Embattled UMKC chancellor urged to resign amid response to conservative assault

State Sen. David Sater, a Republican, is calling for University of Missouri-Kansas City Chancellor Mauli Agrawal to step down after a conservative commentator was assaulted on campus last week.

Conservative commentator Michael Knowles, a columnist at the Daily Wire, was assaulted on campus during a speech titled, “Men are Not Women.” Knowles was sprayed with a non-toxic substance by a masked attacker who has now been charged with assault and resisting arrest, as Campus Reform previously reported.

[RELATED: Suspect in Michael Knowles UMKC assault identified, faces multiple charges]

In Agrawal’s initial statement, he noted that Knowles’ “professed opinions do not align with our commitment to diversity and inclusion and our goal of providing a welcoming environment to all people, particularly to our LGBT community.” Agrawal commended students for “respond[ing] in the best way” by protesting Knowles with “positive messages about diversity and inclusion” although Agrawal did note that “some others crossed a line.”

As reported by the Missouri Times Monday, Sater took to the Senate floor to criticize the chancellor, saying, “as far as I’m concerned, he [Agrawal] should go.” Missouri state Sen. Jason Holsman, a Democrat, also remarked on Agrawal, suggesting that he should be given the “opportunity” to “address the statement and make it right in terms of essentially redefining his position on what happened.”

It wasn’t just the senators who called for an explanation from Agrawal. Knowles also took to Twitter to address the chancellor’s statement. 

[RELATED: Conservatives excoriate Kansas City Star for editorial on Michael Knowles assault]

Other conservatives and Knowles also criticized local media outlet, the Kansas City Star, for what has been perceived as biased reporting.

UMKC did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication. 

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