University of Missouri - Columbia

The University of Missouri-Columbia (abbreviated UMC and nicknamed Mizzou) is an institution of higher learning located in Columbia, Missouri, USA. Columbia is the largest campus, of equal standing, in the University of Missouri System with approximately 27,000 students and is often considered the flagship campus of the system. UMC is more often called MU though it is also referred to as UM, The University of Missouri (reflecting its flagship status) and rarely (historically), Missouri University.

The University of Missouri and civil rights

In the winter of 1935, four graduates of Lincoln University--a traditionally black school about 30 miles (50 km) away in Jefferson City, Missouri--were denied admission to UMC's graduate school. One of the students, Lloyd L. Gaines, brought his case to the United States Supreme Court. On December 12, 1938, in a landmark 6-2 decision, the court ordered the state of Missouri to admit Gaines to UMC's law school or provide a facility of equal stature. Gaines, however, disappeared in Chicago on March 19, 1939.

Related Topics:
1935 - Lincoln University - Traditionally black school - Jefferson City, Missouri - Lloyd L. Gaines - United States Supreme Court - December 12 - 1938 - Chicago - March 19 - 1939

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Undergraduate divisions were integrated by court order in 1950, when the university was compelled to admit African Americans to courses that were not offered at Lincoln University.

Related Topics:
1950 - Lincoln University

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In Spring 2002, the board of curators approved the name change of the university's Black Culture Center from the generic name to the "Lloyd L. Gaines/Marian O'Fallon Oldham Black Culture Center" (GOBCC) in order to pay tribute to Gaines and Oldham, a former curator who was also denied admission to the university. The BCC is the first building named after an African-American on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus.

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