Group faults firing of Mizzou professor

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A national professor's group said its investigation has found the University of Missouri bowed to political pressure when it fired an assistant professor over her role last year in a race-related student protest.

According to the Columbia Daily Tribune, the report from the American Association of University Professors was released just after 11 p.m. Wednesday.

An association committee will recommend in June whether the university should be on put on a censure list.

Melissa Click was fired after her run-ins with student journalists and the police during race-related protests last fall drew widespread attention.

The three-member investigating committee of professors who reviewed her termination determined normal processes for disciplining faculty weren't used.

They said that "endangered" academic freedom.

University system officials have insisted Click was treated fairly.