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Thursday, May 1, 2008 "When news breaks, we fix it" Serving West Virginia since 2005
Least shocking, most shocking WVU news items
MIKE GARRISON
No long distance calls
JOE MANCHIN
Stands by his man
Of all the breaking developments this week in the West Virginia University - Heather Bresch diploma scandal, some were extremely predictable, others were flat out flabbergasting.LEAST SHOCKING
* WVU Board of Governors stands by Garrison. The fact that the same board that conducted a sham presidential search to begin with would now circle the wagons around their annointed choice ranks right up there with "Pope is Catholic" in terms of earth shattering news.* Gov. Joe Manchin stands by Garrison. About as shocking as the first item, given that the gov is at the heart of the familial relationships, both political and otherwise, that have led to this mess.MOST SHOCKING
* Garrison made no long distance phone calls for 5 days. According to today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, WVU says there are no land line phone records for Garrison for the 5-day period in question, a, because WVU's phone provider does not itemize local calls, and, b, Garrison placed no long distance calls during that time frame. Seriously? The president of a major university did not place one, single, long distance call for five days? Sure, presidents have secretaries who place calls for them, but not even once did Garrison pick up his own phone and dial long distance? It is beyond belief.* Ousted officials keep on working. When Provost Gerald Lang and Professor Stephen Sears resigned over the Bresch scandal, the entire free world perceived that to mean they were out of WVU completely. Turns out, they're staying on to teach at slightly reduced salaries -- which perhaps helps explain why they had no criticisms of people in positions of power. Even if they are tenured, that tenure does not apply if they are accused of wrongdoing. So, "we don't accuse you, you don't accuse us" could be a quid pro quo attractive to all. The documented pressure "not to rock the boat" seems to still be in force.* Garrison still at work. This is the most shocking turn of events so far. As donors dry up, distinguished alumni call for justice, and the credibility of WVU sinks like a congressional approval rating, Garrison attempts to portray himself as a university president leading the charge for reform. As in the wake of all such scandals, the entity rocked by them promises to clean up the mess and insititute policies to "make sure this never happens again." Make sure what never happens again? That the governor's daughter never again is credited for grades she did not earn and is awarded an eMBA degree against all evidence? As always, the promise is to close the barn door after the horses are already roaming free.WVU already has in place standards and practices to deal precisely with cases like the Bresch incident. They were ignored. Why should anyone believe new rules will be treated with any more respect by the current leadership?Weeks spelled out why WVU scandal is a natural result of the status quo
Even though the president of West Virginia University, Mike Garrison, is currently at the center of the storm surrounding the improper awarding of a degree to a powerfully-connected individual, the fact is that Garrison's involvement or lack thereof is not the end of the story.The real story, which is occasionally touched on by commentators and outraged callers to radio programs, is the process itself. Garrison just happens to be the individual who ended up benefitting from his political connections in landing the president's job. But it could have been any one of a number of people connected to the entrenched power brokers in West Virginia.Russ Weeks, the former state senator and current Republican gubernatorial candidate, wrote in his book, "No Strings Attached," that all major decisions affecting the state are made by a shockingly small and tight-knit group of people who have been exercising power for several years. Weeks wrote that during his service in the Senate he learned that the state was run by "an entrenched system of cover-ups, lies and the protection of personal power above the good of the people."Weeks pointed out that, "The truth is, West Virginia’s government is controlled by a small handful of people, and there is a concerted effort to keep it that way," adding, "the price we pay for an unaccountable government is a myriad of irresponsible decisions and actions." Weeks wrote those words before Garrison was ever appointed to the presidency of WVU, but the system in place in West Virginia makes such developments entirely predictable. There is no way to make this point without it sounding like a completely partisan solution, but one never-changing fact in this state is that as long as the same people and the same party remain in control that have largely been in control for more than seven decades, nothing will ever change.As Weeks points out in his book, "The state of West Virginia will continue to operate in this manner until 'we the people' put our foot down and demand accountability."If ever there was a clear choice that will face voters at the polls in November, it will be between Joe Manchin and Russ Weeks. One -- Manchin -- has all the makings of a typical made-for-TV politician. Glib. Tall. Handsome. Charming. Charismatic. Professional politician. Connected.The other -- Weeks -- does not seem to fit the part. Working class. Military career. Rough around the edges. Not politically connected beyond the relationships he built on his own in the Senate. But beyond those stark contrasts, there is another difference more important than any -- a real belief in accountability, and the desire to clean house and bring about real reforms, not just put a band-aid on the latest embarrassing scandal resulting from the devotion to the "good old boy" network. Voters will have a choice. Time will tell whether there is any chance they'll vote to make things different, or bury their outrage in exchange for more of the same. Starcher job speculation explored in Daily Mail story on Thursday
The Charleston Daily Mail today explored the speculation that Justice Larry Starcher's interest in changing the makeup of the Court may be tied in to a desire to land for himself the job of administrator of the Court.Reporter Justin Anderson interviews several individuals and conveys their thoughts in a story you can read by clicking here.