CALL IT WHAT IT IS.
I love how the Saturday Gazette-Mail’s headline is “WVU denies reported favoritism to Manchins’ daughter.”
The sad reality here is that it isn’t a scandal unless local media says it is.
The allegations are:
1) That Heather Bresch — daughter of West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin, COO of West Virginia University’s largest donor, and childhood friend of West Virginia University President Mike Garrison — QUIT GOING TO CLASS half way through the Executive MBA program. There are no records of her being enrolled in class, there are no records of her paying for classes, and NO ONE remembers her being in class at all…
2) That Heather Bresch went around FOR 10 YEARS telling everyone, including the SEC and the United States Congress that she had, in fact, earned an MBA from WVU…
3) That upon learning about this, high-ranking WVU administrators re-wrote 2 semester’s worth of Heather Bresch’s academic records, and awarded her the degree retroactively — when all — ALL OF THE EVIDENCE suggests that she left the program with 22 hours to go.
Can we all agree that this goes WAY beyond favoritism? It’s fucking FRAUD, period. And It’s West Virginia University under the leadership of President Mike Garrison.
So guess what, Mountaineers! Wanna know what Boss Garrison got you for the holiday season? That’s right — he devalued your degree! Assuming you actually earned it. Because these days, who knows…
Tags: Garrison, Heathergate
December 23, 2007 at 8:31 am
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07357/843659-192.stm
December 23, 2007 at 9:26 am
This is the first (known) scandal under Garrison, and we haven’t closed the books on the first semester. Can’t wait to see what he has in store for the spring.
December 23, 2007 at 10:04 am
Notice the timing: PG contacts WVU registrar just after Oct 2nd, letter from Sears Oct22nd. In the week before the letter there was a coronation going on at WVU where on the 19th Manchin enthused about the person he watched grow up in church and school (see Manchin’s speak on the coronation site). At the same time, the two were abusing that office and WVU by fixing the record on Bresch’s MBA.
December 23, 2007 at 1:33 pm
It doesn’t matter in the real world if you played it by the rules.
It doesn’t matter if I fabricate my records from OUR schools.
Working hard’s for little people. Get a grip you tiny fools!
I’m a Manchin.
I’m a Brahmin from the Fairmont clan that rules your sorry lives.
And the priv’liges of membership allow such sick’ning dives
In the reputations of our universities and wives
I’m a Manchin.
I’m laughing at your papers and your righteous-ass rebuke
Of my small-time ‘noblesse’ attitude that makes you want to puke.
Get used to it, you crikkers! No, it isn’t just a fluke
I’m a Manchin.
-Peregrinus
December 23, 2007 at 2:55 pm
You are joke. Why don’t get a life and stop bringing down the Honorable Mike Garrison!
P.S. Go with Dick Rod!
December 23, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Lege, you must be the joker. Why don’t you and Garrison go some where.
December 23, 2007 at 9:09 pm
I usually don’t direct my comments to a specific person, but between Lege’s comments on this thread and the prior one, I’m compelled to ask him (or her): since you seem offended by HK’s attention to this matter, what’s your explanation?
You sound like quite a fan of Mike Garrison, so I would be interested to know your explanation of how, at the advanced age of 38, with only a JD from WVU under his belt and no formal experience with higher education (you know, like a Ph.D. or experience at other institutions), he was found to be the only suitable person to lead WVU?
And also, what’s your explanation for Heather Bresch’s MBA? I have two degrees from WVU (undergrad and grad) and have lived and worked in Charleston for more than 20 years. Sadly, much of what HK and others describe on this blog is completely accurate, and it has nothing to do with being jealous or resentful of people like Bresch and Garrison, who, in your opinion, have “made it.”
People like Bresch and Garrison really do devalue the legitimate accomplishments of others who did not have the connections or influence to have an advanced degree or the presidency of the State’s largest university handed to them like Christmas bonuses. Unlike you. apparently (at least judging from your question to HK), I don’t have any background in higher education. But at least I can recognize that WVU is not a meritocracy and hasn’t been for some time.
December 24, 2007 at 12:33 am
“The university has not answered these questions, citing privacy concerns.”
