There something most people don’t realize, and it has everything to do with why Garrison refuses to resign: Mike Garrison’s ambitions extend beyond WVU. His plan is to bleed WVU dry to make the down payments on his political future.
This job was always intended to be a stepping stone to whatever he wants to do next — most likely a run for the United States Senate. This might not be apparent to those of you in Morgantown, but during the Wise administration, it was one of Charleston’s worst kept secrets. And all you have to do is look at where Garrison is now to realize that stranger things have happened.
But I know what you’re thinking — this guy thinks he can run for the U.S. Senate — and win? In other words, the exact same reaction I got 5 or 6 years ago when a I told people that Garrison was gunning for David Hardesty’s job. And I for one, cannot think of a better way for Mike Garrison to have ensured that Puskar, Heather Bresch, and dozens of other Mylan fat cats will absolutely line up to raise MILLIONS for him whenever he runs for office.
So you see, Mike Garrison isn’t refusing to resign because he’s stubborn or obtuse — it’s that if he resigns in disgrace after 7 months on the job, his political future is DEAD. He HAS to stay in that job, or his path to the U.S. Senate (or any job other than Mylan lobbyist) is permanently blocked.
Tags: Heathe Bresch, Mike Garrison
May 7, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Garrison’s political future “dead” works for me.
May 7, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Good job HK. I think it’s obvious to anyone with a brain that this is exactly what this man’s after, however, I will not put occupying the govna’s mansion not to be in his plans.
May 7, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Remember, then — the only way to make sure that happens is if he resigns.
If he remains President of WVU, the get used to many more years of Mike Garrison.
May 7, 2008 at 3:24 pm
He may well run for governor, but only as the next step on his way to the Senate. After all, he’s already been governor for all intents and purposes, so that office is no longer an end in itself.
May 7, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I wish there was a comment section on voting ballots so I could tell candidates why I’m voting against them. Is there a rule against writing “Garrison” across my ballot when I vote for Kessler?
May 7, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I would certainly hope that the faculty keeps the pressure (what like they actually have) on the board and on Garrison. I’d like to see both Garrison and Governor Manchin run out of West Virginia completely. They gave this guy the keys to WVU based solely on the good his political connections could do for the university; and now that they know exactly what his political connections will do, they still won’t ax him? I guess the BOG are all there based on the same sort of misguided thought. I would love to see the faculty and students call for a boycott, or sit out, for the beginning of the fall semester. Too bad it’s finals time already.
–
light
May 7, 2008 at 3:37 pm
quote above should read …(what little they actually have)…. so much for my prof reeding.
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light
May 7, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Only in West Virginia could a guy who’s presided over what should have been a career-destroying PR disaster still contemplate running for high office – and have a chance of getting it.
May 7, 2008 at 3:49 pm
So we can look forward to the nightmare scenario where Papa Joe appoints Mike to the Senate?!
May 7, 2008 at 3:51 pm
This jackass is going to give me an aneurysm and I’m in the middle of finals.
May 7, 2008 at 3:54 pm
I have heard about the WVU-Senate rumors regarding Garrison since 2002.
May 7, 2008 at 3:55 pm
This thought is a big DUH? He was never out for the good of the University or he would have resigned already. Looking at the fact that his resume shows him at a job for about 2 years I figured he would be aiming for the Gov position. My thought was Byrd has only a couple of years, then Manchin would take over in the Senate and Garrison would shift over to Charleston. However, this theory makes more sense. Manchin gets relected, Byrd retires soon (or God forbid something else happens to him), and Manchin appoints Garrison to the Senate. No need for an election. I actually think this one is far more viable. Thus Garrison MUST hold on to his position at WVU. I am becoming more of a conspiracy theorist everyday.
May 7, 2008 at 3:56 pm
HK, I hope you’re wrong, but he’s too young and too ambitious for you to be too far off base. This is bad news all around and the only way to make sure this doesn’t happen is if WE keep the pressure on.
May 7, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I don’t think so, azlo. The BOG is one thing, but trying to get Garrison to the front of the Byrd replacement line would cause a lot of problems.
May 7, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Some have suggested that emailing WVU Foundation Board members and alums who may make large gifts could be a way to create pressure. All the Foundation site appears to list are staff members (see http://www.wvuf.org/index.php?page=stafflist). Critical on that list for all could be R. Wayne King, President (wking@wvuf.org) and Lyn Dotson, VP for Development (ldotson@wvuf.org)
College development officers are also listed. Alums might also email the development officer for their college.
The most recent listing of Foundation Board members that I could find was in the 2007 annual report and gives the Board for 2006-07. See page 4 at http://www.wvuf.org/ar_files/WVUF%20Annual%20Report%2006-07%20Final.pdf
Board members then were:John C. Allen, Curtis H. Barnette, Ralph J. Bean, Jr., James Chamberlain, Jean Clark, C. Richard Daniel, Smoot Fahlgren, Sue Seibert Farnsworth, Richard Ford, David Hamstead, John Harmon, Glen Hiner, Stanley Hostler, Ken Kendrick, Ray Lane, J. Franklin Long, Robert McMillan, Michele Vigneault McNeil, Thmoas Messmore, Marshall Miller,Dan Moore, Ogden Nutting, Gary Pell, Thomas Potter, Verl Purdy, Robert Reynolds, Stuart Robbins, Janet Griffith Rogers, Joan Corson Stamp, Clara Thomas, Craig Underwood, Peter White, Vivien Woofter.
