LBA

On Friday, April 3, 2026, the University of Missouri's Division of Student Affairs informed five multicultural umbrella organizations that their dedicated funding would be eliminated effective July 2026:

The Legion of Black Collegians (LBC) - the only Black student government in America, founded in 1968
The Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) - founded in 1991
The Asian American Association (AAA)
The Queer Liberation Front (QLF)
Four Front - an Indigenous student organization

LBC was also stripped of its student government status, held since 1969. All five organizations will be reclassified as generic Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs), competing with 600+ other clubs for limited funding with yearly caps.

On Monday, April 6, the Missouri Students Association confirmed the administration dissolved the Multicultural Fee - a dedicated funding mechanism students voted to create in 1992.

Sources: KOMU 8 (Apr 5, 2026), ABC17 News (Apr 6, 2026), MSA Press Release (Apr 6, 2026)

Student government status was a structural mechanism for accountability. As a recognized student government, the university was required to meet with LBC and hear them out on issues affecting Black students. Without that status, the administration has no formal obligation to listen.

LBC President Amaya Morgan said it directly: as long as LBC was a student government, the administration was required to meet with them. Losing that status "gives them more of a reason to toss us to the wayside."

Source: TheGrio (Apr 8, 2026)

LBC's annual budget was approximately $60,000. As an RSO, the new limits are:

$1,500 per event cap
$3,000 per semester cap
$2,000 travel expense cap per year

For context, the Asian Night Market alone costs over $10,000. ALAS's Trip Around Latin America costs over $5,000. These events are now impossible under the new caps. Funding is also not guaranteed - RSOs must apply and compete with 600+ other organizations.

Source: ABC17 News (Apr 6, 2026) - LBC VP Desmond Jones

Five umbrella organizations were directly defunded. Under LBC's umbrella alone, 18 organizations are impacted, including seven of nine Divine Nine (NPHC) chapters, NAACP Unit #4731, NABJ, the African Student Association, Minority Mental Health Matters, and others.

ALAS oversees 8 additional clubs. AAA oversees 8 additional clubs. Four Front oversees 9 sub-organizations. MSA's own auxiliary FITS was also told on April 6 it could no longer receive student fee revenue.

Sources: lbc.missouri.edu/umbrella-organizations, ABC17 News (Apr 6, 2026)

No. The DOJ memo explicitly describes its own recommendations as "non-binding suggestions" and "not mandatory requirements." It is guidance, not legislation.

A federal judge has already ruled that the Education Department's anti-DEI guidance was unlawful. Six major law firms confirm the memo does not carry the force of law.

The university's spokesperson called this memo "federal law." As ALAS wrote: "A memo is not a federal law, thus this decision was at the hands of the University of Missouri and the University alone."

Sources: DOJ AG Memo (Jul 2025), NewsOne (Apr 7, 2026), ALAS Instagram (Apr 6, 2026)

The Legion of Black Collegians was founded in 1968 in response to Confederate flags and the playing of "Dixie" at football games. Key milestones:

1969 - Recognized as a student government. Delivers 15 demands.
1977 - Creates the Big Eight Conference on Black Student Government (now Big 12). Built the national infrastructure.
1992 - Students vote to fund LBC from mandatory activity fees. Budget grows from $2,378 to $17,000.
2015 - LBC members help spark protests that force UM System president to resign. LBC co-founder Michael Middleton named interim president.
2018 - UM System commits $8.5M to Inclusive Excellence, calls LBC "a strong partner."
2026 - LBC stripped of student government status. All multicultural orgs defunded.

Sources: MU Archives, Mizzou Magazine (Winter 2019), KOMU 8

No. Universities across the country are dismantling DEI infrastructure. But the University of Missouri is the first to strip a Black student government of its status and dissolve a student-voted funding mechanism. If this interpretation stands unchallenged, the same logic could be applied to every NPHC council, every multicultural umbrella organization, and every cultural center on any public campus.

Sources: TheGrio (Apr 8, 2026), NewsOne (Apr 7, 2026)

An independent, alumni-led organization created in direct response to the university's decision. Not affiliated with, funded by, or controlled by any university administration.

We are incorporating as a 501(c)(6) organization in Missouri - a membership-supported body with the legal standing to lobby, advocate, and act. A companion 501(c)(3) foundation will handle scholarships and student support.

Fill out the survey at the top of this page. Tell us who you are, where you are, and how you want to help. We're organizing lawyers, former LBC leaders, Divine Nine alumni, and anyone who wants to be part of this.

Email the Board of Curators: boardofcurators@umsystem.edu

Follow @LegionOfBlackAlumni for updates.

Share this page with every alum you know.