A Christmas Message from HK
One of the most important functions of a public university is the granting of degrees.
The idea is a citizen, regardless of her means — if she works hard and plays by the rules, she may enroll in her state’s public university. There, if she works even harder — if she studies and learns; if she develops her mind and character, she can, regardless of where or what she came from, expect to graduate from her state’s public university with great potential for bettering her position in life. There are no guarantees, of course. But if you worked hard and earned your degree, no one can take that away from you.
Now.
When a public university litterally gives away a degree to a multi-millionaire’s daughter who couldn’t be bothered to earn it like the rest of us — then that most important function of our public university has been materially compromised.
Seriously. If this is how they’re going to do things, then what’s the fucking point?
Tags: Heathergate
December 25, 2007 at 6:51 am
Merry Christmas to you, too!
December 25, 2007 at 12:48 pm
We are completely with you here, HK.
December 25, 2007 at 5:20 pm
I agree too. Wish there was more that I could do. I did write to each of the editors at the Gazette saying that I expect better coverage of this story.
December 26, 2007 at 2:02 am
I think everyone has misread the Gazette article. Beach stated that being a Manchin only gets the door open, then she has to work 10x as hard as everyone else. So she wasn’t 20+ hours short, in reality she was 400 hours over. Hence the lack of transcripts. They’re simply to robust.
December 26, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Here’s a link to a story in the Detroit Free Press about how and why Rich Rod left WVU for UM.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071222/SPORTS06/71222051/1048/SPORTS
Looks like Mike Garrison is in over his head already. If he can’t figure out how to hang on to his head football coach, who may or may not have wanted to leave (he turned down an offer from Arkansas shortly before being offered the UM job), how will he respond when something really important happens?
Of course, there are those who will say that nothing else Garrison deals with will be as important as Rodriguez’s resignation.
December 26, 2007 at 4:06 pm
“how will he respond when something really important happens?
Of course, there are those who will say that nothing else Garrison deals with will be as important as Rodriguez’s resignation.”
He has ruined WVU’s Academic reputation with back room politics causing academic fraud, and you are going back to Rodriquez? Proxy of Mike, you change of topic won’t work.
December 26, 2007 at 8:29 pm
I want to know why 2 important stories critical of Garrison had to be reported from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette (Heather-gate) and the Detroit Free Press (Rodriquez). The Detroit Free Press article claims that Garrison acted inappropriately in their meeting, like “children in a sandbox.” Seems like that should be discussed…
The Charleston Paper puts a little paragraph or two and then links to the real reporting. The Morgantown paper - has there even been a story yet?
Really, the PPG and DFP are putting the home town papers to shame.
December 27, 2007 at 8:35 am
HK, You and your readers have started to wake up the papers a bit
http://www.wvgazette.com/section/Opinion/Editorials/200712263
http://www.huntingtonnews.net/editor/071225-ed.html
except for the Morgantown one of course.
December 27, 2007 at 9:28 am
Unfortunately, the bit in the Gazette is on the editorial page, not on a NEWS page. The Gazette needs to get Paul or Ken onto this story. If they just keep editorializing about it, and not investigating it themselves, it’ll get buried.
But if the story makes it to Wall Street…BOOM.
December 27, 2007 at 11:21 am
WVU is pretty much well shut down right now, and will be until the second of January. We haven’t heard much out of the faculty yet - once they get back, it’ll be interesting to see what happens.
December 27, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Oh goody - Goodwin and the BOG is going to “investigate”. Which will mean so much since he’s already said (in the same breath) he believes Garrison, et al.
Daily Mail editorial is a little better.
December 27, 2007 at 4:10 pm
The SEC will not get involved if WVU states (as it has) that she earned the MBA. The organization who may have some say, however, if there indeed was wrongdoing, is the AACSB. The AACSB provides accreditation to the WVU MBA program. Perhaps the AACSB Maintenance of Accreditation Committee should be made aware of the controversy. The members can be found here: http://www.aacsb.edu/accreditation/Committees/mac.asp
If you really feel the issue should be looked into, send some emails to the committee members providing links to the PPG (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07355/843469-28.stm) or Chronicle (http://chronicle.com/news/article/3681/west-virginia-u-accused-of-rewriting-well-connected-officials-academic-record) articles.
P.S. I noticed that the Chronicle article has comments posted from both HK and the illustrious Peter Gozinya, PhD. I always listen when the good doctor peter speaks. HK…only sometimes!
PPS I copied this comment over from your original post comments
December 27, 2007 at 5:05 pm
This smells. PRODUCE THE TRANSCRIPT. CLEAR YOUR NAME IN THIS.
December 27, 2007 at 5:11 pm
This reminds me that for the period from leaving the Governor’s staff to becoming WVU President, Garrison’s biggest “public policy” client was Mylan Labs, and the person he directly reported to was Heather Bresch, who for most of that period was the head of government relations at Mylan.
December 28, 2007 at 1:43 am
This could be easily cleared up. All the MBA graduate in question has to do is produce her WVU transcript, and there would be no story.
I will gladly show my transcripts to anyone doubting my credentials. Then I will laugh at those who doubted me and my degrees. Heather should do the same!
December 28, 2007 at 10:46 am
Someone better call in the Post Gazette again because Goodwin and the WV papers are in full spin mode. I’m actually surprised he didn’t bring up the football team/coaching search to try to distract the reporter and readers from the questions.
http://wvgazette.com/section/News/2007122733
http://www.dailymail.com/News/statenews/200712270148
December 28, 2007 at 1:50 pm
And they have attempted to throw Hardesty under the bus with their comments. How disgraceful.
December 28, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Importantly for Mylan investors, though, Mylan stock is off 25% for the year.
December 28, 2007 at 3:23 pm
http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/2007122733
“Chancellor to discuss WVU degree”
Who is the over the HEPC? Kay Goodwin, Secretary of Education and the Arts.
December 28, 2007 at 3:29 pm
That’s somewhat incorrect. Kay isn’t over HEPC. It’s really the Chancellor, and ultimately, the Governor.
It’s important to remember though, that HEPC Chancellor Brian Noland got that job because he was college roommates with a Goodwin. I wonder which one…
December 28, 2007 at 10:06 pm
The lawsuit that was cited in the previous email had Heather finding papers on the ground, and the person whose papers they were said she Stole Them.
Not only is she a liar, but a thief as well. Isn’t that freakin’ Grand.
What a PIECE OF SHIT.
She is CAUGHT.
RED
HANDED
And has the BALLS to get the Pussy Pres to ok this sheep skin.
What THE FUCK.
Someone needs to egg that Pussy right in the face during a press conference. SHAME on HIM. Red Handed Heater.
I hope this doesn’t “fall through the cracks.” I hope you HK don’t let it. Thanks for the solid.
December 28, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Interesting, at http://www.wv.gov/sec.aspx?pgID=60&list=E they have HEPC under Education and the Arts. I guess someone in the Office of Technology better fix the links, if they have anyone still working there. AFAIK, they’re outsourcing practically everything now.
In other news http://www.dailymail.com/News/200712280088 it appears outside forces are suggesting independent investigation.
December 29, 2007 at 3:32 am
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07363/845300-85.stm
This is as close as we are going to get.