so we will continue to make the case to NIH and other agencies and educate them on the value of our research so the funds will continue to flow to the University of Missouri,” Choi said.

However, University of Missouri Board of Curators Chair Todd graves says when challenges come their way it gives them the opportunity to reflect.

“Sometimes its an opportunity the harder times for us to take a look at programs and allocate our resources and focus on the things that are important so we are very optimistic about the situation here at the university of Missouri.” Graves added.

Crime was also addressed in a news conference Thursday after the board of curators meeting in light of a string of shootings in Columbia last weekend that left several people injured.

Choi said public safety for everyone at the university is always a top priority and that the University of Missouri is a safe campus, but stressed the importance of accountability..

“This should not be a city people think coming and shooting off their guns in a crowd is acceptable because that’s totally unacceptable, so we want to see accountability when those perpetrators are caught and taken to the full accountability to the legal system,” Choi said.

Choi also highlighted the city and university making investments in camera technology and encouraging downtown business owners to share surveillance footage when an incident occurs.

He said the university is working closely with CPD to boost safety.

“Beginning this weekend, we will have stepped up patrols in coordination with the Columbia Police Department,” Choi said.

 

   

Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The University of Missouri Board of Curators is set to meet at 8 a.m. Thursday at Missouri S&T in Rolla, to discuss several items on the agenda.

The Board will hear an update for the fiscal year 2026 budget. Meeting documents state that impending federal funding cuts could result in a $22 million loss of National Institutes of Health grants. The cuts could impact all colleges in the university’s system.  

 The Board will also decide on Thursday whether or not it will approve changes to its standard of conduct regarding hazing on campus.

The “Stop Campus Hazing Act” that went into effect at the beginning of the year requires institutions of higher education that participate in federal student aid programs to report hazing incidents. It also requires universities to include in its annual security report its current policies and the process used to prevent hazing.

Curators will also be looking into an MU Health Care expansion in Callaway County, after the community hospital closed in 2022. According to the meeting agenda, the project would cost $23.8 million, if approved, and would reduce outmitigation and meet the community’s healthcare demands.

Approval for $5 million capital projects is also set to be discussed in Thursday’s meeting.

The MU Board of Curators meeting livestream can be found here.

Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The University of Missouri Board of Curators will decide on Thursday whether or not it will approve changes to its standard of conduct in relation to hazing on campus.

The “Stop Campus Hazing Act” that went into effect at the beginning of the year requires institutions of higher education that participate in federal student aid programs to report hazing incidents. It also requires universities to include in its annual security report its current policies and the process used to prevent hazing.

According to MU spokesman Christopher Ave, the curators will adjust its current definition of hazing to match that of the new law.

According to the curators’ agenda, the definition of hazing will now be defined as: “any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such person or persons to participate.”

The language now also includes and defines hazing as anything that “causes or creates a risk above the reasonable risk encountered in the university or organization. This includes:

Whipping;

Beating;

Striking;

Electronic shocking;

Extreme calisthenics;

Any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm

“When you broaden the definition, that allows the prosecuting attorney to then file charges that have more conduct,” former Cole County Prosecutor Bill Tackett said.

According to Tackett, prosecutors ran into problems in getting convictions in a 2021 Phi Gamma Delta fraternity hazing case due to the definition of hazing at the time. Danny Santulli was left unable to walk, talk or see after suffering a traumatic brain injury that night.

A number of former Fiji members at MU took plea deals in the Santulli hazing case. The fraternity was kicked off MU’s campus in 2021.

Tackett said broadening the definition will allow for prosecuting attorneys to file charges that have more types of conduct, which he says is what prosecutors are after in hazing cases. He said he believes under this law, there will be more prosecutions in reported hazing cases.

“It’s just going to happen,” Tackett said. “And I certainly think it’s been proven here in Boone County with the case with Danny Santulli that prosecutors are willing to take this on.”

Mason Heller — a member of the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity on MU’s campus — says the fraternity does not partake in hazing during its recruitment process. According to Heller, the fraternity only requires study hours for members who fall below a certain GPA.

Heller said he believes hazing hinders the bond between members and said he’s thankful the university is taking responsibility for an issue he claims has been problematic for a while.

