Brad Bennett

MSU Student Protests Against Richard “Biff” Williams Grow in Size and Intensity with No End in Sight

Over a hundred Missouri State University (MSU) students and alumni gathered on campus at Carrington Hall, home to MSU’s administration, on Friday, January 31, 2025, despite the cold, demanding that the Board of Governors remove President Richard “Biff” Williams from his position. The crowd then marched across campus, chanting, “Who’s got to go? Biff’s got to go!” in a powerful expression of outrage.

This wave of student unrest has been building for months, with key incidents including:

December 2, 2024: The MSU Bears Against Biff Students’ coalition was formed, launching a social media campaign to remove Williams. The group also rallied outside Carrington Hall, chanting, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, President Biff has got to go!” and “What are we? Bears! Bears against Biff!”

December 5, 2024: A flyer featuring Williams’ picture with the words “No Future at MSU” appeared in the elevator of Brick City 1, one of three buildings housing the Department of Art and Design.

December 6, 2024: MSU students organized a 4-hour meeting at the Duane G. Meyer Library, inviting both students and staff to learn how they could actively support the protest calling for Williams’ removal. The event featured hand-out flyers reading, “We Need Biff Off Our Campus,” and protest signs that condemned Williams’ leadership.

Winter Break 2024: An explicit message directed at Williams was written in the snow in the Freudenberger House courtyard.

Early Spring Semester 2025: A very large expletive protest message targeting Williams was stomped into the snow outside Strong Hall, making it impossible to ignore.

January 29, 2025: Chalk messages appeared on the ramp of the Duane G. Meyer Library and near the Plaster Student Union, calling for Williams’ removal.

All this comes on the heels of the MSU Faculty Senate’s decisive vote on November 21, 2024, where an overwhelming 36-12 majority declared a vote of “No Confidence” in Williams’ leadership.

Will the MSU Board of Governors continue to turn a blind eye to the growing outcry against Williams from both students and faculty? Every day they refuse to act, they allow the university’s reputation to deteriorate further. Or will they finally admit their catastrophic mistake in hiring Williams and remove him from office?