MSU disbands Bias Response Team

Missouri State University has disbanded its Bias Response Team, effectively immediately. The April 23 announcement comes days after a federal lawsuit was filed, alleging the team had a chilling effect on students’ ability to talk about political or social issues.

In a statement, MSU said the decision to dismantle the team was made last month, prior to any litigation.

“The team historically reviewed isolated, anonymous reports of bias on campus, such as graffiti containing swastikas or racial epithets. Because those reports were limited in scope and infrequent, the team met rarely, most recently in September 2025,” according to the statement.

“The university stands behind the work of the Bias Response Team. The team’s purpose was limited, and its work was conducted in accordance with the university’s obligations under the First Amendment and other applicable law.”

Defending education, a politically conservative nonprofit based in Virginia, filed the lawsuit April 21. It was unclear if the legal action will move forward since its goal was to dismantle the team.

MSU initially declined to comment about the lawsuit and did not immediately disclose the team was to be disbanded.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of three unnamed students, who alleged the Bias Response Team led by MSU administrators that investigates “language or behaviors that demonstrate bias against persons or groups because of ability, race, color, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, faith, national origin, political orientation or sexual orientation” infringed on students’ rights to talk about their beliefs.

MSU created the team a decade ago to address incidents that are described as troublesome or offensive but fall short of meeting the criteria to file a formal university complaint of harassment or discrimination.

The lawsuit named as defendants MSU President Richard “Biff” Williams, several administrators, and members of the Bias Response Team – led by Dean of Students Andrea Weber – and the MSU Board of Governors.

The lawsuit noted other higher education institutions, including the University of Texas and the University of Michigan, disbanded similar response teams after lawsuits alleging students may be fearful to talk about their beliefs or specific topics because they feared reprisal.