In Defense of Local Media
You might recall that a few of us thought that the local media’s coverage of Boss Garrison’s coronation was — well, to be polite, lacking.
However. There’s absolutely no reason to think that about the coverage of Heathergate yet.
One of West Virginia state government’s most well known “secrets” is that state government all but shuts down entirely from Thanksgiving, through almost the middle of January. That includes West Virginia’s largest and most prestigious university. For that intrepid reporter who wants to get to the bottom of this, there’s literally almost know one to call. Few people are as protective of their vacation time as those in academia. So if you expect anyone named Garrison or Goodwin to have their Mylan Pharmaceutical-provided private jet to fly them back from Monte Carlo or where ever to talk to a Gazette reporter, then dream a little dream.
That, and the fact that journos celebrate the holidays too, be it Christmas, Hanuka, Festivus, Winter Solcstice, or whatever. I hear Scott Finn has a wicked Wookiee Life Day party. Speaking of which, West Virginia Public Radio basically admits on their ever-improving website that the news division is on vay-cay until January 2.
Anyway. It looks as if Heathergate really is on everyone’s radar, and they really are working on it. And of course, I await local coverage of local scandal like it’s Lube Day on Butt Fuck Island.
And another thing. I always mean to point this out in the comments, but to those who say “the Gazette is a joke,” I challenge them to find another city like this one with a paper that’s even half as good. I mean that. It almost defies explanation that a shitty little town like Charleston has not one, but 2 independent daily papers. It’s all but unheard of these days. The fact that people even expect that the local paper to go digging through a shit heap that likely goes all the way up to the Governor’s office speaks volumes.
Tags: Heathergate
December 28, 2007 at 4:47 pm
I still mostly just talk to the likes of gay, black men who sing like Neil Diamond and burned out celebrity drummers.
Mostly, just that… mostly.
December 28, 2007 at 4:58 pm
I want to hang out with that guy.
December 28, 2007 at 5:47 pm
What are you trying to tell us, HK?; is the Gazette launching an Eric Eyre investigation into this matter come January 2nd?
Because I do still believe they let MoJo roll too much. I am sorry - I do. Look, being cynical towards the administration has its laughs on small matters, but, I think most of agree on this fact: this is not small. Far from small. If they are going to cover this story with depth, then I support them - because it is what they should do. I also agree that they deserve a holiday just like anyone else.
But, if it doesn’t get coverage - the “the joke” statements stand.
Time will tell.
December 28, 2007 at 6:10 pm
The story hasn’t moved much, but you’ll notice some motion today, particularly if you set up a google news alert for Heather.
With the way the calendar worked out last year, the news story broke on the last day of work prior to WVU’s Christmas closing. Today was a work day for WVU, but it will be closed again until Wednesday. Keep in mind that the University doesn’t close for most other holidays - it officially “observes” them clustered around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Nutter’s comments in the Daily Mail today were interesting.
December 28, 2007 at 7:02 pm
I wonder who they would get to headline “Lube Day on Butt Fuck Island”?
I bet it would be… This Guy!
December 28, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Trust me, if Joe felt he needed to respond to something, they’d be hauling people in from their days off (most everyone in the Gov’s office is will and pleasure) to dig up a response. And if Joe wanted someone at WVU to dig up facts, you’d see the lights on in the Administration building, holiday or not.
Now the newsfolk not being around is another matter, and everyone deserves time at home. But I still think those first reports could have had more of the info dug up in P’burg to support the story.
I look forward to some of that fine journalism come January.
December 28, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Garrison speaks
http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=32989
December 28, 2007 at 11:23 pm
The AP is running with the story. I just read an AP update about the situation on my afternoon news broadcast on AM 1230 WVNT in Parkersburg.
December 29, 2007 at 1:29 am
Boy, he really sidesteps the issue. Lots of political pontificating type answers.
I like how she asked, “Did she complete the coursework for her degree?”
He never answers the question. But he talks for 5 minutes.
And when she starts to pin him down, he passes the buck like a seasoned pro. “oh, the president doesn’t give degrees” and “I’ll let the academic unit handle this.”
Bullshit. What are we paying this idiot for, if he isn’t the man in charge. If anyone gets fired out of this, Mikey is making it clear, it won’t be him.
December 29, 2007 at 3:30 am
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07363/845300-85.stm
Lang has decided he will not take the fall for this mess.
December 29, 2007 at 10:26 am
How do you deduce that? Lang’s only hope is to come clean on Garrison and beg for mercy.
