University of Missouri Presidents Resigns Amid Racial Tensions
The University of Missouri system’s president, Tim Wolfe, resigned Monday morning amid growing protests over how he handled- or did not handle- racist attacks on students over the past few months.
Just a day earlier, Wolfe issued a statement saying he was not stepping down from his position, but the complaints came to a head, when black members of the football team, followed by the entire team and coaching staff announced that they would boycott all football-related activities until the president was gone.
The football team showed their solidarity by joining the ongoing protests on campus by faculty and staff who threatened a walk out, one student who went on a week-long hunger strike and other students.
Wolfe, who said his resignation was effective immediately, made his announcement early this morning.
“I am resigning as president of the University Missouri system,” said Wolfe, who choked up as he announced he was stepping down. “My motivation in making this decision comes from a love of Columbia where I grew up and the state of Missouri. I thought and prayed about this decision. It is the right thing to do … The frustration and anger I see is real, and I don’t doubt it for a second.”
After Wolfe’s announcement, the university’s athletic department said in a statement that the football team would return to the practice field Tuesday to prepare for its game on Saturday against BYU. If the game had to be canceled by Missouri, the school would have owed BYU $1 million according to the contract for a two-game series.
Watch the press statement below.
