An external review team looking into the conduct of Missouri State University President Richard B. Williams while he was president at Utah Tech University has concluded its investigation, reporting no “sustained findings.”
Williams admitted last year to leaving a phallic display of vegetables on the doorstep of one Utah Tech employee, signed to appear as if it was from three other employees. He made the admission, and apologized for it, after the three other employees filed a lawsuit against him for “exhibiting a culture of hostility.”
However, the team hired by Utah Tech reported the display did not represent sexual harassment. Attorneys for Utah Tech announced the results of the probe, according to the Salt Lake Tribune, and further stated that his conduct did not break any policies.
Utah Tech did not release a redacted copy of the investigation to the Tribune, even though it concluded with no findings. The Tribune has been fighting for public records on that investigation since May, 2024.
The civil case against Williams remains ongoing. Becky Broadbent, Jared Rasband and Hazel Sainsbury argue that the vegetable display was the culmination of months of “resistance, intimidation, harassment and retaliation from Utah Tech’s highest leaders” as the three worked to address issues with racism, harassment and more.
Broadbent and Rasband are attorneys for the university, and Sainsbury is its Title IX director. A fourth plaintiff has been added to the suit, according to the Tribune.
The three original plaintiffs in a statement to the Tribune said that they are not surprised that the investigation concluded like it did, and that they remain worried that all ways of holding Williams responsible were removed, despite Williams’ admissions of involvement.
After the MSU Faculty Senate issued a vote of no confidence in Williams, the MSU Board of Governors stood by Williams throughout the revelation of the lawsuit and ensuing apology. After a series of closed door meetings over two weeks, the board on Nov. 22 issued a statement of support.
Williams was hired in February to replace the retiring Clif Smart. He left the vegetable display on the co-worker’s doorstep after he had applied for the position.
Board members have stated previously that background checks and reference searches revealed no trace of the developing incident. A Sunshine Law records request made by the Daily Citizen on Nov. 22, and returned on Jan. 13, revealed that the process of checking those backgrounds was performed by university staff, but specific results into each of the finalists were redacted.