December 29, 2007 at 12:31 pm
And just who is going to get to the bottom of this, HippieKiller?
Mike Garrison, WVU prez, who went to school with and worked as a lobbyist for Heather Bresch and who got his WVU presidency in part because Bresch’s father Joe Manchin and boss Mylan Puskar made numerous calls on his behalf?
Steve Goodwin, WVU BOG chair, whose daughter dated Mike Garrison, who was appointed to the BOG by Mike Garrison and whose son works as legal counsel for Bresch’s father Joe Manchin? In fact, Goodwin already told the press that he doesn’t plan to do anything.
Other WVU BOG members, most of whom were appointed either by Bresch’s father Joe Manchin or Bob Wise when Garrison was his chief of staff and calling the shots on board appointments and none of whom have said anything publicly?
Brian Noland, HEPC’s chance, who was Booth Goodwin’s roommate and got his job because Kay Goodwin, Booth’s mother and Steve’s sister-in-law, rigged this search just like she rigged the Hardesty search years ago and who Mike Garrison supported for the job only after being assured that Noland would never compete against Garrison for WVU prez?
Garrison’s HEPC co-commissioners, who worked behind the scenes to ensure that Mike Garrison became WVU prez?
The university and/or business school accrediting agencies when a rep of the latter indicated that it would not investigate, even if the rep said he thought there should be an internal investigation?
Former WVU BOG member Betty Chilton and the her newspaper the Charleston Gazette, when she and her newspaper stood idly by and let what everybody knew was a rigged search for WVU prez occur with nary a word?
The Charleston Daily Mail, which has not shown any propensity to engage in serious investigative journalism in years?
The Morgantown Dominion-Post and WV Metronews, which report on everything WVU, EXCEPT this?
West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where Bresch’s father is a friend of the director, designates the chairman, who happens to be Kay Goodwin, I believe, and appoints the other members?
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Chronicle of Higher Education, both of which shine a light on West Virginia’s political and higher education corruption from time to time, but never provide sustained coverage?
The sheepish WVU faculty, who have never played a serious role in running WVU?
The Governor’s Office? The Legislature?
HippieKiller, the reeds upon which you’re relying to get to the bottom of everything are slender indeed.
December 29, 2007 at 12:58 pm
Bravo! You are correct, but we can always hope. How about copying/referencing your post at the chronicle web site.
December 29, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Yikes! Very, Very Skeptical, you should send the above excellent comments and insights (maybe with a diagram tree of liasons between the Manchins and the Goodwins. it’s like Europe before WWI) to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette immediately! And somebody, Bill Lynch, Amy, bloggers, vent line complainers, anybody……..pls tell Betty Chilton (the head of the Gov. Mansion “Preservation” Committee) to tell Kay Goodwin and RRS to pay better attention to the integrity of the archives and historic preservation status of the capitol buildings. Wait till the national press picks up the fact the Manchins renovated OUR governor’s mansion off the historic preservation list. And Kay Goodwin wiped out the archives (the state’s institutional memory) for a shop/cafe. Now, that’s all going to make WV look good in the national press, yet again inbred morons. Goodwingate and Heathergate and Mansiongate equals Manchingate.
December 29, 2007 at 1:19 pm
What I find priceless is Steven Goodwin’s newest spin doctoring that the BOG should be fed the truth in this debacle. So they can still not take a stand “one way or another” (as he said a few days ago, like the Blondie song in the 80’s), yet look like they care. And are important. And are doing their jobs.
December 29, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Today’s News Blog at the Chronicle of Higher Education website has a comment that is worth reviewing. It reads as follows:
35. I have been following in this thread the “MBA Mystery” story which originated recently with an investigative article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Last week the Pittsburgh Post Gazette editorialized that:
“It’s a shame that it took two months of questions by news reporters to develop the story about an MBA from West Virginia University claimed by a top executive at Mylan Inc. What was worse about the mystery surrounding the master’s degree in business administration of Heather Bresch, chief operating officer of the firm and daughter of the West Virginia governor, is that the university rewrote its records, a decade after she was a student, to show that she had completed the course work. That ran counter to information gathered by Post-Gazette reporters Patricia Sabatini and Len Boselovic from university records, sources at the school and interviews with Ms. Bresch’s former associates that suggested she had finished only about half of the credits needed. When first contacted in October by the newspaper, WVU said the executive did not have an MBA, only to reverse itself days later, blaming the discrepancy on an interoffice records glitch. Although university officials said they have since checked that Ms. Bresch met all the requirements of the Executive MBA program in December 1998, her name did not appear on the student rosters of five classes that were added to her record and her paper-based file in the business school was gone. No wonder WVU faculty members and independent record-keeping experts found the university’s explanation implausible. This mysterious episode raises questions of integrity not only for Ms. Bresch as a high-ranking executive of the Cecil-based drug giant, but also WVU, a public institution that is home to 28,000 students. Too few questions have been answered, and only by getting all the facts on the record can West Virginia University and Heather Bresch put this matter behind them.”
