The University of Missouri’s Chancellor will shift out of that role, and more than one group should be pleased with his decision.
R. Bowen Loftin made the announcement Monday just hours after the resignation of University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe.
“I have decided this day that I will transition from the role of chancellor at the University of Missouri, effective at the end of this year,” said Loftin.
Loftin will become the director for research development.
His announcement also came after the deans of nine of the University’s schools signed a letter asking for him to be dismissed. They accused him of failing to lead in recent crises, including the elimination then reinstatement of graduate assistant health insurance. They said he created a “toxic environment through threats, fear, and intimidation.”
That came after a no confidence vote by 28 members of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures faculty, who said Loftin created a, “climate of mistrust, miscommunication, chaos, despair, and anger.”
Planned Parenthood also praised the decision. It accused Loftin of caving to political pressure in eliminating physician privileges for the doctor performing drug-induced abortions at its Columbia facility, which would mean abortions there will cease December 1. It’s calling on the University to again extend privileges to that doctor.