Is everything involving the Manchins unexplainable due to “privacy concerns?” They can’t talk about screw ups with an MBA at the state’s largest school, they can’t talk about firing the Archives director, they can’t talk about the private funding of the Mansion alterations…damn, the public doesn’t have the right to know a damn thing.
December 24, 2007 at 11:06 am
For those who are wondering whether the Heather Bresch story and the attendant charges of cover-up by top WVU officials will be brushed under the proverbial rug — a comment on the News Blog at the Chronicle of Higher Education may indicate the broader implications of what is a growing scandal:
“The Pgh Post-Gazette story raises extraordinarily serious questions concerning the honesty and integrity of individuals operating at the highest levels of leadership of West Virginia University. The newspaper’s reporting was very well documented and persuasive.
That does not necessarily mean that there has been wrong doing and corruption among WVU’s leadership. However, given the evidence nothing less than a truly independent investigation conducted by individuals experienced in law and higher education will suffice.
The investigators must have no ties to anyone directly or indirectly involved in the WV judicial, legislative or executive branch. Moreover, no one with any direct or indirect ties to West Virginia University should be involved. Otherwise, no one outside West Virginia will believe the inquiry to be credible.
Failing to fully investigate and resolve all of the questions raised by the Post-Gazette will have an enormously detrimental impact on WVU’s reputation and will make it extremely difficult for the University to recruit new faculty and administrators —- not to mention football coaches.
In fact the University is now involved in searches for a new Medical School Dean and a new Dean to replace the retiring Dean of the University’s College of Law. The University would be well advised to suspend these Dean searches until the controversy created by the Post-Gazette article is fully investigated and a public report issued.
If the University refuses to agree to a transparent, independent investigation and public reporting of findings it will remain a pariah among American institutions of higher learning for the seeable future. If WVU official statements are true then such an investigation is a no-brainer.
Failure to immediately embrace such a response to the serious issues raised by the newspaper’s investigation will be interpreted by objective observes outside West Virginia to be tantamount to an admission of guilt.
Surely West Virginia University’s new President Michael Garrison will act immediately and decisively to call for an independent investigation thereby protecting the reputation of what is arguably the most important public asset of the State of West Virginia —- its land grant University.”
Very Concerned Dec 23, 11:46 PM
This CHE posting shows that there is a national audience of leaders in higher education who will be closely following this story. Clearly, giving every benefit of the doubt to Michael Garrison and the others involved, it is imperative, as the CHE comment suggested, for Mr. Garrison to immediately call for a transparent and independent investigation. If the public statements of the University are true, such an investigation will quickly clear the air and remove any cloud over the integrity of the Garrison administration at WVU. Anything less will seriously damage WVU’s reputation nationally — an impact that will have serious long-term consequences for the University. No matter whether you support or oppose President garrison, an independent probe is obviously necessary.
December 24, 2007 at 11:08 am
Ned Chilton! Thou shouldst be alive at this hour:West Virginia hath need of thee.
December 24, 2007 at 11:27 am
We view this as a “West Virginia” issue, but over 50% of the freshman class is from out of state. WVU can’t afford a black eye with students that can afford to go elsewhere (as opposed to the ones who need the in-state tuition break).
And yes, Ned’s newspaper is poorly-served by his widow.
December 24, 2007 at 11:28 am
But wait - thats not important, because WVU has had a few Rhodes Scholars, right Lege?
Until this is resolved everything WVU does will be called into question. Except by Lege and the apologist KoolAid drinkers, of course. This is a big deal.
December 24, 2007 at 12:01 pm
It’s a major deal. Lege is wrong…no one called WVU third-rate….we called it Third Tier….which is what it is by any professional or academic rating in the country. It is simpy the truth weather you like it or not.
Now, Boss Garrison said he was going to move it beyond that - and this is how you go about doing it? We don’t need anyone from out of state doing the investigation.
We need the attorney general’s office to do it.
December 24, 2007 at 12:55 pm
I think Scooter should do the investigation. I’ll provide the Koolaid!
LEGE
December 24, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Check out the photo….
http://president.wvu.edu/
December 24, 2007 at 1:52 pm
That photo of Garrison looks like that huge statue in the square of North Korea. Good grief that is shocking? Has he not eyes? Can he not see? It is awful….they should wrap a rope around it and pull it down.
