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On August 20, 2025, the Legion of Black Collegians, a student group at the University of Missouri, announced on social media that the university had canceled the group’s “Black 2 Class Block Party” because of the word “Black” in the event’s name. The university said that the name could imply that the event was racially exclusive—even though it was open to everyone—and did not permit the group to host the event after LBC offered to change the event’s name. 

FIRE wrote to Mizzou on September 4, explaining that the university may not exclude groups from hosting events on campus based on the viewpoint or content of the group’s protected expression. We urged Mizzou to publicly assure LBC that the group is welcome to use racial or cultural signifiers in the names of its campus events in the future, including hosting the “Black 2 Class Block Party” next year. 

In response, Mizzou defended its decision to cancel the event as appropriate in light of the “the manner in which the term ‘Black’ was used,” “the location and time in juxtaposition” to a university-sponsored welcome-back event, and “other factors” it did not identify. The university also cited  from the U.S. Department of Justice, which cautioned universities that identity-focused spaces “create[] a perception of segregation and may foster a hostile environment,” even when the space is open to all.