Why is Steven Kite Covering for Mike Garrison?
From MetroNews:
Professor Steve Kite says faculty members should consider the independent panel report in the Bresch case as their primary source. Kite says that report doesn’t say Garrison orchestrated things to make sure Bresch received her executive MBA degree retroactively. “I don’t see where you can really find President Garrison particularly culpable on this,” Kite said Monday on MetroNews Talkline. “Yes, it happened under his watch and he has to take responsibility for it happening under his watch.” … Kite says Garrison removed himself from the Bresch situation and now some are criticizing him for not having a more active role in what happened. “There was a conflict of interest there,” Kite said. “He saw it and he wiped his hands of this.”
FIRST — as my previous post, and many of the comments have pointed out — the question of “who told whom to do what” was not addressed by the panel. For whatever reason, they believed that to be beyond their charge. But the panel did conclude that their was “palpable” pressure to award Heather Bresch a degree regardless of the facts. This is why the Faculty Senate should act immediately to form a commission charged with getting to the bottom of this lingering issue. The idea that the panel’s report is somehow the last word on this torrid affair is pure misdirection, and should be treated as such.
SECOND — Talk is cheap. What, if anything, does Mike Garrison plan to do show that he accepts responsibility for this mess other than just saying, over and over again, that he “takes full responsibility?” The report tells us that this whole debacle began with a phone call from Heather Bresch to her old friend, Mike Garrison. And while Garrison himself did not attend the October 15th “decisional meeting,” his general counsel and proxy-in-chief Alex Macia was there, along with his Chief of Staff, and communications director. To say that this happened under Garrison’s watch is the understatement of the century. Even if there wasn’t direct pressure from Garrison to award the degree — the fact that such a heroically bad decision was made under his watch is grounds enough for dismissal.
THIRD — Mike Garrison must immediately stop abusing West Virginia’s FOIA law and release his cell phone, land line and email records. It is not our fault that his word is no longer convincing to the people of West Virginia. If he truly “saw a conflict of interest” with his old friend Heather Bresch, and if he truly “wiped his hands of this,” the records will no doubt reflect that. Anything more than that initial conversation with Bresch, or worse yet, a sudden flurry of communication between Garrison and the Governor’s office would be damning.
What is Mike Garrison hiding?
Tags: Heather Bresch, Mike Garrison
April 28, 2008 at 6:24 pm
The tide has changed guys - this pr trick Garrison is trying to pull off is not going to work. Too many outsiders involved.
Garrison, do the honorable thing - quit now! Don’t put your family through this. It isn’t worth it.
We are not going to stop until you are gone.
April 28, 2008 at 6:32 pm
He has Kevin Leyden now shilling for him. I wonder if Garrison is a past student of Leyden’s. I bet he is. Leyden is a Poly Sci professor and has been there for quite some time…
April 28, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Look at how well the faculty that are serving as yes men are paid compared to the hard working faculty members:
Idiot who couldn’t spell Pittsburgh:
FAMOURI, PARVIZ ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR $147,716.52
Note: He’s not even a full professor and is making about twice what some fulls at wvu are making
Kite is only at $76,671.00 , but his title suggests that he’s not even a tenured faculty member. What does EX HLP GEO V mean?
April 28, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I think Brian Noland can save us from this mess. He should be able to force the resignation. Should we start emailing him ?
April 28, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Bingmanch
What is this about Kevin Leyden?
April 28, 2008 at 6:47 pm
KDKA-TV covered the faculty senate exec mtg at which Garrison spoke. He said he will not resign. He also said he came into office with a “no confidence” vote…to point out, I’m sure, how ineffectual that would most likely be.
It would have to be reinforced and backed up by much stronger moves. You in WV know you the players are…ie, is Brian Noland a key?
April 28, 2008 at 6:50 pm
The next break in this story comes from how the PPG starts piecing together the impact this little affair has on Mylan stock…what was Goodwin Inc and Mylan trying to buy here? What was Heather’s role in Cali? We had an endowed Dean and have an “endowed” Prez….
Leyden comes from the “Macia think” faction….just read some of his policy stuff….Leyden prior to his becoming an esteemed man of letters used to roust-about in same water holes as WVU leadership….come to think of it didn’t Leyden used to be in a band called “John Galt”?…and then with Porterfield’s Cheap Trucker’s Speed….just useless trivia.
On Deck….WVU Inc and Mylan Inc…subsidiary or theme park?
April 28, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Knew him, just thought he was smarter than to back the Garrison horse. Must be something in it for him.
April 28, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Leyden recommends the “one size fits all” academic solution to all problems: form committees.
April 28, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I just purchased the domain name GarrisonMustGo.com. Anyone have the time and skill to put a site together?
Email me at GarrisonMustGo@gmail.com
April 28, 2008 at 7:39 pm
go to metronews.com
There’s a link on there to Leyden giving a nice little “we shouldn’t rush to judgment” speech at today’s news conference.
April 28, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Well, Leyden is in charge of the Institue of Public Affairs. Some poly sci thinktank HQ’ed at WVU and it does a lot of schmoozing and sucking up to Legislators. It does “studies” for them from time to time.
You know, those “studies” that nobody ever reads.
April 28, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Not really a think tank, just what he thinks and the grad student funded through the operation. Always been an opportunist, so must be something in it for him.
April 28, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Hello, Everyone:
A small bit of background I can offer from working with Kevin Leyden. I’m pretty sure that Kevin arrived at WVU well after Garrison’s undergrad years. Kevin is a very active guy who gets around and connected in a lot of projects on and off campus. In a different context, I suspect many readers of this left-leaning blog would probably find Kevin’s perspective and philosophy to be congenial because he is certainly a lefty kind of guy. I’m surprised that he’s talking the “rush to judgment” line with Garrison. Kevin seems to enjoy stirring the pot. He might genuinely believe that Garrison did recuse himself from the actions of Lang et al.