Since these are 2006=07 members, some may have left the Board. If you know any of these people, please help by contacting them. If you havce an email address for them, please post it so those of us who may not know them may contact them.
May 7, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Check out the Charleston Daily Mail where Garrison says more heads could roll. Can y’all believe this scumbag???
May 7, 2008 at 6:16 pm
One of the Foundation board members above is Ray Lane. He’s actually a pretty big deal like John Chambers of Cisco. I don’t know him personally but it was easy to find his email (rayl@kpcb.com) His bio says that he was a mathematics major at WVU. I’ve never heard of any of the other people.
May 7, 2008 at 6:30 pm
now let’s look at this realistically…………how would Mr Garrison benefit West Virginia by being in Washington?………while i think what he has done is reprehensible in an ACADEMIC environment,it is most likely condsidered “farm team stuff” for D.C politicians………..”i did not have sexual relations with that woman”, hell he is EXACTLY what we want in D.C……..someone who can get as much pork as he can, in WHATEVER unscrupulous way the politicians do it……..and he is learning his task right here……….more power to him,good riddance……vote away people……oh, i am sorry isnt that what our present Senators do?………..
May 7, 2008 at 6:38 pm
WVUAlum, that is @#&%ing incredible!
Read it and weep:
http://www.dailymail.com/News/statenews/200805070220?page=2&build=cache
May 7, 2008 at 6:44 pm
The same theories were floating around the WVU campus in the mid-90s when the last incompetent hump was selected as President.
May 7, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Now now faculty mal, the last incompetent hump may be brought in as interim president should the current one be thrown out. For some reason, nobody realized how useless Hardesty really was. Actually Hardesty makes Garrison look like a leader. I think this is why Garrison has the 20% of the faculty–they’re afraid of a Hardesty return (read: 0% salary increases, expanded enrollment and shrinking full time faculty, etc)
May 7, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Sorry, look. I can’t let you get away with that. WVU has provided funding for raises every year except one since at least 1996 when Senate Bill 547 went into effect.
May 7, 2008 at 7:22 pm
To all malcontents: Below is a link to another blog floating around the university. My guess is that any news about the faculty assembly agenda is going to show up here.
http://totalresponsibility.blogspot.com/
May 7, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Didn’t someone mention yesterday that the rumors in health sciences center was that the consultants had a “hit list”
Well check out
http://www.wvgazette.com/latest/200805070282
<>
You don’t suppose the replacement lands too far from Fairmont do you?
Oh wait:
<>
May 7, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Sorry, the missing quotes were
Quote 1
The chief executive of the West Virginia University-affiliated Blanchette Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute was ousted this week after the institute’s board of directors decided not to renew his contract.
Quote 2
Mark Cochran, who was hired in 2006 as the institute’s executive director and chief executive officer, has left his post, a WVU spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday.
Also Wednesday, the institute board announced that it has named Max Francis, former chief executive officer of United Hospital Center in Clarksburg, as Cochran’s replacement.
May 7, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Another head has rolled….
http://wvgazette.com/latest/200805070282 reports that the contract for Mark Cochran, chief executive of the BRNI, has not been renewed.
Instead, Max Francis, the former CEO of Clarksburg’s United Hospital, is stepping up to the plate.
May 7, 2008 at 7:52 pm
The BOG will only fire him when it is politically expedient. Pressure from below is of no consequence. The little threats of the masses do not impress these arrogant politicians. He will ‘resign’ when it is too much political embarrassment to Manchin Byrd Rockefeller or maybe Puskar. Is it possible that democratic primary brings enough natl attention to the state that the stench from morgantown could be smelled elsewhere and give manchin bryd or rockefeller reason to get the man out.
May 7, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Fairness,
I left WVU and received a position that paid almost double my WVU salary with better benefits. Salary increases below the rate of inflation don’t count. Further, all of my salary increases at WVU went to increases in health insurance costs. Why do people love Hardesty so much…I’m not being mean, I just don’t get it?
May 7, 2008 at 7:56 pm
well another one bites the dust. Who is next ? the article talks about restructing at the HSC. Does anyone know what is meant by that ? Does this still go back to the consultants who have the conflict with the untouchable and highly paid Bailes ?
May 7, 2008 at 7:57 pm
To be clear…one reason I bring up Hardesty’s shortcomings is that he is being mentioned as an interim. That’s not what WVU needs
May 7, 2008 at 7:59 pm
did anybody notice this in the Daily Mail article?
“I didn’t completely understand ‘tenured’ before I got to the university,” Garrison said
helllllooooooooooo????? Isn’t that something that should covered “How to Run a University 101″ BEFORE you’re named president? Hell, even as an undergrad I knew what that meant and he’s a damn lawyer.
May 7, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Yes, and the sad thing is that tenure is under attack from politicians across the country. Seeing Lang and the Business School Dean lumped in with the rank and file faculty will only erode support for tenure.
