For MSU, investigation into Juan Meraz now 'closed'

A student whose complaint against Missouri State University official Juan Meraz spurred protests and a call for his removal has decided against seeking a formal investigation.

The student, who has not been publicly named, notified MSU of her decision this week.

The Springfield Coalition for Minority Advancement made the student's concerns public in early February as part of a protest calling for Meraz to be fired from his position as MSU's assistant vice president for minority advancement.

A petition initiated by the coalition and signed by almost 100 people, mostly students, alleged Meraz created "racial division" among multicultural students, made discriminatory remarks — which, they alleged, showed "extreme prejudice" toward blacks — and withheld scholarship money from students approved for the funding this school year.

At the time, MSU officials acknowledged the student initially came forward in late 2015 and, as a result, an informal investigation had been launched and completed. They said efforts were being made to meet with the students, share the results of the informal inquiry and notify her of the option to request a formal inquiry.

The coalition, as part of its demand for Meraz's removal, provided the university with what it alleged was a recorded conversation between Meraz and the student who made the complaint. A 5-minute portion of that recording was released to the public.

In the recording, the male — purportedly Meraz — gives his opinion about the racial tension and subsequent protests on the University of Missouri campus.

The male states, among other things, that MSU's Multicultural Resource Center is "a hostile area to anyone who is not black" and that black students "look at me like I owe them money and I don't own them s---."

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Also on the recording, the male states: "We've got Latinos being lynched more than black people in the South, still to this day. Everybody is 'Oh well, black lives matter' — I understand that. What about everybody else?"

The News-Leader requested an update on the situation Wednesday and, in response, MSU officials released a statement.

It read: "After reviewing the findings of the (informal) investigation with the student, the student informed Melissa Berry, our Equal Opportunity Officer and interim director of the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance, this week that she is choosing not to pursue a formal investigation."

Asked about possible next steps, MSU officials said the report generated by the informal inquiry had been forwarded to Dee Siscoe, vice president for student affairs — and Meraz's supervisor — for her use in "coaching, disciplining, etc. him."

"These actions fall under personnel issues and will not be made public," MSU officials said in the statement. "For the university, the matter is closed."

In early February, the News-Leader asked about the difference between an informal and formal investigation. At the time, an MSU official said it is not uncommon for the university to respond to an initial concern raised by a student or employee by launching a fact-finding mission, which is the internal or informal inquiry. A formal investigation is a prescribed process that is typically requested in writing.

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Meraz, who has been a student or employee of the district since the late 1980s, has not responded to repeated requests for comment. But, he did post a comment on his Facebook thanking supporters for the encouraging calls, emails and texts.

On Change.org, a petition seeking his removal from MSU has 49 signatures. A petition urging the university to keep him has 2,129 signatures.