I’m also surprised that both Jerry Lang and Steve Sears resigned so quickly. One might argue that they’ve received a payoff from some source (Mylan?), but until we see evidence of that it may actually be that they did this foolish action completely on their own and are now suffering the consequences.
Yet even with that, it’s still hard to believe that Garrison didn’t know about their decision and actions and simply sat there and let them engage in illegal/unethical behavior. Yeah, maybe he didn’t pull the trigger, but he didn’t prevent Lang and Sears from doing that and he should have. He didn’t plan the “crime”, but he could have and should have prevented it.
April 28, 2008 at 8:23 pm
>>>>>He didn’t plan the “crime”, but he could have and should have prevented it.
If he had any integrity, he certainly would have nipped this thing in the bud (to quote a famous West Virginian), but as a practical matter can anyone picture Garrison denying Joe Manchin’s demand for a freebie MBA degree when Mike owes his entire career to Manchin/Goodwin?
April 28, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Kevin Leyden arrived in 1990, Garrison’s senior year, so he may have been contemporary with Garrison. I don’t think they knew each other but I could be mistaken.
April 28, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Other digressions:
1. Lang and Sears are tenured, and would ordinarily keep their jobs, but the tenure rules from the BoG say it’s possible to remove their tenure. My favorite quote from the WVU tenure policy: “Tenure should never be permitted to mask irresponsibility, mediocrity, or deliberate refusal to meet academic requirements or professional duties and responsibilities.” (par. 9.1)
2. It is possible to fire a tenured prof for misconduct described in section 12.1:
“Causes for Dismissal: The dismissal of a faculty member shall be effected only pursuant to the procedures provided in these policies and only for one or more of the following causes:
12.1.1. Demonstrated incompetence or dishonesty in the performance of professional duties, including but not limited to academic misconduct;
12.1.2. Conduct which directly and substantially impairs the individual’s fulfillment of institutional responsibilities, including but not limited to verified instances of sexual harassment, or of racial, gender-related, or other discriminatory practices;
12.1.3. Insubordination by refusal to abide by legitimate reasonable directions of administrators;
12.1.4. Physical or mental disability for which no reasonable accommodation can be made, and which makes the faculty member unable, within a reasonable degree of medical certainty and by reasonably determined medical opinion, to perform assigned duties;
12.1.5. Substantial and manifest neglect of duty; and
12.1.6. Failure to return at the end of a leave of absence.”
3. Unfortunately, this process must be initiated by “the President’s designee” (12.2) which in this case is (you guessed it) — the Provost.
4. Garrison himself isn’t tenured. The idea was floated to the law school and met with violent reaction there. He is President, but without academic tenure.
April 28, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Oh, where oh where are the phone records Mr. Garrison.
Produce, produce, produce them please.
It will save your soul or damn it.
April 28, 2008 at 8:53 pm
The BoG statement strongly supporting Garrison is not good—if someone were to put together all the pieces (Bresch, Prescott, who knows what else) maybe we can get some traction, but Team Garrison seems hunkered in……..how many interim positions can one institution have? HSC is going to be a mess, Stewart Hall is a mess, and all the President can say is what a good job he is doing taking responsibility–
April 28, 2008 at 9:08 pm
anonymous 8:34,
what does your #4 mean?
April 28, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Not a Leyden fan…….I narced out someone to him for plagiarism and academic dishonesty in his Ph.D. program a few years ago. No action of any kind and that dude in question still teaches college students.
April 28, 2008 at 9:20 pm
I’ve always had a pretty high opinion of Kevin Leyden. He’s a really intelligent guy, and very engaged in political issues — as a political science professor should be.
But I think what you’re witnessing here is a disconnect that’s all to common with people who have spent a lot of time in West Virginia — just not southern West Virginia. I have had dozens of conversations with people like Leyden about vote buying and corruption in this part of the state — things I had witnessed with my own eyes even — and I really got the sense that they don’t quite believe me. But why should they? West Virginia is so twisted and fucked, sometimes when I’m explaining it to an outsider, I feel like I’m asking them to contemplate infinity or something.
So I’ll bet that he means well, but like so many others, really doesn’t understand how deep the rabbit hole goes. And no wonder. It’s not like WV media gave much coverage to the rigged presidential search. And let’s not forget, that’s how this whole thing started.
Everyone who truly realizes how crooked this all is — not just Heathergate, but how someone like Garrison became president in the first place — are either in on it, or are legitimately embarrassed to work under him, and wouldn’t was one breath defending him.
But my point is, I don’t think he’s in on it.
April 28, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Hello Angry Fifth Column Readers!
You might enjoy this post from another West Virginia blogger:
Extreme Online Reputation Management: WVU, Mylan, & Governor’s Office Edition
April 28, 2008 at 9:32 pm
I hate being the source of gossip, and this really is an unsubstantiated rumor, but has anyone else heart anything about Mylan having its eye on a piece of property owned by the HSC? Could that have anything to do with Prescott’s departure? Just wondering.
April 28, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Mylan wants the property owned by WVNET, the computer center right next to Mylan’s offices. And Joe Manchin has ordered the HEPC to give it to them. Another sweetheart deal involving the Governor, higher education and Mylan.
April 28, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Isn’t it amazing that Garrison did this the week before the Governor came to Morgantown for his inauguration? By handing the reigns over to him early, the BOG did so much damage to WVU. Keep after Garrison, folks.