The public sees tenure as an easy guarantee of a job for life. The reality is that tenure is only earned after 5-7 years of graduate school and 7 years probation…the average faculty member is about 40 before it’s rewarded.
May 7, 2008 at 8:05 pm
By the way, my bet is on Nelson Robinson for interim. He and Larry Puccio were awfully cozy at the Marriot the other night. And as a former (?) BOG member, current Chair, WV Council for Community and Technical College Education and drinker of the Kool-Aid, it might make a logical fit.
May 7, 2008 at 8:05 pm
It appears obvious that Dr. Cochran was over qualified for WVU:
%%%
Dr. Cochran joined the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute (BRNI) as the CEO and executive director in April 2006. He has an extensive background in life sciences that includes roles in research, drug development, business development and venture capital. Before coming to BRNI, Dr. Cochran was the managing director of NeuroVentures Fund based in Charlottesville, Va. Over the past six years, the group invested in companies developing drugs, devices, and other medical technologies for clinical neuroscience.
Dr. Cochran holds a doctorate in microbiology and immunology from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario; a master’s in microbiology from the University of Guelph, Ontario, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Cochran sits as director on the boards of Kadmus Pharmaceuticals (Irvine, CA), NeurAxon Pharmaceuticals, Microbix Biosystems (Toronto, Canada), Acumen Pharmaceuticals, Rivanna Pharmaceuticals, and is an observer on the boards of BrainCells Inc., and Saegis Pharmaceuticals.
Prior to NeuroVentures, Dr. Cochran worked with MDS Capital Corporation, a Toronto-based healthcare venture capital group where he was responsible for MDS’ San Francisco venture business and several MDS invested companies. His previous experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry includes Bayer Pharmaceuticals, most recently as vice president of business development, biotechnology, in Berkeley, California. Other positions held during his tenure at Bayer included project director of Recombinant Factor VIII, and head of molecular biology and biochemistry in Wuppertal, Germany. Before joining Bayer, Dr. Cochran co-founded MicroGeneSys, Inc., a Connecticut-based vaccine company. He is listed as the author on 22 scientific papers, 66 abstracts and six patents.
%%%
The article did not say anything about Mr. Francis’ credentials.
May 7, 2008 at 8:10 pm
There is a lot of concern in the HSC about the pending restructuring plans… one rumor holds that the VP position will be restructured, so that a dean-of-sorts sits above all of the deans for “academic” purposes, while the new VP will work more closely with Garrison and downtown for financial purposes. The same rumor holds that the latter position will be filled by a JD type. BTW, speaking of finances, those that helped to (1) use HSC money creatively and (2) cover up the creative uses have escaped discussion. If you want to follow the money, you have to follow the folks that transferred from the HSC to the downtown during the very first HSC shakeup.
May 7, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Max Francis, according to the Community Fdn’s archives
He is the former chief
executive officer of United Hospital Center in Clarksburg, where he oversaw the 1971 merger of
St. Mary’s and Union Protestant hospitals. He is returning to West Virginia from Minnesota,where he has been chairman and chief executive officer of a medical consulting company.
May 7, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Max Francis is well-traveled. His nose has been up so many asses that he has passport stamps on his forehead.
What a joke. This will kill whatever morale is left at HSC.
May 7, 2008 at 8:31 pm
well UHA just saved $225,000 on Cochran which is reported in the 990 for BRNI as the pay source. Maybe they can let Bailes take over and give him a raise. He obviously does not make enough to feed his family since he has to sell fish oil.
May 7, 2008 at 8:31 pm
VP or chancellor at HSC may be overseeing 1 UHA (MD practice plan),2 HSC med school and 3 the hospital to make decisions in the best interest of all involved instead of each fighting for his share. sounds good….. in theory
But the fourth shell in the shell game is the Med school overseas that we support with our funds …maybe ….. or perhaps it is a laundromat for funds destined for Switzerland caymans or Northeastern PA.
May 7, 2008 at 8:34 pm
then maybe they should use the name “Sulton Violi” instead of chancellor
May 7, 2008 at 8:48 pm
John C. Allen — runs JF Allen Construction, which does a lot of road work for the state
Curtis H. Barnette — lawyer at gigantic law firm Skadden Arps
Ralph J. Bean, Jr. — Steptoe in Clarksburg (Garrison used to work in this office … not that that says anything)
James Chamberlain — president and CEO of BioSource International in Camarillo, Calif.
Jean Clark — big donor; wife of doctor who made half-million dollar gift to WVU; runs horse farms (?)
