Masterson resigns

KOWL broke the news of Masterson's resignation at around 5 P.M. Students and faculty, who had been planning the next steps of their protests but had expected that Masterson and the Trustees would not retract the appointment, were shocked by the announcement.

Read Masterson's letter of resignation to the Board of Trustees below.

Letter of resignation from Masterson to Malcolm Lovett

A page from a log of notes taken by Mike Jindra of Will Rice College, including the moment when Masterson resigned

While some celebrated the news and rejoiced that Rice had been saved, many students and faculty recall feeling relieved that the crisis was over and that further divisions within the Rice community would not develop. Many also felt pity for Masterson, for whom the presidency was a dream job.

Dean Gordon and Warren Skaaren wrote Masterson a letter thanking him for his "statesmanship" in resigning as president.

A letter sent to Masterson from Warren Skaaren and Dean Gordon thanking him for resigning