Student on hunger strike against Missouri system president

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A graduate student is refusing to eat in an effort to oust University of Missouri System president Tim Wolfe for failing to respond to a range of student concerns, such as the use of racial slurs on campus.

Graduate student and campus activist Jonathan Butler began the hunger strike Monday, The Columbia Daily Tribune reported. Butler wrote in a letter to the board of curators he won't eat "until either Tim Wolfe is removed from office or my internal organs fail and my life is lost."

Wolfe in a statement said it's "very concerning to me when any of our students' wellbeing is in jeopardy," and said he's especially concerned about Butler's health.

Other university students pledged to camp at Traditions Plaza, in the heart of the Columbia campus across from Jesse Hall, in support of Butler and until Wolfe is removed from his position.

"As long as Tim Wolfe is UM System president, we will be here," said DeShaunya Ware, one of the students who camped out Monday night.

The Columbia Missourian reported Butler in his letter to curators cited the abrupt removal of graduate student health-care subsidies, the end to university contracts with a Columbia Planned Parenthood clinic, anti-Semitic graffiti and the use of racial slurs on campus.

Concerned Student 1950, the group camping out in protest, similarly cited frustrations with how Wolfe has handled race issues, The Columbia Daily Tribune reported. That group in a separate protest last month blocked a car Wolfe was riding in during the university Homecoming parade and were removed by police.

Wolfe said in a statement he has spoken with both Butler and Concerned Student 1950 and will continue to have conversations with others interested in affecting change.

"The only way we can begin to address the systemic and pervasive issue of racism in society and the effects it has on our campuses is to engage in dialogue, to build deeper relationships and have frank conversations," Wolfe said.