C. Richard Daniel — ex-radiologist from Beckley and owner of state’s biggest winery/vineyard
Smoot Fahlgren — owns big marketing/ad agency
Sue Seibert Farnsworth — Wheeling attorney
Richard Ford — Lewisburg attorney
David Hamstead — Retired from Price Waterhouse & Company
John Harmon — Pittsburgh attorney
Glen Hiner — (ex-?)CEO of Owens Corning
Stanley Hostler — attorney and patron of the arts
Ken Kendrick — Devilrays guy
Ray Lane — president of Oracle
J. Franklin Long — Bluefield attorney
Robert McMillan
Michele Vigneault McNeil –
Thmoas Messmore –
Marshall Miller –
Dan Moore –
Ogden Nutting –
Gary Pell –
Thomas Potter –
Verl Purdy –
Robert Reynolds –
Stuart Robbins — retired managing director of the Institutional Equities Division of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, New York, N.Y
Janet Griffith Rogers –
Joan Corson Stamp –
Clara Thomas –
Craig Underwood –
Peter White –
Vivien Woofter — director of Interior Design & Furnishings at the U.S. Department of State in Arlington, Va.
Sorry I couldn’t finish them all — must run soon.
Some of these might be old job descriptions. Whom do people here know? What are these people like?
May 7, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Nelson Robinson, the lobbyist with a close personal relationship to Earl Ray Tomblin, would make a super dooper great interim president. I’ve heard he doesn’t even have a college degree – but why quibble about silly things like qualifications or degrees. This is West Virginia, after all.
May 7, 2008 at 9:34 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 9:40 pm
Craig Underwood is co-founder and partner of SocialSphere Strategies in the Boston area. He is the son of former Governor Cecil Underwood and the late Hovah Underwood. He actually is a Rhodes Scholar and graduated from WVU with a B.A. in political science in 1980. He’s on the governing board of Imagine West Virginia. I cannot find an email address for him, though. A reader may know him and know how to contact him.
May 7, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Numbers, I don’t think bringing Hardesty back is a good move. He’s just another head of the same hydra. I ended my WVU career under his regime and his administrators are still sitting in Stewart Hall and One Waterfront.
May 7, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Ogden Nutting: Largest Stockholder, United Bank. Owns many newspapers: Parkersburg, Wheeling, Hawaii papers, and many others. Owns Ogden directories, the blue book. Part owner Pitt Pirates.
Smoot Fahlgren: Large Stockholder, United Bank. Was on Board of Directors but off do to NASDAQ Age laws. Owns race horses (Maybe in the past) Fahlgren used to be a BIG ad firm. Not as big now.
May 7, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Age laws may be from SEC on Smoooooot.
May 7, 2008 at 10:04 pm
HK the other night you told me to keep it real. Well if any of you took Political Science at WVU you would know the best way to end this is to put too much pressure on Manchin. How to do that? Simple pass out 5,000 flyers at WVU saying vote against MoJo.
May 7, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Yes….Mike will step down when JoeMa tells him to…pressure needs to go to Joe.
May 7, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Here’s Manchin’s contact info. Maybe if they get enough calls he’ll start to realize what a liability Garrison is for him? Toll-Free: 1-888-438-2731 | Email: Governor@WVGov.org
May 7, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Hallway Whispers…
Wasn’t Bill Case, now Garrison’s communication officer, previously the PR person for HSC? What conclusions does this lead to with the first, second, and current shakes ups over there?
May 7, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Oh, and that would be the same Bill Case who sat in at all the meetings regarding Bresch’s degree~~without, of course, representing his boss.
May 7, 2008 at 10:26 pm
I would just like to know why Paul Speaker declared that he felt “vindicated” as soon as the report came out. Was anyone criticizing him at that time? Has anyone since? What did he do 10 years ago that he was so worried about? Granted there must be something, since his story changes with every public statement…. anyone know what it was?
May 7, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Steven Kite
jkite@wvu.edu
Supposed to be the representative of the faculty (Chairman of faculty senate) but seems to represent Garrison instead.
May 7, 2008 at 10:31 pm
i think some of you are wrong about lang… it looks like he got pushed out for not supporting garrison’s changes. he was from the hardesty times, and we all know that garrison needs to act as if nothing good happened then, because~however much better you might think things could have been~ garrison looks really bad in comparison.
the report didn’t call for any resignations, but shortly after it came out, lang resigned and then sears. was garrison using this to get rid of people who didn’t support him? that certainly doesn’t seem beneath him. and lots of observers know that lang disagreed with a number of garrison’s priorities…
May 7, 2008 at 10:41 pm
I agree with 2007 alum. I don’t think Lang resigned to protect Garrison, probably just got fed up dealing with the BS. I do wish he would spill some beans if he knows something he isn’t saying. Emailing the Gov about how you are going to vote against him on Tuesday may be the most effective action.
May 7, 2008 at 10:46 pm
m’town livin’ — It appears Case served as director of communications for West Virginia Governor Bob Wise for a year. I imagine he worked with MG then.
And from Garrison’s WVU pages
Bill Case, Executive Officer for Communications
Formerly the director of public information for the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, Case was responsible for media relations and communications for the four WVU health schools, for WVU Hospitals, and for University Health Associates. . . .
He has been associated with WVU since 1985, with a one-year break in 2001-2002 when he served as director of communications for West Virginia Governor Bob Wise.
May 7, 2008 at 10:57 pm
believe Jean Clark is wife of Tom Clark – too close for comfort??!!
