Mizzou names black interim president

The governing board of the University of Missouri on Thursday named a black law professor and deputy chancellor emeritus to serve as interim president of a university system under siege from racial turmoil.

The board chose 68-year-old Michael Middleton, who recently retired from the university after 30 years.

His selection comes three days after President Tim Wolfe and Chancellor Bowen Loftin resigned. Racial tensions at Mizzou had been brewing for months following a series of tense events that prompted one grad student to start a hunger strike calling for Wolfe’s resignation and ultimately prompted many football players to threaten a playing boycott until the former president stepped down. Head coach Gary Pinkel backed the players.

Middleton said as interim president, racial harassment incidents would be dealt with swiftly.

"We hope at some point this kind of turmoil will dissipate," he said.

"We all must heighten our focus, improve our culture ...and share the responsibility to see our university advance in healthy ways built upon respect for others."

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