UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE | February 16, 2025

Missouri State students react to misconduct allegations against former Utah Tech president

Images provided by Liz Garcia, co-editor-in-chief of The Standard, the Missouri State University student-run news organization.

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Missouri State University’s student-run news, The Standard, published an article about student tension rising after a lawsuit was released against former Utah Tech University president Richard “Biff” Williams.  

Liz Garcia, a senior journalism major from Branson, Missouri, is a co-editor-in-chief for The Standard. 

“I know, especially on social media, there was kind of a lot of upset… learning about… what [Biff] had done at Utah Tech,” Garcia said. “And so there was just kind of a lot of confusion. And, students were kind of wondering, ‘Where do we go from here now that he’s our president?’” 

Garcia said once students came back to school from being home during Christmas break, student voices became more apparent. 

On the college social networking app Yik Yak, an individual had posted a picture with “F— BIFF” written in the snow outside MSU’s Freudenberger House

Photo courtesy Liz Garcia.

Ruby Knight, a freshman business education major from Purdy, Missouri, is the reporter from The Standard that wrote the story

“I would mention too, that before Christmas break, I had mentioned the chalking practice in my article, where they write on the sidewalk,” Knight said. “I had seen that same message, written on the sidewalk in front of Carrington, which is our administration building.”

Flyers were placed, like this one in an elevator in the Brick City 1 building, on MSU’s campus. 

Photo courtesy Liz Garcia.

A couple of social media pages were created where students displayed their distaste for Williams, including @bearsagainstbiff and @zuweenie_gate

@bearagainstbiff has posted about flyers in the library that read, “We need Biff off our campus,” and a post about, “Meet the board of governors, the ones that okay-ed someone who abuses power.”

@zuweenie_gate’s page was at one point selling “Zuweenie-Gate 2024” shirts that said, “50 shirts bought and we’ll anonymously send one to Biff.” 

“I would just say that I think that sometimes things can get blown up or amplified by social media and, you know, to quote ‘Wicked,’ ‘The best way to bring people together is to give them a real good enemy,’” Knight said. “And I feel like we are seeing some of that phenomenon on our campus. And based on my reporting and the way things are trending, I do believe it will eventually blow over.”

Students weren’t the only ones voicing their concerns. MSU Faculty Senate passed a no-confidence resolution pertaining to Williams’ leadership. 

MSU Faculty Senate Chair-elect Micheal Foster shared the final language of the resolution reading, “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 breech in ethical leadership and inclusive excellence could negatively affect MSU’s current search for a new Provost, development of a strategic plan, as well as the university’s ability to recruit and retain students, staff, and faculty.”

However, the MSU Board of Governors, composed of individuals who are affiliated with MSU but don’t necessarily live in Springfield, Missouri, voted unanimously to keep Williams as president. 

“It doesn’t really seem like if students did want to continue, sort of, expressing their distaste for him, if that would really have as much of an impact considering the board of governors decided to keep him instated as our president,” Garcia said. 

While Williams is remaining as president at MSU, Utah Tech’s Faculty Senate also passed a no-confidence resolution pertaining to six administrative individuals on campus.

Kyle Killebrew, Utah Tech instructor of the practice in English composition and Faculty Senate secretary, said though the majority of the press coverage has focused on Williams’ actions and how the administration has handled those actions, Utah Tech Faculty Senate’s no-confidence resolution addressed a variety of concerns.

No-confidence resolutions are not binding decisions and don’t have the power to compel change, but they do send a strong message of disapproval from faculty.

“However, the strongest voice at Utah Tech is that of its students,” Killebrew said. “Utah Tech students have an important role to play in shaping the climate on campus, and as your tuition dollars keep the university running, you have a power for change greater than that of our faculty, staff and administrators.”

Additionally, Utah Tech is in the process of searching for the next president. The education requirement changed from having a doctorate degree to a bachelor’s degree. 

“I think if that were to happen at Missouri State, I would be kind of concerned, especially since, having the bump down from a PhD to a bachelor’s degree is a pretty big difference in terms of just the pure education level that you would have,” Garcia said. “And it would kind of feel as if, you’re just prioritizing, seeking an immediate replacement rather than looking for a long term stability or different other qualities that might be more essential in a candidate.”

The Standard has reported on students’ reactions to the lawsuit against Williams, the Faculty Senate no-confidence resolution and the multiple meetings the board of governors held to determine Williams’ standing. 

“I would say that the student voice is very amplified and encouraged on our campus,” Knight said. “Exercising the right of free speech is always very welcome here, and I found that that’s an interesting part of our university that I hadn’t experienced in my educational journey thus far.”