UTU Institutional History: Title IX Lawsuit

Identifier

UTULawsuit2024

Title

UTU Institutional History: Title IX Lawsuit

Creator

UTU Special Collections and Archives

Date

2024-2025

Description

This collection brings together various media pertaining to the Title IX Federal lawsuit against Utah Tech University and former UTU President Richard "Biff" Williams. Included are news articles, Federal Court documents, and UTU President Shane Smeed Email Message, which in part addresses the ongoing issues and culture of the UTU campus. Those seeking more court documents can research at the Federal Court House in Salt Lake City, or by using the online case search database, PACER.

Subject

Title IX
Government Documents
Biff Williams

Rights

  1. News articles are In Copyright-Educational Use Only.
  2. UTU Presidential email is public record.
  3. Federal court documents are public record.

Rights Holder

Sun News (news articles)
St. George News (news articles)
Salt Lake Tribune

Extent

8 MB

Source

District Court of Utah PACER Court records database
Email List to Employees of Utah Tech University
St. George News 
Salt Lake Tribune Sun News 
Sun News

Publisher

St George News
Sun News
Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Tech University
Federal District Court for Utah

Is Part Of

Collection UA077 UTU Institutional History.

Medium

Born Digital

Provenance

UTU Special Collections Staff donation August 2025.

Collection Items

Utah Tech Marketing VP Leaving Campus Amidst Ongoing Lawsuit
Utah Tech University's Marketing and Communication Vice President Jordon Sharp, announced his resignation after fourteen years. Lawsuit claims he created a toxic work environment and posted inappropriate sticky notes in breakroom.

Cabinet Updates
President Shane Smeed offers email updates for UTU an addresses some of the recent controverses that took place on the UTU campus.

Lawsuit Against Utah Tech Results in Faculty Resolution, Update on Presidental Search Process
Sun News shares part of Faculty Senate Resolution 1004, in which the senate gives a vote of "no confidence" for UTU Administration. Article gives update on UTU's search process for a new university president

Memorandum Decision and Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part [34] Motion for Leave to File Document Under Seal
Federal District Court of Utah Judget David Nuffer decision on motions for certain parts of the Title IX lawsuit against "Biff" Williams and Utah Tech University. UTU saught to file, under seal, an Emergency Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and…

Utah Tech Faculty Votes "No Confidence" in University Leadership Amid Lawsuit Allegations
Faculty Sentate passes a resolution of "no confidence" in the UTU Administration in the wake of a federal lawsuit accusing former President "Biff" Williams, and others, of misconduct.

Utah Tech University Faculty Senate Resolution 1004
FS Resolution 1004 in which the faculty senate outlines its greviences and demands, and chooses a vote of "no confidence" in the current UTU Admininstratoon.

Lawsuit Against Utah Tech Administrators--Title IX Breaches
a forty-two page lawsuit has been filed against Utah Tech University Administration, with Title IX breaches.

"A Mistake": Ex-Utah Tech President Faces Lawsuit Following "Zuweenie" Prank, Allegations of Misconduct
Biff Williams offers an apology for the prank that lead to the current Title IX lawsuit against UTU along with his own resignation

Ex-Utah Tech University President Gave Phallic Gag Gift to his V.P.--One of Many Misconduct Allegations, New Lawsuit Claims
New lawsuit claims Biff Williams gave inappropriate gifts to UTU's Vice President.

Complaint Civil No. 4: 24-cv-00091-DN
Complaint filed in Federal court by Rebecca Broadbent, Jared Rasband, and Hazel Salinsbury again Richard "Biff" Williams and Utah Tech University

Utah University's Top Academic Officer Place on Leave
UTU Chief Academic Officer, Michael Lacourse, placed on leave for several months.
View all 11 items