WJU Losing $650,000 Contribution
By CASEY JUNKINS Staff Writer With AP DispatchesCharleston lobbyist Steve Haid plans to withdraw a planned $650,000 gift to his alma mater, Wheeling Jesuit University, because he objects to the abrupt firing of the school's former president, the Rev. Julio Giulietti.
Haid believes Giulietti was forced out in a power struggle involving the Most Rev. Michael J. Bransfield, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.
WJU and Diocese officials, however, deny that Bransfield was instrumental in Giulietti's Aug. 5 firing.
Margaret Helm, vice chairwoman of the WJU Board of Directors, said the board developed a difference of opinions concerning Giulietti's performance.
"The majority of the board voted to remove Giulietti, and the Board of Trustees, which has the final responsibility for the university, and is made up of Jesuits, voted to remove Giulietti from his position as president," she wrote in a prepared statement.
The Rev. James Shea, provincial of the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus, stressed that Bransfield played no role in the firing.
J. Davitt McAteer, interim WJU president, said in a news release that the university continues to raise funds, despite Haid's decision.
"Haid is one of 10,000 graduates of Wheeling Jesuit University and our fundraising efforts are continuing. Since Aug. 6, nearly 500 alumni have made donations. In fact, the number of pledges to the President's Circle, which has declined over the past two years, have increased over the past three months."
Bryan Minor, a spokesman for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, also said the bishop had nothing to do with Giulietti's selection or departure from the university.
The university has temporarily halted its search for a new president. For the first time, the university is considering candidates who aren't Jesuit priests. Haid is not a member of the search committee.
Haid previously served as an unpaid assistant helping to generate donations to the university under Giulietti.
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smillard
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11-13-09 1:21 PM
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LOL Matty you really are clueless and have no idea what you are talking about. I think it is amazing that an accountant from Wheeling WV has the power to force the Provincial of the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus and a major Catholic University to do what he says. I once read a saying in a bank that says when arguing with an idiot make sure they are not doing the same. And yes Bigfoot does exist. LOL Thanks for the laugh.
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mattyc8833
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11-13-09 12:49 PM
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the Chief Financial Officer/Chair of the Board was the driving force behind this firing. Read More
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mattyc8833
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11-13-09 12:48 PM
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Below is a post from a colleague over a converstaion he had with McAteer: This was told to me straight from Davitt McAteer about two weeks ago during a phone conversation between he and I: I questioned the role of the local Bishop in WJU affairs since he was quoted in the official press release and then held a 'transition' mass shortly therefafter. Daviit explained that the Bishop came to ...campus at his invitation, then proceeded to say: "He has deep pockets, and we need friends with deep pockets." He continued, "the diocese loaned the University a credit line of $5 million ...". I then questioned the ethics of having the dioceses chief financial officer sitting as Chair of the WJU Board of Directors in light of the financial dealings between the two entities? To this, he was flippant and dismissive - finally stating that he was not going to argue this point with me. Apparently, a completely logical question lacked a completely logical answer. You might note tha
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mattyc8833
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11-13-09 12:44 PM
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smill, Trust me when I say that the Diocese is very involved in the inner workings of WJU.
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smillard
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11-13-09 12:41 PM
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Matty did you read what was in the article? the Board of Trustees, which has the final responsibility for the university, and is made up of Jesuits, voted to remove Giulietti from his position as president, The Rev. James Shea, provincial of the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus, stressed that Bransfield played no role in the firing. What else needs to be said? Please understand what you read or call Rev. James Shea, provincial of the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus and ask for yourself.
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mattyc8833
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11-13-09 12:38 PM
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Since August 500 have made donations? Out of 10,000, well that is 5% of the alumni base. Also, don't let the amount of pledges fool you all. They annually get the graduating class to pledge a dollar a piece to show that "pledges" are up, not necesarily the dollar amount.
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mattyc8833
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11-13-09 12:32 PM
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For more information on this, here is a little blogspot dedicated to compiling articles and such on this mess. *******savewju.blogspot****/
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NoMoreByrdPork
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11-13-09 12:18 PM
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Amusing that the story broke onthe national wires on the 11th of November. October 18, 2009 Dear Mr. McAteer: By this letter I am informing you of the withdrawal of my Declaration of Intent which was intended for the establishment of the Leo and Elizabeth Haid Scholarship. My will formerly provided a $200,000 allocation for this aforesaid purpose. Secondly, three properties in Canaan Valley, WV, valued at $450,000, which I intended to donate to the endowment, will now be committed to purposes more in keeping with the founding philosophy of Wheeling Jesuit University. The actions of the Board of Trustees in firing President Julio Giulietti, S.J. constitutes the most cowardly, deceitful and morally perverse action that I have ever witnessed. For at least a year I worked very closely with Fr. Giulietti on the planned giving campaign. I did so as an unpaid volunteer,
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mattyc8833
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11-13-09 11:47 AM
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While that might be correct, there is more influence from the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston than is being portrayed. Much financial influence.
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BigCanary
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11-13-09 11:05 AM
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Future board members should be smarter than Mr. Haid. If he knows anything about the school at all, he'd realize that the Jesuits in Baltimore own and operate the school. I feel sorry for the students at the university who will not receive the benefits of Haid's supposed contributions.
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mattyc8833
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11-13-09 9:10 AM
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There's a nice little blog spot that fully shows the letter Haid wrote to the Board. He is withdrawing $200,000 in money and $450,000 in property pledged. He also implies that he spoke to several alumni that have decided to withdraw pledges as well totaling in excess of $5,000,000. And if the Board had differences in Fr. Julio's performance, then they must really want Jesuit to be a secluded, behind the times institution with no growth.
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