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07357/843659-35.stm
Today the Post-Gazette reports that WVU’s Provost will appoint a three person committee to investigate the “MBA Mystery” as the Post-Gazette called it.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07363/845300-28.stm
Today’s Charleston Gazette reports that: “Steve Goodwin, chairman of the WVU Board of Governors, said he believes the controversy surrounding Bresch’s degree is exactly what WVU says it is, a recordkeeping mishap. ‘[The board] certainly will take a look at it. Everyone on the board has competence in Garrison and Lang that they have checked this out and done it appropriately and have indicated their willingness in wanting to get this all straightened out,” he said.”
http://wvgazette.com/section/News/2007122835
West Virginia House of Delegates Education Chairwoman Mary Poling is reported to have said “she sees no reason for an investigation . . .”
http://www.wvgazette.com/webtools/print/News/2007122733
Finally, today’s Charleston Gazette reports that: “WVU President Mike Garrison said Provost Gerald Lang plans to appoint the committee to determine what happened. Garrison said he wants the committee’s findings to be made public. “We want to be very transparent,” Garrison said Friday.
http://wvgazette.com/section/News/2007122835
President Garrison thus embraces his Provost as the appropriate person to choose those who will investigate. The transparency Mr. Garrison seeks, however, seems impossible to achieve in an investigation framed by Provost Lang who is already on record regarding “what happened.” The original Post-Gazette article reported that: “Provost Gerald Lang, who was responsible for accepting {WVU Business School Dean] Sears’ explanation of why the university’s official records were incorrect . . . issued a brief e-mail statement last Friday saying errors had been ‘appropriately corrected’ and that there was ‘no reason to pursue this matter further.’ ‘This will be the last we have to say regarding this matter,’ Ms. Neil said in a note attached to Mr. Lang’s statement.” Mr. Lang obviously was involved in the original “investigation” of the Mystery MBA degree. Thus, his conclusion communicated to the Post-Gazette reporters by e-mail that errors had occurred and were “appropriately corrected” should be part of an independent and transparent investigation that the West Virginia University President professes to desire.
Certainly Mr. Garrison, who is reported to be an attorney, should understand that the goals of transparency and independence could not possibly be achieved by an investigation undertaken by a panel of 3 persons selected by an official who must of necessity be a target of the investigation. This is not to suggest that the Provost has any culpability of any kind in the underlying controversy; however, he surely should not appoint the investigators.
An editorial in The Charleston Daily Mail appropriately recognized the importance of a truly independent investigation to either confirm or disprove the serious Post-Gazette allegations: “The story casts a shadow over the state’s flagship university. The allegations are serious, and the potential for damage to public trust is so great that the question should be answered by an accrediting authority independent of WVU. WVU belongs to West Virginians, not to well-connected individuals. State residents need assurances that they are supporting an institution with integrity.”
*** “The university’s response – that a 22-credit discrepancy stemmed from multiple clerical errors – is not persuasive. Bresch also has refused to release a copy of her transcript, which could put the matter to rest. The university’s integrity has been called into question. That could hurt WVU badly – in terms of the respect it should enjoy, and in terms of voluntary financial support. The university should cooperate with an outside investigation and clear this cloud over its name.”
http://dailymail.com/Opinion/Editorial/200712270124
Top West Virginia University officials including Provost Lang as well as the Chair of the WVU Board of Governors and the Chair of the WV House Education Committee originally dismissed the need for an investigation into the allegations set forth in the Post-Gazette’s investigative article. Now, after the news of the controversy has spread via newspaper articles and internet blogs, the University and these same officials embrace the need for an independent and transparent investigation.
Thus, the notion of Provost Lang selecting the investigators is inexplicable. Surely, these West Virginia officials cannot believe that those of us in higher education would accept the conclusions reached after such a tainted inquiry.
As a law faculty member of a State land grant university, I am particularly aware of the impact of this controversy on the WVU law school dean search. I have several friends who are candidates for the position and they are incredulous that WVU has handled this matter so ineptly. If the University’s explanation for the “MBA Mystery” is accurate, then no one has anything to fear from a truly independent investigation which could be concluded in very short order. I agree with the comment above (#12) that stated: 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 . . .