May 7, 2008 at 11:02 pm
she is
May 7, 2008 at 11:14 pm
ok, with all of these facts, think about it, really think about everything you’ve read over the course of a few days, and there’s still much, much more to be uncovered. But, with what we know already, how in the world can anyone come to another conclusion….how can anyone believe garrison has been on the up and up….how in the world is committing fraud not against the law….how in the world….someone tell me….
May 7, 2008 at 11:19 pm
I have not posted but I had to when I got word today that another MG crony will soon get a promotion–downtown campus. I am so disqusted. We shoulc see it unfold by July.
May 7, 2008 at 11:25 pm
who is that?
May 7, 2008 at 11:54 pm
New Washington Post Story
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/07/AR2008050703512.html?hpid=moreheadlines
May 8, 2008 at 12:07 am
Embarrassed, a friend from California was joking about buying a WVU MBA today. It’s hard to see the humor in it.
I got an excellent graduate education at WVU. Professors ranged from good to exceptional. It took me 2.5 years. I put my entire life into it.
It is sickening to see our degrees cheapened and academics questioned because politicians still think they can spin integrity.
Working for WVU was another matter. Oh the joy of toiling under political appointees with personality disorders!
May 8, 2008 at 12:15 am
Still spinning. From the (above) Washington Post article:
But Bill Case, Garrison’s spokesman, dismisses suggestions of impropriety.
“This is all smoke and mirrors that people are drawing conclusions from,” Case said. “Because Mike personally knew this person, he withdrew himself from any contact or knowledge about the case.”
May 8, 2008 at 12:16 am
Amen sister! “political appointees with personality disorders” who won’t take their meds or think everyone else has the problem…
May 8, 2008 at 12:29 am
Yes. Jean Clark is the wife of BOG Member Tom Clark.
May 8, 2008 at 12:39 am
I e-mailed the guy mentioned in the WSJ story . . . athough he is an ex-con he seemed to do good work on the investigation into another fake MBA issue. info@frauddiscovery.net
If anyone is interested, do the same. The more wide press coverage we get the better. I am hoping for an a spot for Garrison on Olbermann’s “Worst Person in the World” . . . maybe while national news is covering our primary? e-mail: countdown@msnbc.com
May 8, 2008 at 6:28 am
of that “list” above………Jim Chamberlain,honest man who needs nothing to do with WVU,but bleeds blue and gold so he is helpful and supportive of the HSC….Dick Ford,honest sincere man………Joan Stamp,honest and sincere woman, Tom Potter same,Janet Rogers,same…………these are people,that I know in my heart would be appalled with all this crap that is going on here…they are all strong enough characters to give honest opinions…..as far as the Neurosciences Institute,i hear there is a bunch of money missing……….maybe Bailes got paid with some of it?……..Bill Case,honest guy but is being used here……….
May 8, 2008 at 6:29 am
and if there is nmoney missing at the Neuro Institute,doesnt ROCKEFELLER have his name associated with that?…………..bet he’d love to know that there is fiscal malfesense (?sp) going on………..
May 8, 2008 at 6:35 am
We the people.
I don’t care what ties Garrison has to the BOG and Manchin. They all work for us. I agree with what has been said about news cycles and the hopes of the evildoers that this will subside in the coming weeks as term ends and graduation ceremonies commence.
I call on everyone to suspend the WV geneology genome work going on and concentrate on what needs to be done to get Garrison out of office. The damage has been done and there is nothing the current administration can do to fix it. My ideas:
1. Get high net worth alumni more vocal and involved and force the withholding of donations.
2. Radical student protests at graduation or anywhere Garrison shows up in public. After all you are the one’s most affected by this morass.
3. More aggressive faculty actions. Don’t just follow procedures. Organize and act.
4. Organize a campaign to keep this at the national media level. Investigative news shows (60 min, 20/20, etc), newspapers, blogs, etc.
Perhaps the Fifth Column can serve as the meeting place. Any other ideas floating around out there?
May 8, 2008 at 6:51 am
Dominion Post reports formation of a campus group of faculty, students, staff called MIR–Mountaineers for Integrity & Responsibility. This group hopes to keep the pressure on and has two goals: Garrison’s resignation; reform of process whereby BOG is appointed. I think they have created a different blog as a meeting place, but MIR membership reads this blog too.
May 8, 2008 at 7:11 am
Gazette story
http://www.wvgazette.com/News/200805070309
The last part of the article about Alums calling for Garrison to step down is good.
Another curious line in the story is the quote from Kite:
%%
Kite said the average tenure of a provost is four years, and Garrison had discussed the possibility of a national search to fill the position before he was appointed as president.
%%
BEFORE — how does Kite know this?
May 8, 2008 at 7:16 am
Isw it really true that the Gazette remains sketical? They ask very pertinent questions in the editorial:
http://www.wvgazette.com/Opinion/Editorials/200805070287
May 8, 2008 at 7:35 am
There’s an article about Mountaineers for Integrity:
http://www.huntingtonnews.net/state/080508-staff-statewvu.html
Sounds good.
May 8, 2008 at 7:48 am
Here’s a link to information about Mountaineers for Integrity (MIR) in Inside Higher Education. MIR is covered in an AP story.