April 28, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Start e-mailing and calling Paul Nyden at the Charleston Gazette. He needs to do something.
pjnyden@wvgazette.com
(304) 348-5164
April 28, 2008 at 10:19 pm
thepoint.com is an interesting website that organizes group action in an attempt to make changes in the world. Visit it and check it out. Any suggestions for a group regarding Garrison? Ultimatums, ideas, etc.? I haven’t used the site yet but know a little about it; I’d like to start a “cause” there demanding “Garrison Must Go” but don’t have the time the rest of tonight. If someone starts something, let me know; otherwise, I’ll TRY to figure it all out tomorrow afternoon.
M.
April 28, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I just received my WVU alumni magazine in the mail today and there stands Boss Hogg Garrison himself with his hands folded and a quote saying, “Let us never lose sight of the fact that West Virginia University is held in trust for the people of West Virginia.” Well, Mike, I don’t think WE have forgotten that. You need to go you slimeball! Unless the PPG continues to follow this story these corrupt bastards will be able to outlast the people’s outrage. “They” (The BOG, Manchin, Puskar, and countless other people who benefit from under-the-table favors) have too much investigated in this slob to let him go without a fight. I am not smart enough to do this, but can someone start a petition asking for Garrison’s resignation/firing? It could be just like the Open For Business petition during that fiasco. Slimey Slimerson must go!
April 28, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Brian Noland is a is a wet paper bag! He has no power and or ability.
April 29, 2008 at 1:48 am
http://www.postgazette.com/pg/08120/877402-28.stm
“I have no plans to resign,” Mr. Garrison said during a news conference following his appearance at a faculty senate executive committee meeting. “I removed myself from this process immediately,” he said. “I don’t know why the decision was made or how it was made.”
Yo Mike — you might not be planning to resign but you won’t be able to surf the wave of discontent curling on your ass.
If you don’t know WHY or HOW the decision was made then you’re not fit to run WVU. Everyone on your staff was in that one pivotal meeting and you’re trying to convince us you were weren’t keyed in? Wow. A nice mix of hubris with stupidity.
Dude, this is where you get off. The ride is over.
April 29, 2008 at 6:14 am
Okay, what did Garrison know and when did he know it?
After reading over the transcripts of the interviews before the panel investigating this matter here is what I conclude.
Bresch told Garrison “I do have a degreee. I did walk through the ceremony. I stopped going to class in the summer/fall of 1998. I was defending my employer in a lawsuit and had to be in California. Speaker told me that that my work in California would be sufficient to meet the remainder of my requirements for the degree. I relied on his statement.”
Garrison washes his hands and has no further contact on the matter with anyone. (Let’s even take him at his word on this point.)
Lang and his subordinates agree to support a story in which grades are changed and pulled from thin air for classes that all agree Bresh never attended. Bear in mind that many of them have also heard Bresch’s claims as to what she belives the deal was.
Garrison, knowing that the two stories do not agree, that these classes and grades are not even what Bresch herself recalls or claims, supports this decision.
Garrison must go!
QED
April 29, 2008 at 7:50 am
Do you think the rise in the PPG circulation is because of the Heather Bresch story?
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08120/877340-28.stm
April 29, 2008 at 8:03 am
My favorite part of Garrison’s talking points yesterday was his dismissal of the faculty, by stating that he came in with a “vote of no confidence” and he will continue to work with another “vote of no confidence”.
April 29, 2008 at 8:52 am
“I have no plans to resign.”
Well, Mr. Garrison, “I have no plans to donate.”
April 29, 2008 at 9:08 am
More evidence of the post-October 15 meeting coverup, showing that Mylan also added false representations to media imquiring about whther Bresch earned the degree:
“In October, shortly after the Post-Gazette first asked about the degree, Mylan sent a letter to the newspaper saying the company had confirmed that Ms. Bresch completed her M.B.A.”
“The Oct. 20 letter, signed by Mylan attorney Stuart Williams, said she had “completed all the credits” but that the necessary paperwork documenting the degree had not been processed due to an “oversight.”
http://www.postgazette.com/pg/08120/877402-28.stm
Garrison still fails to acknowledge that a major cover-up was orchestrated from his office by his chief of statff, media info officers, Provost, Dean and General Counsel.
It’s the Cover-up Stupid!
April 29, 2008 at 9:17 am
Truthfully, everyone knows that Bresche did not have a personal relationship with Lang or Sears, but she did with Garrison, and that’s where the conversation started. All this side stepping and obfuscating the facts doesn’t really matter in the court of public opinion - it’s really pretty obvious what happened. And that’s the problem the President has.
In the end, it’s not the faculty senate or the BOG that will let the Pres go, it will be the donors. It is noteworthy that WVU was scheduled to start a major capital campaign, but obviously that is all on hold now. If donations back off in a measurable way, then the Pres has to step aside for the good and financial health of the school - regardless of his perceptions of what happened. I can’t help but think its not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’.
April 29, 2008 at 9:41 am
Is it true that the HEPC is going to give to Mylan or lease at a nominal fee the state property next to Mylan that is worth millions?
April 29, 2008 at 9:49 am
If the HEPC is leasing or selling WVU property to Mylan for a nominal fee for property that is worth millions, it is time for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the F.B.I. to step in and investigate. This is much more like what I expected president Garrison to deliver on to those who put him in office — not an inept and absurd falsification of records to benefit a politician’s daughter.
Anyone who knows anything at all about this — please post anonomously here. Does this deal have anything to do with Garrison’s demand that Medical School Dean Prescott resign?