WVU’s President must act very quickly to insure that the investigation he desires is truly independent from the many powerful corporate, political and social conflicts that are inevitable
unless the investigation is conducted by persons with no relationship whatsoever to in-state interests. One would expect that the State’s Governor, Ms. Bresch and Mylan would also favor such an independent review so that the matter will be quickly and credibly resolved. After receiving, reviewing and disclosing an independent investigatory report, West Virginia political and higher education officials can launch their own inquiries if necessary or desired. Nothing less will satisfy the broader public that is monitoring this explosive story.
— Kathleen Dec 29, 11:46 AM #
December 29, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Look. I agree that this whole thing is as crooked as a bucket of snakes.
And I’ll be the first to agree that the Gazette’s coverage of Queen Garrison’s rigged coronation was pathetic. Actually, let me back up — the “coverage” was fine. But there’s a BIG FUCKING DIFFERENCE between “coverage” and “journalism.”
Trust me, just writing 25 words about it gets me really fucking incensed. So since I’m already there…I’ve heard all sorts of excuses as to why it was OK for the Gazette to regurgitate Steve Goodwin’s press releases and call it news or whatever, and I remain unconvinced. The fact is, Betty has never been shy about using her paper as a bully pulpit for a pet cause; with seedy, back-room politics almost always being at the top of her list. Maybe people who haven’t been reading the Gazette for 20 years don’t get that. Why or how she allowed her paper remain mute in the face of a monumental would-be scandal is something I will never understand.
However. With this story, they’ve already ran a critical editorial which suggests they have reporters working on it — which was much more than we got last time. Remember that the PP-G sat on that story for months before running with it. I don’t expect to wait that long before we read something locally, but people ARE on vacation right now.
Something else to remember — for all the ranting and raving we did about Mike Garrison and WVU’s rigged presidential search, all of that stuff was very much inside baseball. Let’s not kid ourselves. As unethical and fucked up as it all was, it’s hard for me to imagine a story The Public could care less about than a college presidential search. Even among close friends of mine, the only people I knew who were genuinely outraged over the whole affair were people who worked in state politics, had close ties to WVU, or both. Usually both.
Now the Heathergate story — that’s no so much inside baseball. Even considering the way West Virginia undervalues education, this story involves alot of things people can relate to in a direct and immediate way. You don’t have to explain to someone why giving a degree to someone who only showed up to half the classes was wrong. Not alot of nuance there. Then throw in the nepotism angle…stuff like this is juicy, and I imagine that it sells papers.
My big point here is that I don’t want to come across as someone who thinks the sky is falling. That’s just retarded. But trust me — if local media ignores this story, I won’t hesitate to call bullshit.
The thing is, this is the kind of story even out-of-state or national media often take interest in. Careers are built on these sorts of stories. I just hope someone notices.
December 29, 2007 at 4:03 pm
I agree. I’m very critical of the gazette on stuff like this, based on their previous track record of attempting to expose corruption. Now we have some REAL smoke and fire, and they are quiet, but manage to print WVU’s press releases and mouthpiece soundbites at the drop of a hat. But, as I know that everyone is probably still on vacation, I’ll too lay off the gaz for a while. But not for too long. As HK (and I said the other day in one of the other threads) this is how journalism careers are made, on stuff like this….
December 29, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Oh, and one other thing, the pessimist in me just keeps bubbling to the top. I hope to GOD that the wvu faculty, who have been kind of lame during the presidential search (no confidence vote notwithstanding, they rolled right over after he was appointed), get pissed. And I mean REAL pissed about this. College faculty can be kind of weird bunch of (mostly) liberals. You never know if they are going to get riled up. And, my GREATEST fear is, they DO get riled up, and Mikey manages to slide some $$ out of the legislature under the guise of trying to get more money for faculty salaries because they are so underpaid (and they are, compared to comparable institutions), and their silence is effectively bought off.
THAT would be the real tragedy in all this…
December 29, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Here’s Mr. The Buck Stops Here in today’s Gaz:
“We want to be very transparent,” Garrison said Friday. “Our faculty and our colleges are the ones that award degrees. Presidents don’t award degrees. I’m very, very comfortable with whatever recommendation we receive.”
Nice, huh?
December 29, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Just watch that interview on Channel 12 WBOY. What a weasel. Doesn’t answer even the simplest of questions. But he talks for literally 5 minutes about nothing.