So this little group formed yesterday is already national news. Is the Internet great or what?! Haven’t run across an MIR web site yet.
http://insidehighered.com/news/2008/05/08/qt
May 8, 2008 at 7:58 am
M’town livin– Yes, but there are others. After the VP left there was a shakeup in accounting. On the WVU ladder of success, some people moved down a rung while others moved up several rungs and relocated to the downtown campus.
May 8, 2008 at 8:10 am
horse, that’s an excellent editorial, which asks the big question:
“Is it really believable that the president has no idea why his inner circle bent the rules for a privileged person with strong political and financial connections?”
May 8, 2008 at 8:18 am
Here is the MIR blog
totalresponsibility.blogspot.com/
May 8, 2008 at 8:22 am
FYI. From the Alumni Web site:
Mountaineer Creed
As a Mountaineer, I will:
Practice academic and personal integrity,
Value wisdom and culture,
Foster lifetime learning,
Practice civic responsibility and good stewardship,
Respect human dignity and cultural diversity.
In order to become a meaningful member of West Virginia University and the society in which I live, I dedicate my energy, my talents, and my intellect to these standards of excellence.
May 8, 2008 at 8:24 am
Have y’all noticed that Garrison no longer posts new comments on his blog. He stopped at 198. Majority negative … obvious the positive ones were selected by him. Spin Mikey, spin!
May 8, 2008 at 8:27 am
Re: WVU foundation board members.
Ralph Bean, Jr. was WVU Studen Body President in 1962. Just looked it up in my freshman Monticola.
He was a big man on campus and at the time seemed a pretty nice guy.
He may be a lawyer in the Charleston area–think I’ve seen his name in Alumni pubs. over the years.
May 8, 2008 at 8:46 am
unanswered questions Says:
May 7, 2008 at 10:26 pm
I would just like to know why Paul Speaker declared that he felt “vindicated” as soon as the report came out. Was anyone criticizing him at that time? Has anyone since? What did he do 10 years ago that he was so worried about? Granted there must be something, since his story changes with every public statement…. anyone know what it was?
Paul Speaker was going to be used as the scapegoat by Lang, Sear, Garrison et al. He had documented what had happened and I understand had hired a lawyer. The one good guy was going to be made the fall guy by the weasels.
May 8, 2008 at 8:50 am
Yeah. That never happens…
May 8, 2008 at 8:50 am
>>>>>Ogden Nutting: Largest Stockholder, United Bank. Owns many newspapers: Parkersburg, Wheeling, Hawaii papers, and many others. Owns Ogden directories, the blue book. Part owner Pitt Pirates.
For a long time, the Bresch scandal was ignored or relegated to the back pages in Ogden’s flagship paper, the Wheeling Intelligencer. Lately, though, the AP stories (finally) have appeared on page one. Ogden doesn’t like to rock the boat by criticizing entrenched politicians like Manchin, Byrd, Mollohan, et al. As for the Pirates, Ogden’s son Bob runs the team. The Nuttings have given a lot of money to higher ed, including WVU, Bethany and West Liberty.
May 8, 2008 at 8:51 am
Don’t cry for Lang, West Virginia.
I posted this on the Chronicle of Higher Education blog on April 28. Two others posted agreements w/ my assertions.
I have known Jerry Lang since he came to WVU. From the beginning, I saw him as an arrogant person who freely expressed contempt for colleagues and those in his profession across the country. I remember meeting several of his post-doc students in the ’80’s and hearly ’90’s–yikes, they were little clones.
I have watched from afar and close-up as he amassed power beyond his current position until he ended up as Provost. Always, his attitude was one of contempt towards others. Positions were filled w/ those who agreed “a priori” to rubberstamp anything he said or did when he had any influence–and he had plenty during the past 15 or more years.
Under Jerry, good , honest, dedicated people were either not hired, fired, demoted or otherwise punished by him while often rather incompetent ones were hired and elevated because they swore allegiance to him. It is an understatement to say that he was feared by the faculty of WVU.
I have to constantly remind myself that Jerry is actually taller than I perceive him–he is the quintessential small man.
May 8, 2008 at 8:54 am
http://www.drwvfoundation.org/aboutus/bean.php
I-79 Strategic Planning Group – wasn’t that one of Garrison’s lobbying clients?
WV Council for Community & Economic Development – I believe these are the people that set “policy” for the WVDO; where theygave development monies for grants to projects throughout the state…including money to Platinum Properties and where Elliott Perry (Leah Macia’s brother) was director.
And sits on BRNI board…
Not accussing him of anything….just refering to his bio
May 8, 2008 at 8:56 am
Oh yea, take a look at the board members for “Discover the REAL West Virginia”.
Their emphasis on REAL…not mine…
May 8, 2008 at 8:59 am
Look, the fact is that Garrison’s Chief of Staff admittedly participated in the meetings whereby the decision was made to grant the degree. The COS acts as the President’s proxy. Are we to believe that the COS, along with Sears and Lang took matters into their own hands and made a decision to grant the degree without reporting back to and gaining the approval of the President of the University? If that is the case, who is minding the “store”? Can staff simply take matters of this magnitude into their own hands? If so, what does this say about Garrison?