“I think the culture of silence that Mizzou has had for so long has really perpetuated a lot of harm and I’m excited that the university is finally going to take accountability,” Heller said.

According to the university’s community conduct website, the university had two reports of violations under its current policy in 2024. There have not been any reports so far this year, data shows.

Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Northeast Columbia has seen a high volume of shootings in recent years, with police being dispatched to Rice Road 35 times already this year, which includes a pair of shots fired calls.

After covering multiple incidents in the area, one thing has stood out. The lack of lighting at night.  The City of Columbia has approximately 10,600 streetlights in its system, according to city spokesman Jason White. 

Under the city municipal code, street lights are required at each intersection of residential streets. However, street lighting is not required in undeveloped areas of Columbia where fewer than 12 vehicles or pedestrians use the road during the busiest nighttime hour. 

Some Northeast Columbia residents have raised concerns about the lack of lighting in the area. In 2024, officers responded to more than a dozen shots heard calls on Rice Road and eight shots fired calls, according to the Columbia Police Department’s six-hour dispatch log. 

Improved street lighting can significantly reduce crime and should be considered a key component of crime-reduction strategies, according to a study cited by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The analysis reviewed 13 studies from the United States and United Kingdom and found that improved lighting was associated with a 21% decrease in crime in areas where upgrades were made, compared to similar control areas. The findings suggest that lighting is a feasible, low-cost tool to help deter criminal activity.

“This falls under a theory called target hardening. And so this is where we try to make it undesirable for,  you know, folks that are criminally inclined to commit crime in a space,” Seth Fallik, the department chair of UMKC’s Department of Criminology, told ABC 17 News. “More lit areas increase the likelihood that somebody will get caught.  And so  folks,  then tend to move on to other spaces  where there’s a reduced likelihood they get caught.” 

Fallik added that a lack of lights can also hinder criminal investigations. 

“Particularly if the casings are not easily displayed, for example, like they’re in tall grass or it’s dark or if it’s raining,  that piece of evidence may not be observable without light,” Fallik explained. “There’s other things you can do,sweeps with metal. You can do all sorts of things to try to offset that deficit. But at the end of the day, you still got to know how it went down and pick up the piece of evidence. And if you can’t see it, then that’s problematic.” 

Jessamyn Miller has been living near Indian Hills Park for five years and says she loves taking walks throughout the day, and says there is more lighting near the intersections of Callaway Drive and Geyser Boulveard, but other areas in the neighborhood are lacking. 

“I love to walk at all times of day and night and early morning. It would be better if we could get more lighting. I think it would help support this into the community,” Miller said. 

Miller believes that improved lighting would encourage more people to get outside and enjoy the park as the weather gets warmer.

“There’s a lot of foot traffic in the area for the buses that pick up people. So it’s very well not lit over there,” Miller said. 

Crystal Walton has lived on Rice Road for seven years and said she has seen her fair share of incidents in the area, adding that she is scared to let her grandchildren play outside once it gets dark. 

“I would not let them play it play outside at night. I feel that we need more lighting in this area,” Walton said. 

Walton also believes lighting is not the only thing the area is lacking on Rice Road,  she would also like to see more increased patrols given the high volume of incidents in the area. 

“I also feel like there’s not enough attention here because maybe because it’s more blacks, that lives over in this area,” Walton said. 

In an email provided to ABC 17 News from the Columbia Police Department, Columbia Assistant Police Chief Lance Bolinger said crime scene investigators bring high-powered lights to assist with evidence collection during investigations. In some cases, the Columbia Fire Department is called in to provide additional lighting.

CFD spokesperson Katherine Rodgriguez told ABC 17 News in an email that the department has a strong working relationship with CPD. In addition to supporting them at scenes with lighting when requested, CPD also assists CFD regularly with traffic control, vehicle collisions and other emergency responses.

“In terms of lighting in public areas, we absolutely recognize how important it is for emergency response efforts,” Rodriguez wrote in an email to ABC 17 News. Rodriguez says that residents who notice issues with street lights or would like to request repairs can do so on the city’s website. Once on the website, residents need to select the “electric” category to submit a report.

The city of Columbia says that there are no projects planned that will affect the current street lighting in that area.  The project that is planned in that area is a “point-to-point project” that would not have an impact on the street lights’ effectiveness.