Let Heather Bresch do it.
December 24, 2007 at 4:44 pm
@ anonumous 1:43pm: WOW! That is a really unflattering photo…
December 24, 2007 at 4:44 pm
*anonymous - clearly I can’t spell today.
December 24, 2007 at 8:41 pm
http://www.cfac.org/CaseLaw/Cases/mylan.html
may be of interest
December 25, 2007 at 12:49 am
Well, I think that photo of Mike Garrison might be the definitive cure for premature ejaculation.
December 25, 2007 at 1:04 am
Who says we cann affect change….that photo of Garrison has sense been changed.
December 25, 2007 at 1:05 am
HK, those chicken shits are reading this Web site. Let’s give them the day off - it’s Christmas, but come Wednesday, it’s on, baby.
December 25, 2007 at 1:08 am
Garrison, we know you are checking this site when you get home, man. It’s ok. I’d do it too. Let us help you…..we wanna be your friend ;-)
If you hire Randall Reid-Smith and get him the hell out of Charleston, we will lay off ya :-)
December 26, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Someone who won’t get fired over it needs to FOIA request the living shit out of the university over this and then feed the documents to a newspaper NOT in the back pocket of the administration…..
December 26, 2007 at 6:59 pm
I don’t know that we’re actually in the back pocket of the administration. That’s a bit much. I’ve never been within fifty feet of Joe and my desk is twenty feet from the door into the newsroom. You’d think if we were that close, he’d hang out more, maybe come over and do some jello shooters, play guitar hero or something, but nothing.
December 26, 2007 at 11:56 pm
Well then bill, why would the state’s largest newspaper, not touch this story with a 10 foot pole, yet, prints WVU’s “response” as the gospel?
I mean, this is how journalism careers are made, exposing this stuff. Why is the silence from the gazette and the DM deafening?
December 27, 2007 at 9:33 am
Doesn’t have anything to do with the reporters, Bill, it has everything to do with the newspaper management. If management doesn’t like the story, it won’t run and you’ll be given other things to write about.
December 27, 2007 at 9:39 am
Sending RRS to WVU sounds like a great idea, I bet there’s a spot in the music program for him there.
As for the photo of Garrison, if the previous was worse than what’s there now - yowzer. Have you actually heard the guy speak? Imagine the words on that web page (as boring and political as they are) spoken like a robot. I think Rodriguez left because he discovered he’s more eloquent than Garrison.
December 27, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Yes, I’d be given something else if I went after this. I’m a feature and entertainment writer, a guy who occasionally writes about gay, black men who sing like Neil Diamond. I’m a lightweight and shouldn’t operate heavy machinery. Someone like me pursuing the story would be like a ten year old taking a dump truck for a spin around the city.
Others? I kind of doubt it. There are some good people here. I have my doubts they would sit on a story like this, not without soon taking jobs elsewhere.
Here are my observations, which are not necessarily the views or opinions of the Gazette’s editorial staff, owner or even the janitor.
The story came out at the end of the week, right before the Christmas holiday. Unlike every paper and news agency in West Virginia apparently, it was a story Pittsburgh had been working on for months. It was a surprise when it hit and there wasn’t much that could be done about it. A lot of people were already on vacation or headed that way.
That’s everywhere, including the University and all of the news outlets in the state. The timing was just lousy for anyone else to get involved with it after the fact. I’ve never had to file a FOIA request, but I imagine sending one to somebody a couple of days before Christmas is problematic and results take time to get anything back. Again, I talk to black men who sing like Neil Diamond. Why would I need to file FOIAs?
Add to that, the people left are fully aware they have the makings of a scandal. Everybody gets less cooperative, particularly state workers, who you may remember aren’t supposed to talk directly to the press. I believe that was an executive directive from the Governor he put in place after he took office. I’m sure the appropriate people have been reminded.
Should we have been aware of this thing early on? It would have been nice, but there was little outside indication Manchin’s daughter was any less than she said she was. It was accidental the issue was even raised and WVU sure didn’t call up everyone and repeat it.
