The resignation of University of Missouri President Tim Wolfe Monday does not bode well for higher education.
Indeed, his decision to step down in the face of protests that he did too little in the face of several apparently unrelated racial incidents is likely to entice groups of students at other colleges to make demands involving their wants and desires and attempt to achieve the same result.
Wolfe, who hadn't been accused of any wrongdoing but just not moving quickly enough to tamp down further incidents, essentially fell on his sword.
He said he took full responsibility "for the reaction that has occurred" and hoped his resignation would lead to healing. But he also said, "This is not - I repeat, not - the way change should come about."
Wolfe is right, but the ugly episode will probably be just the first in a series of similar uprisings.
Shouted racial slurs, a swastika drawn in human feces and a truck flying Confederate flags likely in an attempt at intimidation, as occurred at the University of Missouri, have no business on campuses and are the actions of students not mature enough for university attendance. But is a lack of immediate changes instead of a considered discussion on how to proceed reason enough to bring down a president?
One of the demands by protesters was a more diverse faculty. But, for the fall of 2014, the school had 23 percent nonwhite students but a faculty that was almost 25 percent nonwhite.
Among curious other demands are that Wolfe acknowledge his "white male privilege," that the school "enforces comprehensive racial awareness" and that it "increases funding, resources and personnel for the social justices centers on campus."
What made the situation worse at the University of Missouri - perhaps ultimately brought on Wolfe's resignation - was the threat by the minority-heavy football team to boycott the rest of the season. When almighty college football - which, in turn, means money for the school - is at risk, mountains move.
College students should never have to feel scared as they go about their daily business on a campus, but a few incidents involving a small group of people should not spark canceled classes, boycott threats and presidential resignations that mar the desire of more than 35,000 students to get an education. Students who want to be considered adults should seek more reasoned ways to be heard.