WVU Chief Voices Anger
Remarks fail to move faculty body, howeverBy VICKI SMITH Associated Press Writer
POSTED: May 13, 2008
MORGANTOWN — West Virginia University President Mike Garrison expressed anger, disappointment and regret Monday during his first face-to-face meeting with the Faculty Senate since it demanded his resignation over a master’s degree scandal involving the governor’s daughter.
The scandal has embarrassed students, enraged alumni and prompted some donors to close their wallets.
Faculty Senate members sat stone-faced and silent while Garrison addressed them.
Garrison said he has endured a ‘‘difficult and challenging time’’ since an independent panel concluded that administrators retroactively awarded Mylan Inc. executive Heather Bresch an executive master’s of business administration degree that she hadn’t earned.
Before delivering his typical report to the senate, he pledged to work with the faculty and acknowledged the sentiment behind last week’s vote of no confidence.
Garrison said he was angry that the situation occurred, acknowledging the ‘‘failure of process and leadership’’ cited in the report. He also said he was disappointed the scandal has brought WVU’s integrity into question.
‘‘And as president of this great institution, I regret this occurred under my administration, and I accept that it is ultimately my responsibility,’’ he said. ‘‘I want each of you to know that I recognize the gravity of this situation and the sincere sentiment of last week’s Senate vote.’’
But when the senators had the chance to ask Garrison questions directly, they declined and sat quietly until he left the podium.
In the report released April 23, the panel concluded administrators decided to add courses and grades to Bresch’s transcript, some ‘‘simply pulled from thin air,’’ after the validity of the master’s degree she’d claimed on her resume came into question.
Within days, Provost Gerald Lang and business school Dean R. Stephen Sears resigned their administrative posts to return to teaching, but critics are demanding further action.
Though the report did not find Garrison directly interfered on behalf of his longtime friend, it concluded the presence of key staff in the decision-making meeting created ‘‘palpable’’ pressure.
Garrison has refused to step down despite calls from newspapers, alumni and donors, and he remained steadfast Monday.
But some faculty members aren’t backing down, either: They’ve planned a rare gathering of the University Assembly — virtually all of the 1,418 full-time teachers — for Wednesday, hoping more voices will be harder to ignore.
Engineering professor Larry Hornak pressed his colleagues as well, asking the Faculty Senate’s Executive Committee to report back to the full body on whether the no-confidence resolution is a hollow statement or an act that has ramifications.
He wondered, for example, whether it means the Faculty Senate will refuse to participate in the search for a new provost since it has no confidence in the administration.
‘‘I, for one, would like to get more clarity on this,’’ Hornak said.
His resolution passed on a voice vote.
Member Comments
View Comments: | 1-17 | Post a comment
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FormerOhioValleyResident
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05-13-08 11:09 PM
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I know this might be a touchy post. Does anyone think Rodriquez might be telling the truth about his dealings with these "good ol' boys"?
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Quasar
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05-13-08 10:58 PM
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The highlight of this thread is seeing Deam Wormer's name mentioned.
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atoddh
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05-13-08 8:42 PM
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The tumor must be removed and - if he is smart -the Governor will be the surgeon.This cancer is highly metastatic as well as being malignant.
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LittlePeople
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05-13-08 8:17 PM
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bekbekket - One has to wonder about the phone records that he has, to this day, refused to turn over, under FOIA. But, it is known that there were several phone calls from Heather to Garrison during the time she was up for promotion. Could be just smoke, though. Personally, I believe it's fire.
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bekbekket
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05-13-08 7:15 PM
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I thought so, deanminer. richardwhee- I must plead insanity here... exactly what did Garrison get "caught" doing? Not trying to be a wise guy, just don't completely got the whole story, I guess.
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deanminer
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05-13-08 6:26 PM
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If I remember correctly, the faculty was against Garrison becoming President. I think he received support from the head of a student union or the like.
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TheRealityPolice
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05-13-08 3:49 PM
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Richard Whee - you are EXACTLY right.
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TheRealityPolice
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05-13-08 3:48 PM
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bebbek - I did not go to school there, but I do deal with some of the faculty and staff - SOME are exactly what you describe: "nose in the air libs" who feel they are better than everyone else. Well let me tell you folks, - when you work for WVU and act like that, I am not impressed. Case Western or CMU? THEN I am impressed. WVU isn't exactly known for putting out super smart, world changing people.
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acousticportal
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05-13-08 3:08 PM
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It's all ego.
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richardwhee
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05-13-08 2:42 PM
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I think the reason the big wheels Manchin & Garrison are angry is not what happened. It's because they got caught.
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bekbekket
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05-13-08 1:46 PM
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Didn't the faculty NOT want Garrison as president to begin with? I may be wrong (as my wife OFTEN points out to me), but I thought it was the students who pushed for this guy. If so, I have to wonder if the faculty is merely acting as sharks smelling blood. I dn't trust the faculty... went to school there, and know many of them. They're all a bunch of 'nose-in-the-air libs,' who truly believe they are smarter... and just plain better than everyone else. OK... slam me now.
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steelercrazy
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05-13-08 1:29 PM
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makes, not make. It would be nice if you could edit your comment like just about every other comment board, but I digress.
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steelercrazy
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05-13-08 1:28 PM
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Mike Garrison make Faber College's Dean Vernon Wormer look Abraham Lincolnesque.
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CTMountaineer
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05-13-08 12:07 PM
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Manchin will undoubtably take the State to new levels of backroom politics, influence peddling, and ineptitude. Unfortunately the State exercises about as much insight and common sense as the City of Wheeling when it comes to electing leadership. It is the blind leading the blind, and the blind stealing from the blind.
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spongebob
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05-13-08 11:05 AM
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THE CANCER CAUSING AGENT IS THE GOVENOR, WONDER HOW MANY MORE TUMORS WILL SHOW UP IN OUR GREAT STATE! HE MAKES HIS UNCLE A.J. MANCHIN LOOK BENIGN.
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Georgetwin
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05-13-08 10:54 AM
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AToddH, DITTO!
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atoddh
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05-13-08 9:44 AM
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The tumor must be removed to save the patient.
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