News Summary
Richard ‘Biff’ Williams, the president of Missouri State University, is encountering severe criticism due to past misconduct allegations from his time at Utah Tech University. These concerns surged after a vulgar prank and subsequent complaints from former colleagues who claim retaliation. While an investigation found no sustained findings against him, the Faculty Senate has expressed a lack of confidence in his administration. MSU remains supportive of Williams despite allocating funds for public relations to manage the situation, as scrutiny continues around his leadership.
Springfield, Missouri – The first year of Richard “Biff” Williams’ presidency at Missouri State University (MSU) has been overshadowed by his past actions at Utah Tech University, including a controversial prank and subsequent allegations of workplace misconduct. In light of these issues, Williams faces substantial backlash as he approaches the end of his first year in office.
Following an investigation into allegations of misconduct from his tenure as president at Utah Tech, the findings reportedly resulted in “no sustained findings,” although scrutiny surrounding his actions remains intense. Williams served as president at Utah Tech from 2014 until his resignation in January 2024, shortly after a vulgar prank he admitted to executing came to light.
In November 2023, Williams publicly acknowledged arranging vegetables to resemble male genitalia and placing them on the porch of a colleague’s home, who was recovering from a surgery. This prank was accompanied by a note signed with the names of colleagues who had roles in administering Title IX laws – the policies aimed at preventing sexual harassment and discrimination in educational settings. Williams has since characterized the incident as a “mindless prank” and a “lapse in judgment,” claiming it was intended as a practical joke.
Despite an external review concluding that his actions did not constitute sexual harassment, three colleagues involved in the prank have filed an ongoing federal lawsuit against Williams, alleging retaliation and intimidation from MSU officials in a bid to foster a harassment-free work environment. These allegations prompt serious concerns regarding workplace culture under Williams’ leadership.
Williams resigned from Utah Tech less than two months following the prank, asserting he was seeking career advancement elsewhere. As part of his separation agreement, he is set to receive a “transition year” salary totaling $357,000 through January 2025. Upon beginning his role at MSU in July 2024 and subsequently being inaugurated in September, his hiring came without the Board of Governors being aware of the prank incident.
The MSU Board of Governors expressed their confidence in Williams’ leadership despite the allegations surrounding him. However, the Faculty Senate at MSU later passed a resolution expressing a lack of confidence in his administration due to the prank and the surrounding controversies. Notably, the Faculty Senate at Utah Tech took a similar stance, indicating widespread concerns about his ability to effectively lead.
In the wake of these developments, MSU’s vice president of marketing confirmed that the Board of Governors were not aware of the incident involving the prank during the hiring process. Despite this, the Board has unanimously maintained its support for Williams as president. Nonetheless, MSU has allocated funds for public relations support to manage the fallout from the incident, with projected costs not expected to exceed $10,000.
Currently, Williams commands an annual salary of $475,000 at MSU, with a performance evaluation scheduled for summer 2025. His contract does stipulate provisions for termination under “just cause,” and he is required to provide 180 days’ notice if he chooses to resign.
In his public statements, Williams has issued an apology to the MSU community for the negative attention the allegations have caused but has not extended a similar apology to Utah Tech University. The situation remains tense as the federal lawsuit against him progresses, and concerns continue to mount about his leadership capabilities.
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Missouri State University President Richard Williams Faces Lawsuit Over Controversial Prank Incident
Additional Resources
- News Leader
- Wikipedia: Missouri State University
- KY3
- Google Search: University Presidential Career Controversies
- Salt Lake Tribune
- Google Scholar: Leadership in Higher Education
- KY3
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Higher Education Management
- News Leader
- Google News: Biff Williams Missouri State University