April 29, 2008 at 10:26 am
this whole thing is going to die for multiple reasons……first and foremost is the fact that WV and WVU culture support less than integrity,honesty and academic freedom………..well, i do believe now that Garrison has said “i am sorry”,we must all crawl back under our rock,and just wait for another successful football season…………………
April 29, 2008 at 10:27 am
Off current topic but WVU has another eMBA program participant. Check education.
April 29, 2008 at 10:27 am
Sorry, link didn’t show. http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Manchin_Nathanial_1171801515.aspx
April 29, 2008 at 10:44 am
Our anger and frustration with Garrison and Manchin, etal in WV has a parellel in pharm re: Bresch.
At http://www.pharmalot.com,
“Certainly the university is at fault here. But to absolve Bresch of any wrong-doing is shocking. Like she just woke up and found the degree. Here is a leader who found a way to get a fake degree. And yet we are developing medicines and asking the government to pay for our products. What message does she send to people. We talk about the important work we do with such integrity. Why is it so wrong with some people for us to ask our leaders to act with integrity?”
“…I would like to come to work one day trusting my leaders…”
“Ironically, one educational benefit Bresch might have gained by completing her MBA honestly is the ethics course which is typically required in MBAs. Learning ethics the hard way can be the most expensive form of education.”
April 29, 2008 at 11:05 am
And unless I’m mistaken, she’ll never get that MBA now, because the credits are only good for 7 years. Perhaps this is where this whole fiasco stems from.
April 29, 2008 at 11:17 am
I wonder if she still get the alumni magazine?
April 29, 2008 at 11:42 am
More linking advice that’ll probably be ignored: clicking on the heading of the relevant post before copy/pasting the URL (I’m looking at you, Karen) will take the reader straight to said relevant story instead of having to scroll down to find it.
Carry on.
April 29, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Comments on Garrison’s blog are still closed. That he chooses not to publish the few sycophantic comments along with the overwhelming number of negative ones tells you more than you need to know about the legalistic mindset prevalent in the president’s office. In the same narrow vein, he can deny that he had nothing to do with the decision to award Bresch her degree. Give me a break.
April 29, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Garrison’s troubles are far from over. Check out the article in today’s Daily Mail about John Beilein’s payment of his buyout to WVU and the PDF of his letter to Garrison. Looks like Beilein is reconsidering the wisdom of agreeing to any buyout, even though he got a 40% reduction in the amount.
WVU does not need to be involved in another lawsuit against a former coach. The only people it will be able to attract for head coaching vacancies are guys like Huggins and Stewart, who may be the salt of earth and good at what they do, but either have reached the pinnacle of their success at WVU (Stewart) or whose options were limited to begin with (Huggins).
Sorry to distract from the Bresch situation, but my point is that Garrison, who, admittedly, was not involved with Beilein’s departure, may have to deal with another high-profile lawsuit, assuming, of course, that his fat ass is still around if and when Beilein files suit.
And one more thing: it seems to me that for some pressure to be applied directly and publicly on Garrison, some well-heeled WVU contributors need to announce that they’re not going to donate any more money until he and his regime are gone. When that happened with some supporters of Rodriguez, it put WVU on the defensive. It really wasn’t effective, but that has more to do with Rodriguez being an idiot and having screwed up his resignation than with the fact that WVU wasn’t sensitive to the donors’ comments.
April 29, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Chronicle article improperly linked below, and possibly password protected, basically states that it appears unlikely that anything is to happen to President Garrison, and that Mr. Goodwin feels that calls for his resignation beyond the scope of the report. It also indicates that the faculty senate is not likely to pass a vote of no confidence.
http://chronicle.com/daily/2008/04/2658n.htm
Is Garrison’s war room mentality beginning to pay off?
April 29, 2008 at 12:33 pm
The Daily Mail this afternoon reports that the Monongalia County Prosecutor may be investigating the alteration of state records in relation to the fraudulent entries made on Heather Bresch’s WVU transcript. She will neither admit nor deny an investigation is underway.
What might that meansfor Mike Garrison and Company? Perhaps they had better prepare themselves to answer questions under oath before a Grand Jury.
If Garrison has any hopes of a political career (could he be so deluded?), conviction of the crime cited by the prosecutor would bar him from ever holding a State office for the rest of his life.
http://dailymail.com/News/200804290232?page=1&build=cache
Tuesday April 29, 2008
Altering records could be a crime : Prosecutor won’t say whether there will be an investigation into Heather Bresch case ,
by Justin D. Anderson
Daily Mail Capitol Reporter
Criminal charges could be on the table for any West Virginia University officials involved in altering records to show that Gov. Joe Manchin’s daughter earned grades for classes she never completed.
Monongalia County Prosecutor Marcia Ashdown would not say whether her office has opened an investigation into the scandal over WVU officials retroactively granting Heather Bresch a degree she did not earn.
But Ashdown did point to a section of code that could come into play should an investigation proceed.
State law makes it a misdemeanor for a public officer to fraudulently alter public records. The penalties are up to a year in jail, a $1,000 fine and the possibility of never working for the state again.
The state has a year from the date of the commission of a misdemeanor to bring charges before the statute of limitations expires.
The five-member panel that looked into Bresch’s degree found that administrators at the WVU College of Business and Economics had her transcripts altered without any proof to back up the changes.
***
The panel said administrators at the college changed Bresch’s transcripts to fill gaps and reflect that she had earned an executive master’s of business administration degree in 1998.
These actions were fast-tracked after top officials decided to grant her the degree during an Oct. 15, 2007, meeting, the panel said.
Grade modification forms were prepared for two classes and grades were given to Bresch without any records to back them up, the panel found. The two grades, which were redacted in the panel’s report, were “simply pulled from thin air,” according to the report.
And against university policy, the only signature on the forms was that of R. Stephen Sears, dean of the business college. Neither the instructors for the classes nor the department chair signed the forms before they were filed.