May 8, 2008 at 9:08 am
Agreed, poliscigeek. Today is the birthday of Harry S Truman, born May 8, 1884. It would be nice if the current crop of Democrats controlling every aspect of life in W.Va. – including Mike Garrison – would emulate this Democrat icon just once: The Buck Stops Here.
May 8, 2008 at 9:12 am
Congratulations to the WV media. We don’t even need the Onion anymore, with headlines that basically mean “WVU will survive the Garrison scandal, according to Garrison.”
May 8, 2008 at 9:21 am
Quick comment about the MIR web site: That’s an impressive list of WVU faculty! However, a national audience won’t know how impressive without degrees.
Names alone may not mean much to the world outside WVU.
May 8, 2008 at 9:25 am
poliscigeek – Mike Garrison’s life forever changed the day he accepted that fatal phone call from his friend Heather. Whether or not he was in the meeting hosted by his COS is moot. He was already entangled. It was his job to stay engaged and lead his team to the appropriate conclusion. At worst, if he did delegate, it was his responsibility to see the evidence for himself in order to defend the Universities position for such a high profile “graduate”. He didn’t see this coming at the time and his lack of leadership has forever stained WVU. It will be a looooong time before the jokes subside and WVU’s reputation is restored. And it’s not over yet. He’s still going to Stewart Hall to work.
May 8, 2008 at 9:26 am
the neurosciences institute is about to blow up next. . . WHERE DID THE MISSING MONEY GO ?????? maybe talk to the board . . . . or are garrison/macia etc trying to cover up something else?? Note below: Tom Clark is on the BOG and the Institute Board.
The institute’s board of directors includes:
Ralph Bean, Jr., lawyer, Steptoe & Johnson
Hershel Abbott, special counsel, Jones Walker
Dr. Daniel Alkon, ex officio, scientific director, Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute
Phyllis Arnold, West Virginia regional president, BB&T
R. Lane Bailey, senior vice president, Golin/Harris International
Dr. Thomas Clark, retired medical director, Genesis Partners
Dr. Robert M. D’Alessandri, president and dean of the Medical Education Development Consortium, Medical College of Northeast Pennsylvania
Michael Garrison, WVU president
James Gottlieb, executive vice president for government affairs, National Patient Advocate Foundation
Robert Grafton, director, DiamondRock Hospitality Co.
Alex Macia, vice-president for legal affairs/general counsel, WVU
Dr. Guy McKhann, founding director, Zanvyl Krieger Mind/Brain Institute, Johns Hopkins University
William Singer, lawyer, Kirkland & Ellis
Charles M. Vest, president, National Academy of Engineering
May 8, 2008 at 9:34 am
why is macia on the board? aside from the obvious?
May 8, 2008 at 9:42 am
I vote Sherman Riemenschneider as Provost
May 8, 2008 at 9:52 am
DiamondRock
http://www.drhc.com/index.asp
This is the one that has me curious…I am sure there is a reasonable explnaination….I am just a little slow, I have a degree from WVU…
May 8, 2008 at 10:18 am
At this point, I’d say Garrison’s dreams of high elective office are extinguished regardless of whether he manages to keep this job. Let’s not lose sight of the fact that is one helluva good job and perhaps keeping it is an end in itself.
May 8, 2008 at 10:19 am
http://www.dailymail.com/News/statenews/200805080065
It is unbelievable to think that the President of University would not know this. At worst Garrison is morally bankrupt and at best he is thoroughly incompetent.
May 8, 2008 at 10:25 am
Anon
I would have to say your right about becoming governor. If President of WVU was to give him some credentials for understanding executive leadership it has not gone well. Any campaign consultant or manager has and endless array of material for making the argument of why Garrison would not be a competent governor.
May 8, 2008 at 10:29 am
Everyone seems to be forgetting that Garrison pretty much was Governor once.
May 8, 2008 at 11:03 am
West Virginia Pharmaceutical Cost Management Council
http://production.wv.gov/pharmacycouncil/about/Pages/CouncilMembers.aspx
I wonder how long Outterson will last in this appointmen?
May 8, 2008 at 11:10 am
The Beckley Register-Herald tells us to grow up and get over it:
http://www.register-herald.com/opinion/local_story_128202638.html?keyword=topstory
Another example of the excellent unbiased integrity of the WV media.
May 8, 2008 at 11:19 am
That’s hugely overstating his role in the Wise Administration and ignores the fact Wise is the least popular living former governor and that includes Arch.
May 8, 2008 at 11:28 am
Once again, you don’t know what you’re talking about.
But what’s new..
May 8, 2008 at 11:30 am
I don’t? So tell us oh wise one who your sources are as to what transpired in the governor’s office during the Wise Administration.
May 8, 2008 at 11:34 am
I could type out a long, reasoned answer, and as usual, you wouldn’t read it.
Which is typical internet troll behavior. You are no longer welcomed here. Goodbye.
May 8, 2008 at 11:41 am
Anyone with a screen name such as “GreenBankCassWV” most certainly deserves a respectful audience on this board.
:)
May 8, 2008 at 11:46 am
wvugradobserver: thanks for sharing that editorial. I have not commented on them in the past, but that particular piece make me very irritated. I suppose the author does not have to factor in WVU’s reputation for his/her personal and/or professional growth as many of us here do.