December 30, 2007 at 1:11 am
The 3 member investigation panel:
1. Bruce Flack
2. Alex Macia
3. Dallas Branch
December 30, 2007 at 9:11 am
Get serious! Bruce Flack might be better than you think. But Macia goes back a long way with Garrison, it would be like appointing Gonzo to investigate water boarding. Dallas Branch was on the Garrison bandwagon from the beginning.
How about Thomas Dorer instead of Macias and a world class academic rather than Branch. Better yet, how about Provosts and Deans of Business Schools from reputable universities with no WV connections?
December 30, 2007 at 4:18 pm
How about Garrison’s dog?
He’d be less biased than Macia, who everyone knows wears the other half of Mikey G’s “BFF” heart pendant.
December 30, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Do you see how stupid they all think we are?
December 30, 2007 at 6:25 pm
just my guesses, not real info, based on past behavior by this crowd.
The best panel would be the dean of a business school, a law school and a provost, all with ZERO connections to WVU.
December 30, 2007 at 11:36 pm
If the SEC is involved they could have Barney Fife, Hong Kong Phooey, and these guys investigating and the truth will come out because NOBODY is going to risk the kind of prison time associated with fucking with the SEC.
I say we hide a box of Krispy Kremes in the records room and turn Kenny Bass loose on it.
December 31, 2007 at 10:16 am
Some background info about MBA’s, Mylan and what the business community thinks. http://www.wvgazette.com/section/Business/2007122913 It stresses that the job she faces (integrating the Merck segment) will be tough for anyone, so a lack of creds will mean a serious lack of confidence.
December 31, 2007 at 11:04 am
Anyone here watch comedy central’s south park?
Remember when Mr. Garrison (character from south park tv show) had the angry gay hand puppet, Mr. Hat, that did his bidding/dirty work?
Alex Macia = Boss Garrison’s Mr. Hat.
December 31, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Go, Joe Morris! Thanks for putting breaking news into your holiday list of things to do. Keep up the good work!
December 31, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Ladies and gentlemen….
I give you….
THE BLACK DIAMOND!!!
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/homepage/x476763067
December 31, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Heathergate did make the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s “worst of 2007″ in business list. In an A to Z list it’s “Q” for questions.
So, let’s keep those questions coming, folks.
Call me old fashioned, but I do love solid newspaper expose journalism. Cause the Mylans and Manchins of this world win the sound b. contest. It’s that well-researched article and persistence in the press…let’s see who wins this…sad to say, tho, WVU has been dealt quite a blow.
January 1, 2008 at 12:16 pm
That Black Diamond is one big media sensation… Actually, he told me about a white guy who impersonates James Brown and he’s local: a white Brown. Sounds festive.
January 1, 2008 at 2:30 pm
The movie “Saving Silverman” sucked in general, but the opening where they’re doing the Neil Diamond tribute act is pretty funny.
The white guy that does James Brown is funny in a the-groom-literally-shit-his-pants-at-the-alter kind of way because he looks like Surber.
January 1, 2008 at 4:44 pm
I was at some local bar a while back, and the Black Diamond was there just hanging out with some mutual friends. I have to say, he came across to me as a major asshole.
January 1, 2008 at 5:54 pm
I don’t feel bad about making fun of him, then.
OK, I probably wouldn’t have anyway.
Off topic; is it just me or is there somewhat cryptic writing in the confetti of today’s Google graphic? It looks like SON SWIACK ACK.
January 1, 2008 at 7:47 pm
No, it’s ?something?-Syniack which when I Googled it is a hackr’s name. Hmm
January 2, 2008 at 10:24 am
Yay for the Gazette’s editorial page today.
http://www.wvgazette.com/section/Opinion/Editorials/200801011 points out all suspects who “are sure it’s all really OK.”
Make sure a writer follows that probe.
January 2, 2008 at 2:00 pm
[...] know next to nothing about Bruce Flack, but his name did pop up in the comments of this thread as a possible investigator. Which makes me feel kind of [...]
January 2, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Gracias for this post, HK! I work with Billl, so we’re sequestered in our own little corner of the newsroom, which is pretty much a different world, but I know that the majority of the other reporters are as ridiculously overworked in this understaffed newsroom as we are and that most of them bust their asses to do the best reporting they can. It just bugs me when the entire paper gets lumped together for criticism and ridicule for the actions (or non-action) of a select few that most of us have no contact with and certainly no influence over.
January 10, 2008 at 2:51 am
I just want to “date” Raging Red. Is that so impossible??? Fuck politics forever.