“Appropriate faculty and division chairs were neither consulted nor asked to sign these forms,” the panel said.
***
Criminal charges could be on the table for any West Virginia University officials involved in altering records to show that Gov. Joe Manchin’s daughter earned grades for classes she never completed.
If criminal charges were pursued, Ashdown said a prosecutor first would have to decide whether the college administrators would be considered public officers under the law.
There also may be issues as to whether a student’s academic transcript is a public record, since the only way such a transcript can be released is if the student agrees to it.
The definition of a “public official” in the law includes “an elected or appointed official or employee of a state or federal court, commission, department, agency, political subdivision or any governmental instrumentality …”
Ashdown said there is likely case law that addresses both issues — especially whether or not academic transcripts are considered public records.
Delegate Jeffery Tansill, R-Taylor, introduced a bill during the regular session this year that would have specifically made it a misdemeanor to alter academic records or to falsely claim academic credentials on a resume.
Tansill’s bill was introduced on Feb. 8 at a time when the Bresch scandal was still developing. But Tansill said it was on his mind when he sponsored the bill.
“My bill was never brought into committee as far as I know,” he said today.
Tansill, who is not running for re-election this year, said he got a lot of positive comments on the bill. But he said he also received warnings. He declined to say where those warnings came from.
“That’s the way it is down at the Capitol,” Tansill said of his bill’s failure.
He declined to call for charges to be filed in the Bresch scandal.
“That would be up to a prosecutor,” he said. “I just think they need to keep things on the up and up and not bury things.”
Ashdown might have a conflict in bringing any case herself since her husband is Gerald Ashdown, a professor at the WVU College of Law.
If a circuit judge decided there was a conflict precluding her involvement, the judge would order the state Prosecuting Attorney’s Institute to nominate a special prosecutor.
If criminal charges were pursued, Ashdown said a prosecutor first would have to decide whether the college administrators would be considered public officers under the law.
There also may be issues as to whether a student’s academic transcript is a public record, since the only way such a transcript can be released is if the student agrees to it.
The definition of a “public official” in the law includes “an elected or appointed official or employee of a state or federal court, commission, department, agency, political subdivision or any governmental instrumentality …”
Ashdown said there is likely case law that addresses both issues — especially whether or not academic transcripts are considered public records.
***
Ashdown might have a conflict in bringing any case herself since her husband is Gerald Ashdown, a professor at the WVU College of Law.
If a circuit judge decided there was a conflict precluding her involvement, the judge would order the state Prosecuting Attorney’s Institute to nominate a special prosecutor.
April 29, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I don’t see the conflict. Vince Trivelli, Dean McConnell’s husband, sued WVU on behalf of ACT in a prevailing wage case.
April 29, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I am beginning to wonder if everyone, including the PPG, has backed up enough to look at the Bresch fiasco?
Why was David Hardesty pushed out as president before his announced retirement date on his 60th birthday?? It made no sense to me at the time. Why not wait a couple of months and allow him to peacefully retire?? What was the rush that brought Garrison in to take over a couple of months earlier and send David home??
It would be interesting to find out EXACTLY when Ms. Bresch knew she would be named to the COO position at Mylan; when she actually fibbed to the SEC or KNEW she was going to fib to the SEC.
Could it be that Heathergate was actually well underway in October?? Perhaps there are smoking guns in September, August……..
April 29, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Jay,
I would never ignore you!
April 29, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I, too, heard Manchin was pushing for HEPC to sell the land owned by WVNET to Mylan for below market value. Indeed, I believe HEPC discussed it in their meeting yesterday. Does anyone know the outcome?
Gazette, here is a chance for you to redeem yourself.
April 29, 2008 at 2:17 pm
JG, according to the Charleston rumor mill, Garrison was hired (and Hardesty shoved out) so that he could get Bob Huggins on board before basketball season. The Bresch incident is a twofer.
April 29, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Can we not praise Hardesty…both Garrison and Hardesty are cut from the same Good ole Boy cloth. Contrary to popular belief, Hardesty did little to improve WVU (overcrowded Morgantown, 4th tier law school, facutly leaving to double their salaries out of state, etc)
April 29, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Does WVU even own that land anymore?
April 29, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Hey Hippie, check out this state sponsored voter disenfranchisement. Just when you thought the state had hit a low in the media:
http://www.alternet.org/democracy/83741/
April 29, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Hey Hippie, check out this state-sponsored voter disenfranchisement.
http://www.alternet.org/democracy/83741/
April 29, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Since I already have a (real) eMBA from WVU, I’m thinking of using my USAir miles to get a degree in sociology:
http://carbolicsmokeblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/wvu-to-allow-frequent-flier-miles-to.html
April 29, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I love that the pro-Garrison crowd is saying that Pete Kalis has “sour grapes” because didn’t get the WVU Presidency. (From Metronews) (Kalis denies that he even wanted it and said someone else submitted his name).
But this alone should show just how cooked this presidential search was:
A few of Kalis’s accomplishments:
CEO of one of the largest law firms in the United States
WVU Rhodes Scholar
Editor in Chief of the Yale Law Review (arguably the most prestigious student law position in the US…Yale’s law school is better than Harvard’s)
Clerk to Judge Skelly Wright (one of the most esteemed Circuit Court judges in the 20th century)
Clerk for the United States Supreme Court.
That resume (and I’m sure many similar ones) are what WVU passed up for Garrison. No wonder this state is in trouble!
And who are these PR people? Is this the work of Amy Goodwin? If so, Garrison probably will go down.
