MORGANTOWN, W.Va., May 17 (UPI) -- A top West Virginia University official relocated two professors' offices as retaliation for their outspoken comments, they have alleged.
WVU Health Services Center Professors Judy Sedgeman and Dr. William Pettit have alleged Dr. James Brick, the interim medical school dean, switched their offices after Sedgeman called for university President Mike Garrison's resignation, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazettereported Saturday.
"We interpreted it as potential retribution," Sedgeman said of the relocation plans.
Garrison has come under fire for the school's decision to grant an unearned business administration degree to the daughter of West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin.
The incident led to a 77-19 vote of no confidence in Garrison by the faculty senate. During that voting process, Sedgeman spoke out in support of Garrison's resignation.
Dr. Fred Butche, the interim Health Sciences vice president who is Brick's superior, denied the office changes related to those comments.
"We are a university that expects free and open discussion of all issues. There has not been, nor will there ever be, retribution or retaliation by this administration towards anyone," he told the Post-Gazette.
