What Happened at the University of Missouri?

The following is an excerpt of an AP article on the present mess at the University of Missouri which resulted in the resignation of President Wolfe:

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The president of the University of Missouri system and the head of its flagship campus resigned Monday with the football team and others on campus in open revolt over what they saw as indifference to racial tensions at the school. President Tim Wolfe, a former business executive with no previous experience in academic leadership, took "full responsibility for the frustration" students expressed and said their complaints were "clear" and "real." For months, black student groups had complained that Wolfe was unresponsive to racial slurs and other slights on the overwhelmingly white main campus of the state's four-college system. The complaints came to a head two days ago, when at least 30 black football players announced they would not play until the president left. A graduate student went on a weeklong hunger strike. To read the remainder of the article click here.


As the facts become more clear in the upcoming days and weeks I am sure one thing will remain crystal clear: regardless of the type of institution, pervasive issues that are allowed to continue ALWAYS come back to those in charge at the top.

It surprises me that an academic institution would hire someone with a complete lack of experience in academic matters and expect that person, regardless of past business success, to have a thorough understanding of how fragile and critical the academic climate is to an institution. Make no mistake, this is more the fault of those hiring Mr. Wolfe in the first place as he was clearly inadequate as a Leader in an institution in which character matters just as much or more than money, or at least should. 

By Tom Letson

Tom Letson, MA LPC LCADC provides commentary on the issues of bullying, anger, substance abuse and more. Tom is a NJ Licensed Professional Counselor and Public School Anti-Bullying Specialist. He has spent 30 years working in schools, criminal justice and substance abuse settings. His private practice is located in Marlboro, NJ and he continues his 20+ years as a passionate high school football coach.