April 29, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Gary Abernathy reports that an “exit package” is being prepared for Garrison.
http://www.getelephantwars.com
Abernathy is a republican strategist, so take it with a grain of salt.
April 29, 2008 at 3:27 pm
This was forwarded to me from a WVU alum:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2008-04/29/content_6652418.htm
I guess they needed a distraction from that Tibet mess…
April 29, 2008 at 4:03 pm
full comments are back up: get them while they’re hot! And 90% favour resignation!
http://president.wvu.edu/blog/2008/4/24/wvu-will-follow-panel-s-recommendations#comments
April 29, 2008 at 4:19 pm
It looks like Sears and Lang didn’t really resign after all. They’re going to teach at WVU instead, at about three-quarters of their salary.
http://wvpubcastnews.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/lang-sears-to-return-to-teaching-after-heather-bresch-scandal/
April 29, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I have to say, these events make sitting here working on finals very difficult and distressing.
If this report is true, I find it absolutely appalling that these two will now be allowed to teach next semester and retain a significant salary?!?! This is not punishment! But, perhaps they know too much and it would be “unwise” for them to be let go altogether…
April 29, 2008 at 4:41 pm
HK, you need to give us thread in which to speculate about how you’re going to spend the money from that Donate button I just noticed. Why do I sense a Williams-Sonoma catalog was delivered to your house yesterday?
April 29, 2008 at 4:44 pm
WVU business college names new dean June 13, 2005
“I am excited about the background and experiences Dr. Sears brings to WVU and the college,” Dr. Lang said. “He is well prepared to provide the leadership needed to take the college to the next level.”
WHICH DIRECTION WOULD THAT BE?
“I was very impressed by the professionalism and high integrity of everyone I met in West Virginia, and I’m very excited an honored to be chosen to be dean of the College of Business and Economics,” said Dr. Sears.
GET OUT MUCH?
“You’ll get the best that I’ve got.”
UMMM…NO THANKS
April 29, 2008 at 4:45 pm
As rml noted, Big Mike is accepting comments on his blog once again. Post ‘em while you can.
Here’s my two cents worth:
Mr. Garrison,
This scandal unfolded under your watch and with your closest aides in attendance at the meeting that awarded Ms Bresch her degree. Hiding behind a carefully crafted legalistic statement that you did not “ask any person, either directly or indirectly, to award any credit, grades, or degree…” will not absolve you of bearing the ultimate responsibility for the actions (or inactions) of your staff.
If you are a man of honor, then you will resign to protect the integrity of the university you profess to love.
Only then can this community truly “move on”.
Of course, since we all know that he is not a man of honor, then we will need to organize and pressure the Faculty Senate, BOG, legislature, alumni, and donors (especially donors!) to get him to do the right thing.
April 29, 2008 at 5:22 pm
The fact that Sears and Lang will be allowed to stay just “proves” that there was certainly knowledge (and complicity) from higher up than Lang.
“I didn’t expect the Spanish Inquisition”-bring on the soft cushions and (oh, no!) the comfy chair!
April 29, 2008 at 5:28 pm
To WVU faculty colleagues visiting this site:
Dear Colleagues,
Given the current state of affairs on our campus, it seems important to me to assess the views of WVU faculty (and not just faculty senators) regarding the calls for President Garrison’s resignation.
Yesterday (Apr 28) Kevin Leyden (Political Science) claimed that “most people believe Michael Garrison has performed his duties beyond expectations.” Perhaps Leyden has polling data to support this claim. If evidence can be shown to prove that most faculty believe Garrison’s resignation to be unnecessary, I for one will pledge not to speak another word about it. The last thing that I hope to do is to make an already terrible situation worse, against the wishes of most members of the faculty community.
But if most WVU faculty believe that the restoration of university’s integrity requires Garrison’s resignation (at a minimum), then the Faculty Senate, the BOG, and the President’s Office must be made aware of this fact. For that I reason I am willing to compile a list of faculty members who support the proposed Faculty Senate resolution calling upon President Garrison to resign.
If you email me, I would be happy to add your name to what would in effect become a petition that could be distributed to members of the Faculty Senate prior to Monday’s meeting. I realize that this is a methodologically flawed procedure, but at least it should provide a somewhat more accurate sense of faculty views concerning this issue that so closely affects our collective reputation.
So, send me an e-mail (matt.vester@mail.wvu.edu) if you would like me to add your name to a petition calling for Garrison’s resignation. Please also indicate whether you would be willing for your name to be made public.
Thanks for your help with this modest research project. If you are willing, please circulate this note to your department listserves. Yours, Matt Vester (History Department, WVU)
April 29, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Matt, I think this is a great idea. Can it be posted on Garrison’s blog? Probably not but it’s worth trying, isn’t it?
The other M. had the right idea, something more official needs to be organized. I have to admit that at first I didn’t agree with anyone losing their job over this scandal but it seems like Garrison has thrown others into the fire and is just standing by to watch them burn. What kind of leadership is that? I was extremely upset when he was first appointed but I kept thinking maybe we should give him a chance, maybe he’ll prove us all wrong (I’m naive, I admit it). Well,now I’ve changed my mind and I think his resignation is indeed critical in restoring the university’s integrity. He obviously has no intentions on stepping down and the BOG is (obviously) still supporting him. So what do we do???
I’m an alum so if anyone knows of any other sites/efforts being made by the alums please let me know. I’ve already gave up my alumni membership when Garrison was appointed and I’m not a big donor by any means so I can’t help out by withholding any big donations. Any other ideas??
April 29, 2008 at 6:48 pm
MCM: leave Nathanial alone. That apple fell far FAR from the tree. He is his mother’s son. Ask ANYONE that knows him.
Thanks!
April 29, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I found reading Garrisons testimony pretty telling.
