MSU renames Multicultural Resource Center in wake of DEI decision

Missouri State University has changed the name and switched up services at its Mary Jean Price Walls Multicultural Resource Center following the school's decision last month to discontinue its diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

The MRC, which served as a space to support inclusive policies at the university, is now called the Bear Cave Student Resource Center, according to a recent blog post from the university. The change became effective this week, said MSU Public Relations Strategist Emily Letterman.

The blog post relays messaging from MSU President Richard “Biff” Williams in earlier email communication to university stakeholders.

"[We have] created a campus that is supportive of our students – creating a safe environment to learn, grow and develop into adults who are prepared for a changing world," Williams said. "This culture, this environment doesn't cease to exist. ... We move forward with the same dedication to the education and development opportunities that we had a week ago, a month ago, a year ago."

Letterman said via email that signage for the Bear Cave, located in the Plaster Student Union, has been updated. The two full-time employees, along with student workers and graduate assistants, who worked at the MRC are now employed at the Bear Cave, she said.

The blog post indicates, in part, that the Bear Cave "will broaden its scope of programs offered to the students and campus community." However, the post states that LGBTQ+ services are temporarily unavailable, as is the Transition Closet that offers gender-affirming clothes.

The Bear Cave's web page on the MSU website indicates the center's offerings include a retreat and refocus area, resource library, common space, computer lab, quiet spaces, study and conference rooms, and event space.

Letterman said a Mary Jean Price Walls dedication remains in the center, but it's no longer in the official name. Walls was the first Black applicant to the Springfield university, but she was denied entry and never went to college. The university issued her an honorary degree in 2010, and the MRC was named after her in 2016. She died in 2020.

The Bear Cave’s website indicates its annex is named after Walls. An on-campus African American Heritage Trail marker honoring Walls was installed in 2024. Former MSU President Clif Smart and his wife, Gail, donated more than $6,000 for the trail marker, according to past reporting.

As part of its decision to discontinue its DEI programs last month, MSU officials said changes to the MRC were in the works. MSU cited increasing pressures from the state and federal governments in its decision. Gov. Mike Kehoe recently signed an executive order that requires Missouri state agencies to eliminate DEI initiatives and stop considering such practices in hiring decisions, but state-funded public universities were not impacted by the order.