May 2, 2008...2:31 pm
WVU Faculty Making Moves
As would be the case at any institution of higher learning, faculty at West Virginia University are organizing themselves in groups regarding the Heather Bresch Scandal.
You have a group of faculty members that have drawn up resolutions seeking WVU President Mike Garrison’s resignation or termination over the school’s handling of giving an MBA to Bresch when she didn’t earn the degree. Bresch is an employee at Mylan, Inc., a top financial backer of West Virginia University, and is the daughter of W.Va. Governor Joe Manchin. Then there is the group of faculty members that are circulating and organizing support for the embattled new leader.
First, let’s talk about the resignation supporters. There are four motions that have been written by members of the WVU Faculty Senate in regards to the controversy. At least two, according to WV Metro News, calls for Garrison to resign. The two resolutions that seek Garrison’s resignation calls for votes of no confidence or censure votes by the faculty. Essentially, the faculty by taking a measure of no confidence would be saying to Garrison that you’ve lost the support of one of an institution’s greatest assets - its faculty. If that were to occur, there is not much Garrison could do to remain at WVU in his current capacity.
The other two resolutions seek the faculty’s support in working through some of the problems that were brought up in an investigative report regarding the awarding of the MBA.
The Faculty Senate will vote on these motions, and possibly others, on Monday during a special meeting.
As for those who support Garrison, faculty at the WVU School of Medicine have been circulating a letter in support of the president. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the letter is being advocated by Dr. Julian E. Bailes, chair of the neurosurgery department and someone whom some believe could be up for a promotion due to a reorganization of the medical school. Bailes, the newspaper reports, was also a member of the search committee that hired Garrison last year.
Also, the newspaper reports that some faculty have felt pressured to sign the document. This part of the article should raise some eyebrows:
The signers included neurology department chairman Dr. John F. Brick, who along with Dr. Bailes was appointed by Mr. Garrison to a search committee looking for a new vice president to oversee WVU’s reorganized health care organization, which includes four health sciences schools, the faculty medical practice and hospitals.
Faculty members who were asked to sign the letter said they were told that interim health sciences vice president Fred Butcher and interim medical school dean Dr. James E. Brick were supporting the letter. Some felt the names of the administrators, neither of whom signed the letter, were mentioned to pressure faculty members into signing.
“I felt a sense of coercion … to do something I didn’t want to do,” said one faculty member who did not sign the letter and asked not to be identified.
If faculty are being pressured to sign a letter in support of Garrison that does not bode well for the president’s reputation or his ability to keep the support of his faculty should he remain as president.
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