He was trying to get Heather a seat on the WVU Foundation board.
April 29, 2008 at 7:29 pm
http://dailymail.com/News/200804290300
Mr. Parsons is wise beyond his years. +
April 29, 2008 at 8:00 pm
They could catch Garrison in his office with a dead hooker and Parsons (or any other WVU student body president) would send in the exact same op-ed. There’s a certain kind of guy who seeks that job.
April 29, 2008 at 8:03 pm
No way a student wrote that by himself. I bet it was a PR firm in Washington DC, the one that helped Mike get his job.
April 29, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Hah! MG was, of course, student body president. (Though so were David Hardesty and a host of other prominent West Virginians).
April 29, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Recall how when the former SGA President (I forget his name) got caught on a DUI and resigned (December was it?), Garrison was mum and Goodwin did all the talking. Garrison was only front and center for the good PR. Someone mentioned at the time that they hoped Garrison would show the same “honor” as that kid did by resigning. It may be a certain kind of guy, but some do have some class. Garrison could learn from that kid.
April 29, 2008 at 8:50 pm
I read the above news piece and think more that Jason Parsons is very young but already a politician.
He says, “Now that we’ve seen the report of the panel, now that the University’s Board of Governors has charged President Garrison with implementing changes and policies to address the failures . . . ”
How are the BOG and Garrison able to run this smokescreen? Didn’t the report show that WVU Admissions and Records is straight-arrow and academics at WVU are above-board?
One politically-based gift degree was awarded.
Thousands of us put our lives on hold and borrowed money for school. We worked hard for our WVU degrees and received an excellent education.
Yet Garrison continues to be willing to allow WVU’s integrity to be questioned with this “making changes and policies to address failures . . .” when he and his cronies are the failures in the system.
Parsons also says he’s glad Garrison has accepted responsibility. How exactly has Garrison done that? Being embarrassed is not the same thing as taking responsibility.
It’s ironic that academics are being questioned with all the political appointees at WVU and so many with no oversight making worker bees’ lives miserable.
Also, I know there were comments earlier about Lang and Sears staying at WVU to teach. According to WV Public Radio, “Lang will earn $200,000, down from his current salary of $243,000. Sears will earn $145,000, down from his current salary of $200,000.” Poor guys.
See: http://wvpubcastnews.wordpress.com/
April 29, 2008 at 9:08 pm
I applaud the idea proposed by the faculty member above. Action needs to be taken and quickly to let the BOG and Boss Hog know that the faculty is not going to take this lying down. Boss Hog and his puppet master(s) must go. Otherwise, this university won’t be able to attract talented people for quite some time. Who in their right mind would want to be the new provost and business school dean? Could you imagine having to answer to Garrison? I would think it has to be down right degrading if you are someone who truly values academics.
The kid getting his article posted in the daily mail is a joke. It just goes to show that he’s been promised something by the BOG.
By the way, why hasn’t G-dog released his email and voicemail. It implies that he’s hiding something. When we see that, the other shoe drops.
April 29, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Not all comments are back up. My comment, one of the negative comments in the original chosen 22, was removed.
April 29, 2008 at 10:23 pm
If Mike Garrison had clean hands he would have asked for resignations in December when this story broke?
Would Manchin have demanded the same if he was not involved in some way? Now he is telling people to “stick to the report.” What does this mean?
April 29, 2008 at 11:29 pm
The most devastating critique of Garrison, Steve Goodwin’s and the Board of Governors failed leadership occured this afternoon when Peter Kalis was interviewed by Hoppy on Metro News.
When I say devastating — I mean devastating. There is nothing left of Garrison and Goodwin when Kalis has finished. If you have not listened to this yet — just .do it — and forward the link to WVU alumni and the WVU faculty Senate
Peter Kalis one of the most distinguished graduates WVU has ever produced. Kalis is currently the managing partner in the Kirkpatrick, Lockhart & Gates international law firm.
Kalis was President of the WVU student body as an undergrad (yes, some of these folks actually have done positive things in their lives); he received an Oxford degree as a Rhodes Scholar, graduated # 1 in his class from the Yale University School of Law.
He subsequently served as law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Byron White and was one of 3 finalists for the WVU Presidency in 1986.
Here is the link to the audio:
http://wvmetronews.com/index.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=24583
April 29, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Be sure to VOTE for JOE!!
April 29, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I really hope that none of you are surprised to learn that the WVU Student Body President, who mostly “presides” over blackout drunks and bitchin’ keggers, is shilling for Garrison. Mike Garrison is a hero to these guys — living, bloated proof that you don’t have to be smart or work hard so long as you suck up to the right people.
EVERYONE knows WVU’s student government is boozy popularity contest for social-climbing frat boys. It’s really telling that these are the type of kids who apparently rise to the top at WVU.
April 29, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Even Bray cary has had enough of Garrison. See his editorial:
THE SPIN MUST STOP
In his editorial Cary calls for Garrison to immediately release the e-mails and phone records that the Post-Gazette seeks in its Freedom of Information lawsuit in Monongalia County Circuit Court.
Here is the link to the editorial:
http://www.wvnstv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=37919&catid=203
April 30, 2008 at 6:47 am
i posted a “not so inflammatory” message on the presidents website……a very tactful “get lost”, and it didnt come out….interesting………free press?…….you’ll NEVER see those emails and cell phone records….and if he does release them,he’ll probably have the dean of “phone engineering” doctor them…..like he did with heather’s degree
April 30, 2008 at 7:28 am
Thanks Smeathern. Yesterday’s Metro News (above) includes the following:
“Kalis said Garrison’s words aren’t enough. ‘It’s not even close to enough,’ he said. ‘Anybody who’s run an organization knows you create a climate with your leadership. The fact that plausible deniability was maintained here means nothing to me.’