I’m curious as to where the story goes. I’m paying attention to it, but don’t suspect there’s going to be a lot of new information, if any, until after the first of the year.
December 27, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Yikes! That photo is even worse!!!
December 27, 2007 at 1:22 pm
I have an idea! Surely amongst us or our friends there is somone (or a FEW) who completed about half their Master’s degree requirements who will and can SUE Garrrison, WVU BOG, Mylan Puskar and the Manchins to get exactly the same process for degree confirmation that Heather did. I’d do it myself, except I actually earned and paid for mine. Love whoever dubbed it Heathergate. I was thinking that also.
December 27, 2007 at 2:01 pm
I’m… a guy who occasionally writes about gay, black men who sing like Neil Diamond
Where do I file a “Freedom From This Information Act” request?
December 27, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Lay off Lynch! Is the Black Diamond gay? If so, he’s a better ambassador to the WV straight public than RRS! Wonder if they made the Black Diamond Arts Commish, that he’d immediately go on tour with the symphonies? I want to think he’d have more class.
December 27, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Another point about the Gazette’s coverage — the PPG worked on this story for nearly three months before they published the big expose. Why is it automatically assumed that the Gazette — or any local media outlet for that matter — should have the same in-depth reporting three days after the story breaks?
For those who might say we should have been on top of it already, why would we be? As the PPG article said, this only came up when the paper was confirming her credentials for a company that’s in a suburb of Pittsburgh.
It’s going to take time to get information and quotes from people and FOIA requests — especially with the main players being uncooperative and it currently being holiday break so all the school office’s (records, accounting, etc.) are likely closed. Again, it took the PPG 3 months to get their evidence, so why don’t you give the Gazette more than a week before you start pitching fits about our coverage? We’re working on it.
December 27, 2007 at 5:24 pm
Maybe it’s because we’re disappointed that West Virginia got scooped again in our own backyard, first on the field in Morgantown and now in the press. I guarantee you that, if the Governor’s Office wanted info out to you this week between Christmas and New Year’s, they’d have the info for you.
Nobody’s hammering on the writers, reporters and photographers at the newspaper, but just as we await something substantial from state government with bated breath, we really do hope to see some good investigation from the local papers. The reports we saw were pretty glossed over compared to the meaty facts in the Pitt paper, and when you figure that many print edition readers didn’t see anything but what the Gazette or DM reported, they may think “no big deal.”
December 27, 2007 at 6:41 pm
A FOIA request has to be at least responded to within 5 days, not that you will actually get your info in that time. Its not that hard to file, just a letter requesting the information and an explanation of anything they say is exempt. You can fax it to WVU general counsels office, its on the GC website. I think the statute lays it all out, its 29B-1-3.
December 27, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Bill’s right: if the local papers plan on digging, and I think they might, it’s a little hard when everyone at WVU is on vacation.
December 27, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Heard there was a Bray Cary commentary on Channel 12. Anyone have a link?
December 28, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Sorry for the second posting ,just my thoughts on the matter
December 22, 2007 at 9:20 pm
As I lay me down to sleep, visions of an MBA appear for me to keep.
Just when I thought I had been caught, WVU said they had just forgot.
And to our surprise the records did appear, and do believe, I have no fear.
Daddy will talk to the Gazette and the story will appear, when everyone has gone for the New Year.
January 5, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Lets set the record straight—my friends Manchin & Garrison are not crooks. Let them be.
January 6, 2008 at 6:58 pm
In the Netherlands, these 2 morons, Manchin & Garrison, would be deported. They are clearly liars and cheats. They should burn in hell forever.
January 9, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I have some cousins in Sicily who can handle these boys. They are overdue for a new pair of concrete shoes.Wonder what their sizes are?
January 18, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Mario-leave me your address, so I can mail you the shoe sizes, and a healthy donation to your shoe fund. My cousin, Luigi, has a few spare log chains, if you need them. Send ‘em on their way, and let God sort it all out.
January 19, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Did you hear Photo-op Joe’s response when he was asked whether he attended his daughter’s graduation ceremony. He said he couldn’t remember whether he had attended. If your daughter had earned an advanced degree from your Alma Mater, would you be able to remember whether you attended.
Apparently lying is a genetic trait.