This individual is obviously too far removed from appreciating the impact of the situation to be just an “objective observer”-they are simply too far removed from academia to make an informed commentary.
I assume this same individual had plenty to say about the athletic coach’s departure, however.
May 8, 2008 at 12:45 pm
hey greenbankcasswv…………why dont you look in someone’s pockets for the missing money….i bet you can hire about 5 “bailes” for it………
May 8, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Daydreaming…
Mike Garrison wakes up tomorrow and decides to hit the reset button on his life to spare himself and his family from further decline. He resigns from the University, takes down Heather, her father and everyone else in the line of fire then moves to another state and writes a book on the whole fiasco. He makes big bucks on the sales of his book, the Manchin’s and Bresch’s get their comeuppance and everyone is happy.
Now back to work.
May 8, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Lurking In The Grass, Grafton is an alum:
http://alumni.wvu.edu/awards/academy/2000/robert_grafton/
May 8, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Kudos to WVU Grad for “Don’t Cry for Lang, West Virginia.” Those few sentences are the best summary of the little man’s character I’ve yet to read.
May 8, 2008 at 5:58 pm
I second that Malcontent. I didn’t personally have contact with Lang while at WVU but I often heard what WVU Grad said.
May 8, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Certainly no love lost on my part for Lang…he spent 10 years under Hardesty tone deaf to the fact that many good people left WVU because salaries weren’t competitive. Also came up with the brilliant plan to increase enrollment without any plan to increase faculty in most departments
May 8, 2008 at 6:56 pm
BTW: Rumor–half the faculty in public administration is leaving WVU after the end of this semester
May 8, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Well, I did see Gerald Pops sign on to that MIR thing. Isn’t he the director or something of the PA program?
May 8, 2008 at 10:43 pm
http://www.huntingtonnews.net/editor/080508-ed.html
The second half says:
Next up is Mike Garrison, WVU’s President, who continues to deny that all of the incredible national and statewide negative fallout over his administration’s handling of Governor Manchin’s daughter’s faux MBA has had any negative effect on WVU.
This is akin to saying that the nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki didn’t raise the ground temperature a bit in those Japanese cities in 1945. The damage has been the worst public relations for WVU in history, with the latest Associated Press report showing up even in U.S. News and World Report this week. We wonder what their “Best College Guide” will have to say about all this next year.
Nobody believes Garrison’s spin, of course, but likewise, he doesn’t believe what everyone else in the world is saying about his need to resign from his position. The public has said it over sixty different ways on his own blog on the WVU website. (see: http://www.wvu.edu) The faculty has said it in an overwhelming vote. Big donors are saying it. But the zombie walks forward, with his good friend, Governor Joe Manchin, whose daughter started this whole mess, propping him up at every turn.
Why is the Governor doing that? What is Garrison hiding that protects Manchin? Did the young WVU President and Friend of the Manchins make a few phone calls to Governor Manchin before the big decision came down to award Heather an MBA she didn’t earn?
We may never know, but what is certain is that Governor Manchin has been touched by the zombies and looks like he’s becoming one of them, too, as he looks longingly for that great prize, the U.S. Senate seat of Robert Byrd.
Manchin may win this year for re-election as Governor against underfunded opposition. However, the public will not soon forget this shameful treatment of WVU by Manchin, Garrison, and WVU Board of Governors Chair Steve Goodwin who are all trying to ignore the voice of the people on this.
A certain former Governor named Caperton is waiting in the wings for that great Democratic primary to replace Byrd. Joe Manchin may just have to enjoy being a caged bird in a gilded cage in the Governor’s Manchin, er Mansion, as he sees a Democrat with less dirt under his nails wave to an appreciative audience in that primary for Byrd’s seat.
May 9, 2008 at 7:15 am
Numbers commented . . . “10 years under Hardesty . . . many good people left WVU because salaries weren’t competitive.”
Focus is primarily on faculty here and in the media, of course. But if faculty don’t matter, classified staff are worth even less. During that same 10 years, classified staff numbers dropped by 350 people. (Staff Council has exact numbers.) Enrollment rose by approximately 5,000.
I saw many highly skilled employees with integrity, experience and advanced degrees leave WVU. Some left because of the money but more left because of how they were treated.
Individuals who challenge authority or the system, do not last. If professionals and faculty are afraid to speak out, imagine what it’s like for a WVU secretary with a couple kids who enters the system at $8,000 a year.
May 9, 2008 at 7:32 am
I searched and can’t verify $8K. It looks as though pay grade 1 now begins at about $12,000. Even if office workers start at $16,000, it’s pocket change to the WVU salaries we’re seeing in the news.
May 9, 2008 at 8:51 am
Even $16K is below the official poverty level for a family of 3
http://aspe.hhs.gov/POVERTY/07poverty.shtml
May 9, 2008 at 9:13 am
Thanks Anon. Just keepin’ it real. :)
May 9, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Sign the MIR petition for Garrison’s resignation here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Tum7pZ9wLX0rXC7hmgBiAQ_3d_3d