The University of Missouri told a Black student group it is not allowed to name its back-to-school event the “Welcome Black BBQ” due to concerns over inclusivity.
The Legion of Black Collegians posted on Instagram Friday that its event will be called the “Welcome Black and Gold BBQ,” honoring the school’s colors, instead of its original title after a months-long battle with the university.
The group’s members “initially wanted to keep the original name or not have the event at all” but decided they did not want to “override the hard work our government and other black student leaders put into this.”
“The Legion remains steadfast in combatting any further changes to our fundamental programming. We are looking into all avenues to never allow this to happen again. If it does, rest assured the Legion will have nothing to do with it,” the group wrote.
“The erasure of the names and visibility of our events will continue to erode our presence on this campus, and we plan to do everything we can to divest from that,” it added.
A spokesperson for the university told NBC News the name was changed “to reflect that our campus is open and welcoming to all” as it was an event sponsored by the school.
“Achieving excellence for all is at the core of the University of Missouri’s mission,” Christopher Ave said in a statement. “And clearly, in striving for an inclusive university, we must not exclude (or give impressions that we are excluding) individuals with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.”
The Hill has reached out to the school for comment.