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Former UM system president fires back after November resignation

A new email has surfaced from former University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe calling out the UM Board of Curators, former MU Chancellor Bowen Loftin, state Sen. Kurt Schaefer, Interim UM President Mike Middleton and other officials, including Mizzou former head coach Gary Pinkel, and its athletic director, Mack Rhoades.

ABC 17 News obtained a copy of the letter Wednesday, which Wolfe claimed he sent because he now has “grave concerns about the future of the University,” two months after resigning under pressure during protests.

Wolfe said his decision to step down was “largely motivated” by a pending event that was supposed to happen on the day he left office. He claims the FBI, the Highway Patrol, and city and campus police knew there was an important Ferguson protester at MU and more were expected to arrive in Columbia for a larger protest later that same day.

ABC 17 News contacted FBI spokeswoman Bridget Patton regarding former UM System President Wolfe’s comments. Patton told ABC 17 News the FBI provided limited support to local law enforcement in November, to ensure open lines of communication should any type of civil rights violations occur.

On Wednesday evening, ABC 17 News also reached out to Columbia Police about Wolfe’s comments on campus safety.

CPD Chief Ken Burton said, “The Columbia Police Department was made aware via intelligence sources that people who were significantly involved in the Ferguson, Missouri protests may be coming to Columbia to participate in the protests on the MU campus. We were also made aware that additional protesters may be coming to Columbia from outside Boone County in order to participate in the events on the MU campus. This information was provided in order to help us prepare to support the MUPD and the MSHP should they require our assistance. “

Wolfe also decided to speak out now after talks with curators failed about his pay and future role. At the moment, Wolfe has only been offered what he would get if he was fired without cause. In comparison, he pointed to Loftin, who is getting “75% of his former salary after he was forced to resign as Chancellor” and Pinkel’s new contract, which pays him $350,000 for the first two years and $250,000 in the third year. The board also wanted to sign a gag order, barring him from casting curators or other officials in a bad light.

Wolfe said he has not spoken publicly about the circumstances surrounding his resignation since November, but believes MU is currently under attack. He said “current leadership from the Board on down is frozen. They are at risk of being de-funded by the General Assembly” and urged action now or the odds would be very low for attracting a decent candidate for the next UM president.

Concerns over Loftin

Wolfe said during Loftin’s short time as chancellor he managed to anger the student Greek population, MU healthcare system, graduate students, faculty members over Planned Parenthood testimony. Wolfe claims every dean at Mizzou demanded Loftin’s removal. He also believes he shifted the focus of the protest group, Concerned Student 1950, from Loftin to Wolfe after discovering his job was in danger in late September. Wolfe says he has been blamed for racism issues and “incompetent leadership” during his silence with the media. He accepts “some of the responsibility for what happened,” but Wolfe said he “made the mistake of hiring Bowen Loftin”, and he believes the Board of Curators decided to “cave into politicians and special interest groups with agendas that are contrary to the mission of the University.”

Pressure from Schaefer

Wolfe claims state Sen. Kurt Schaefer pressured him to get rid of Josh Hawley’s right to run for Missouri Attorney General using an unpaid leave of absence. After he refused, Wolfe claims Schaefer also asked him to get involved in the decision for Hawley’s tenure. Wolfe said Schaefer worked directly with Loftin to shape his testimony during state hearings on Planned Parenthood, and influenced at least one UM curator to keep Loftin employed.

Middleton’s involvement with protesters

Wolfe also raises several questions about the involvement between campus protesters and Interim System President Mike Middleton. Wolfe claims Middleton had a “long-term relationship with Jonathan Butler, the leader of the Concerned Student 1950.” Wolfe said there are two important questions UM Curators still have to answer: why did they choose to hire Middleton, who had been in charge of MU diversity and inclusion for 17 years right before demonstrations erupted in Columbia, and why didn’t Middleton work with Butler to bring an end to the protests?

Miscommunication on team strike

Wolfe said the football team’s decision to strike was the “equivalent of throwing gasoline on a small fire,” which ended up bringing national attention to MU. He believes the $1 million penalty from not playing in the BYU game will ultimately pale in comparison to the more than $25 million loss from tuition and fees after enrollment drops this fall. Wolfe said MU Athletic Director Mack Rhoades, Coach Pinkel and Loftin failed to communicate this information with officials, ultimately risking a “financial catastrophe for our university.”

UM Board of Curators slow to react

Wolfe also put blame on the University of Missouri Board of Curators, after turning to them to fire MU Chancellor Bowen Loftin, based on his performance. Wolfe claims curators routinely asked their staff and faculty members to “dig up dirt and use their curator role to further personal agendas.” Wolfe said the board’s chair later admitted to him “you have been telling me for four months of the poisonous situation on the MU campus, and I have been slow to act.”

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