The protests at the University of Missouri this week seemed to explode out of the blue -- at least to outsiders.
But for many on campus, both students and staff, veiled and not-so-veiled racism had long been a problem.
And Mizzou sparked a wider conflagration: At schools from coast to coast, marchers rallied in solidarity while calling out the injustices they see at home.
Here's a look at what happened at America's colleges this week.
The University of Missouri
A series of racist incidents this fall included racial slurs hurled at students and a swastika drawn with human feces. Racism on campus is not new to students who have attended the school, but the latest episodes and the administration's perceived lackluster response inspired grad student Jonathan Butler to declare a hunger strike on Nov. 2 until Missouri's system president Tim Wolfe resigned.
Though at first overlooked by the national media, the story gained steam on Saturday when a group of black players from the school's football team declared they were on strike until Wolfe resigned. Forfeiting the next football game would have cost Mizzou at least $1 million.
The Mizzou Family stands as one. We are united. We are behind our players. #ConcernedStudent1950 GP pic.twitter.com/fMHbPPTTKl— Coach Gary Pinkel (@GaryPinkel) November 8, 2015
Wolfe announced his resignation on Monday morning. The school's chancellor is also moving to another role.
Brothers and Sisters, this is a momentus occassion but do not be moved! Our Brother can eat, but we are still owed Demands! Stay strong!— ConcernedStudent1950 (@CS_1950) November 9, 2015
Following Wolfe's resignation, tempers flared on Monday afternoon when a student journalist, covering the ongoing rallies on campus, was confronted by protesters, including two women who later turned out to be staff.
Then on Tuesday night, threats were made on the social media service Yik Yak, targeting the University of Missouri's main campus in Columbia. Police arrested 19-year-old Hunter Park and charged him with making a terrorist threat. On Wednesday and Thursday, two other 19-year-olds were arrested for directing similar threats at other Missouri universities, also on Yik Yak.
After the threats, University of Missouri professor Dale Brigham sent an email to his students telling them he still planned to hold an exam in his class on Wednesday and that, “If you don’t feel safe coming to class, then don’t come to class." He added: “If you give into bullies, they win. The only way bullies are defeated is by standing up to them. If we cancel the exam, they win; if we go through with it, they lose." Still, the backlash was enough that Brigham announced his resignation on Wednesday.
I hope #DaleBrigham finds another job ASAP - He seemed like a good man who deserved none of this #Mizzou pic.twitter.com/8YLGtkNfZ9— Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) November 11, 2015
On Thursday, the University of Missouri appointed Mike Middleton -- the first black professor at its law school -- as interim system president.
Yale University
On Monday, hundreds of students turned out for a rally and a "March of Resilience" after a pair of on-campus incidents that sparked debates on racial sensitivity and free speech.
xc, minutes later pic.twitter.com/iHUXxLLUSu— michelle liu (@mchelleliu) November 9, 2015
The first incident was a controversial email sent by Erika Christakis, an administrator of one of Yale's residential colleges, in response to a previous email sent by the school's Intercultural Affairs Committee warning students against wearing culturally insensitive costumes, such as Native American headdresses or blackface.
Christakis' email lauded the request in theory but questioned whether the college should take such an active role in controlling students' behavior.
Then on Halloween weekend, a Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity member allegedly turned away black students from a party the fraternity was holding, telling them, “No, we’re only looking for white girls." The SAE on-campus house was one of the stops during Monday's "March of Resilience."
Hundreds of @Yale students rallying against racism on New Haven campus pic.twitter.com/6fv0zmC27T— zellie (@zellieimani) November 9, 2015
Ithaca College
On Wednesday, over a thousand students held a rally on campus in Ithaca, New York, that was both a solidarity protest with Missouri and a vote of "no confidence" in school president Tom Rochon for what students call inadequate handling of two racially insensitive incidents in October.
@IthacanOnline #POCatIC pic.twitter.com/x2Xw53glpR— Sara Kim (@sara_Y_kim) November 11, 2015
In one incident at a campus panel, an older white alumnus repeatedly referred to another panelist, a much younger black alumna, as a "savage" in an attempt to humorously build on a previous comment by the young woman.
In the other incident, the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity — which is unaffiliated with the school but counts several Ithaca students among its members — sent an invitation for a “Preps and Crooks” party that included stereotypical descriptions for "Crooks" attire.
Howard University
The historically black university confirmed it was increasing security on its Washington, D.C., campus following an anonymous threat to the school posted online on Wednesday night. In the screed, the writer blames African-Americans for what happened at Missouri, then suggests he will kill black students at Howard.
"We are aware of the threat made against the University and its students and are working with campus, local, and federal law enforcement on this serious matter," university president Wayne Frederick announced.
Claremont McKenna College
Mary Spellman, the dean of students at the school in Claremont, California, sent an email to a Latina student, in which the phrase "those who don't fit our mold" was interpreted to mean students of color. Spellman announced her resignation Thursday afternoon.
The incident had inspired a student to take on a hunger strike until Spellman resigned.
The situation was further inflamed when a Halloween photo showing a pair of Claremont students dressed in ponchos and sombreros circulated on social media.
Virginia Commonwealth University
On Thursday, 30 African-American students staged a protest at the school president's office, detailing a list of demands including the hiring of more black professors and cultural competency training on campus.
Black students take over #VCU's president's office to demand changes https://t.co/Ww3gqk5K3F #rva pic.twitter.com/9xy1TE28Br— Times-Dispatch (@RTDNEWS) November 12, 2015
Students at VCU also held a rally on Wednesday to show solidarity with the University of Missouri.
#VCU students stand in solidarity with #Mizzou in the Compass pic.twitter.com/7IGDbfDTYp— Commonwealth Times (@theCT) November 11, 2015
Bowie State University
On Thursday evening, police were investigating an incident at the school in Bowie, Maryland, where it appeared as if vandals had spray-painted a swastika at the campus' Martin Luther King Center.
Students rallied at the center Thursday night in a sign of unity.
Bowie State. pic.twitter.com/OHSbdUui1q— Kwame Rose (@kwamerose) November 13, 2015
Elsewhere
Also this week, students at several colleges, including Loyola University Chicago, the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Washington and Smith College, held rallies in solidarity with the University of Missouri.
Additional reporting by Brian Ries and Jonathan Ellis.