“Kalis says Garrison and Goodwin are responsible for WVU acting as a dishonest political institution.”
April 30, 2008 at 8:33 am
Eh, if they’re social climbers, they’re at the wrong school.
April 30, 2008 at 11:38 am
This is from today’s Charleston paper–it might be a good strategy to keep attention on this incident if everyone writes the Foundation and says they are withholding their donation UNTIL the President is replaced….money talks (and every $50 does make a difference!)
Wednesday April 30, 2008
WVU Foundation chief says some donors pulling back
by Kris Wise Maramba
Daily Mail staff
Several donors have either reneged on pledges or vowed not to contribute to West Virginia University because of the debacle over Heather Bresch’s degree, officials said.
“I have had three or four phone calls or e-mails from individuals who have indicated that because of the situation they will either not fulfill (a pledge) or they will not contribute,” R. Wayne King, president and chief operating officer of the WVU Foundation, said Tuesday night.
“Anytime there is a situation like this…there are some folks who believe the best way to vent my frustration is to not contribute,” King said.
The McGee Foundation notified WVU officials Tuesday that it was revoking an offer to donate $1 million worth of art and another $1 million contribution to the university’s Creative Arts Center.
John McGee, co-chairman of the foundation that bears his name, said his board came to the decision because WVU President Michael Garrison has not resigned in the wake of the Bresch scandal.
“The situation of the university and the decision on the part of the president not to leave has so damaged the culture of the university that we feel the contribution is inappropriate until the matter is properly resolved,” said McGee, a former Daily Mail publisher.
“Mr. Garrison should be removed from office,” McGee said. “I think he has immensely damaged the school.”
Garrison did not return calls.
April 30, 2008 at 9:46 pm
anybody wondering what the graduation ceremonies that President Garrison presides over will be like? could be some awkward moments, maybe a protest or 2?
April 30, 2008 at 11:43 pm
To the lawyers out there, if the Governor actually put pressure on WVU to award the degree, is that a violation of any West Virginia ethics laws?
May 3, 2008 at 12:00 am
Mylan Pushcar and Gov. Joe Manchin are friends; Steve Goodwin (never trust a man in a baby blue tie) is brother - in - law to the WV Sect. of Education; Heather Bresch (the gov’s daughter) and Mike Garrison are and have always been more than friends; and Mylan gives $$$ to WVU in exchange for favors.
There is no-one in the chain of command that is not involvrd. WVU can do one thing - they can petition for a general assembly meeting; thus giving all staff and faculty a chance to be heard. Steve Kite (stary eyed provost wannabe) was asked to call a general assembly (which he has the power to do) and he refused. The only other way to get a general assembly is through petitions where 5% of the WVU population would need to sign. Steve Kite as Faculty Senate Chair never should have publically stated his position to support Garrison - Chairs of committees are not allowed to do that (according to Robert’s Rules of Order). His position is too powerful and thus it is unprofessional and unethical that he would publically state his position. He should be reprimanded for that.
Since we cannot go up the chain of command in WV because everyone in the pipeline is corrupt, we need to contact Senator’s Byrd and Rockefeller. Please consider writing to them via their websites. Also, please continue to send letters to the editors of the Dominion Post, the Daily Anteneum; The Charleston Gazette, and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. We need to keep the pressure on. Garrison sent three of his most powerful men into that Monday Morrning meeting. The panel referenced real or perceived pressure to award the degree. Their presence in a meeting where they had no business attending is proof enough that Garrison is responsible for this whole situation from the minute he took the first call from poor little Heather. WVU is extraordinaliry vulerable right now and we need to stay committed to demanding his resignation.
May 6, 2008 at 11:49 am
Why is the only posting on the “GarrisonMustGo” website (www.garrisonmustgo.com) a sick-making statement from Garrison about how much he loves WVU yaddayadda loves his job yaddayadda…
May 7, 2008 at 9:33 pm
The dean of medicine has left since Garrison took over. The provost and the dean of business took a dive for Garrison. The Rockefeller Center director was not reappointed since he did not support Garrison. The football coach Rod found that Garrison told him a lie to get him to sign a contract and he left. Garrison is left standing with his Charleston political staff and one or more of them will have to take a fall for Garrison. He gave the BB coach named “DUI” for being fired in two other universities for drinking a ten year $20 million contract to try to get some positive press. What will Garrison do next throw his prom date from high school under the bus? That would be too much for Manchin I think. By the way Heather has been in several controversies for getting special contracts from WV state goverment through her daddie. Did anyone check that out?
Poor Mike he is so good but things turn out so bad. Just bad luck or….could it be incompetence?
May 7, 2008 at 9:44 pm
I have not heard that the Rockefeller Center director was not reappointed because of his lack of support of garrison–yes, he was not reappointed but do you know that was the reason?
May 10, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Can someone come up with reason for his speedy departure from BRNI. He was looking forward to the opening this year, I heard, but he had to leave immediately.
May 10, 2008 at 8:59 pm
just like prescott looking forward to graduation, he also had to go immediately; interesting parallel isn’t it ?
May 21, 2008 at 7:23 am
brni CEO probably had a falling out with brni scientific director - most people do. That man is a narcissist and control freak. Am guessing that this then gave Garrison et al a chance to put in a crony.
May 30, 2008 at 5:16 pm
“It happened on Garrison’s watch”
Wow! What are the chances that Bresch’s degree would be awarded during the presidency of her old chum?
It’s like that coincidence from last century . .. Lou Gehrig contracting something called “Lou Gehrig’s disease.”