A 42-page lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Utah names Missouri State University’s new president, Dr. Richard “Biff” Williams, as one of more than two dozen defendants, including his former employer Utah Tech University. Williams served as president of Utah Tech from 2014 to January 2024.

The lawsuit was filed by General Counsel Rebecca “Becky” Broadbent, Senior Associate General Counsel Jared Rasband and Title IX Coordinator Hazel Sainsbury.

The three allege in the lawsuit that Utah Tech “continuously and openly violated the protections of Title IX.”

Missouri State University

The lawsuit states that “Plaintiffs, in their respective capacities in Utah Tech’s General Counsel and Title IX offices, have worked hard to establish an environment free of harassment and discrimination. However, in doing so, they faced resistance, intimidation, harassment and retaliation. from Utah Tech’s top leaders.”

The plaintiffs allege that then-President Williams’ friend and direct report, Vice President Jordan Sharp, and members of Sharps University’s marketing and communications team allowed “highly obscene and vulgar sexual comments with their names attributed to the comments” to be posted and displayed in a hall public break.

The suit alleges that senior Utah Tech leaders questioned “the OEC and TIX processes, the plaintiffs’ authority under those processes, and the plaintiffs’ professionalism and motives. Thus, a “poisoned well” and a hostile work environment for plaintiffs was created.”

It also accuses the university’s principal, Michael Lacourse, of sending a “racially charged” email to Sainsbury, who is Black.

One incident detailed in the report involved eggplants and a pumpkin placed in the shape of male genitalia on Sharp’s front porch last November, allegedly by then-president Williams, as Sharp recovered from surgery and with a note saying that it was from the three plaintiffs, although some names were misspelled. The note read: “Dear Jordan: We wanted to wish you well as you recover from your outpatient procedure. We thought some delicious produce from our garden would help you with your recovery. Here are two delicious eggplant plants and our award winning zucchini, or as we like to call it, “zuweenie”. “

The lawsuit alleges that Utah Tech failed to take appropriate action when Sainsbury was
“subjected to mockery and ridicule” by certain university deans during a “Title IX mock party” that included a “Title IX for Dummies” book as a gag gift. “This conduct was never addressed by the University and no disciplinary action was taken against those who participated in this hostile and discriminatory activity,” according to the lawsuit.

Missouri State President Biff Williams sent an email to faculty, staff and students Saturday morning.

In it, he states, “To our campus community,

I am writing to you regarding recent media coverage of something I did during my tenure as president at Utah Tech University.

While there, I initiated what I intended to be a humorous gesture towards a member of our staff. I have since come to realize that the prank was not appropriate. This was a mistake. I regret my lack of judgment and accept this as a learning moment. The incident is now included in a lawsuit that has been shared with the media. I apologize for the undue attention this has brought to the university.

This experience continues to remind me how important it is to always strive to foster a campus environment that is safe and welcoming for all students, faculty, and staff.

Biff”

A statement issued Saturday by the Missouri State University Board of Governors said: “The Missouri State University Board of Governors is aware of the ongoing process and continues to have confidence in President Williams’ ability to lead Missouri State University. We are committed to working with him to ensure that the university is a safe and welcoming environment for all students, faculty and staff.”