Updated: MSU Faculty Senate passes no-confidence measure against president

Last edited 12:08 p.m., Nov, 22, 2024 [Editor's note: This article published Nov. 21 has been updated with more information.]

The Missouri State University Faculty Senate on Thursday passed a no-confidence vote against school President Richard "Biff" Williams in the wake of a lawsuit against the administrator in Utah.

The 36-12 vote – with members choosing to vote by secret ballot – came after a discussion lasting an hour and a half at MSU's Plaster Student Union. It was an extension of a meeting last week in which Williams apologized to the body filled with MSU faculty members.

"I know this was contentious. I know it was difficult," said Faculty Senate Chair Scott Zimmerman, associate professor of health sciences, as the votes were being gathered. "I really appreciate the way the body managed this."

Williams is accused in a Nov. 7 lawsuit with other defendants of creating a hostile work environment and violating Title IX protections at Utah Tech University, for which he served as president before coming to MSU. The complaint describes Williams arranging vegetables in the shape of male genitalia on the porch of a colleague and falsely attributing the display to three campus administrators. Those three are the plaintiffs in the suit, which alleges Williams and other top leaders at Utah Tech established a “poisoned well" with alleged discrimination and retaliation against the plaintiffs surrounding Title IX protections.

The weeklong break in the Faculty Senate discussion and pending vote allowed members to hear from other faculty members they represent at the university.

At the latest meeting, some Faculty Senate members pointed to Williams’ performance in the meeting last week, in which he described how he handled an interaction with plaintiff Rebecca Broadbent, Utah Tech’s general counsel. Williams told MSU Faculty Senate members last week that Broadbent had approached him and was “extremely distraught” after the prank involving the vegetable display was signed in her name, and Williams did not admit to being the perpetrator.

“Is this someone who we actually can confide in to be able to lead us?” said Heidi Backes, associate professor of Spanish.

Shurita Thomas-Tate, associate professor in the School of Health Care Professions, said Williams had “demonstrated his lack of judgment.”

“President Williams only show remorse for getting caught,” she said. “He appears to lack an understanding of why his actions were problematic.”

Multiple members said the university community was looking to the MSU Faculty Senate for leadership on the matter.

“I have students that have shared with me that they don't feel safe. I have staff members that have shared with me that they are looking to faculty to stand up for what's right,” said Abby Templer Rodrigues, an associate professor of sociology. “They're looking to our body to show leadership in this moment.”

Faculty Senate members also debated whether a no-confidence vote or a censure measure against Williams was the best option. A change in the language of the motion was proposed to allow for a censure, which members described as less “bold” language, but it was rejected.

The finalized resolution reads as follows:

Whereas, the conduct of President Williams at Utah Tech is not in line with Missouri State University’s (MSU) commitments to ethical leadership and inclusive excellence; and

Whereas, the high-profile nature of his breach in ethical leadership and inclusive excellence could negatively affect MSU’s current search for a new provost, development of a strategic plan, and the university’s ability to recruit and retain students, staff and faculty;

Therefore be it resolved, that the senate expresses no confidence in the leadership of President Williams.

The MSU Board of Governors has held four special, closed meetings following the filing of the lawsuit – on Nov. 8, 13 and 20 and 22. The outcome of the latest meeting, held this morning, is not yet known.

Rowena Stone, secretary to the MSU Board of Governors, said the meetings on Nov. 20 and 22 were closed under three specific statutes:

• R.S.Mo. 610.021(1). “Legal actions, causes of action, or litigation involving a public governmental body ...”

• R.S.Mo. 610.021(3). “Hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting of particular employees by a public governmental body ...”

• R.S.Mo. 610.021(13). “Individually identifiable personnel records, performance ratings or records pertaining to employees or applicants for employment ..."

Emily Letterman, public relations strategist at MSU, said a no-confidence vote by the Faculty Senate does not require the board of governors or the president to take action.

"Rather, it is a way that the Faculty Senate expresses its collective will," Letterman said via email. "With respect to a resolution of no confidence, it means it is the will of the Senate that the individual who is the subject of the resolution resign or be involuntarily removed."

Prior to yesterday, the Faculty Senate had made one no-confidence vote against a university president since 1963, which is as far back as Faculty Senate records go, Letterman said. The other instance was in 1992, when construction costs for Juanita K. Hammons Hall went over budget and President Marshall Gordon ultimately resigned early, she said.