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The WVU Faculty Senate voted overwhelmingly yesterday for WVU President Mike Garrison to resign "for the good of the institution," following the Heather Bresch scandal.
The non-binding motion passed 77 to 19 with one abstention during a special meeting of the 114-member Senate.
The vote represents a stunning rejection by the faculty of Garrison who has been on the job just nine months.
Garrison has said he will not resign.
The scandal is linked to the awarding of an MBA degree to Bresch, Gov. Joe Manchin's daughter, even though she did not earn it.
The Faculty Senate rejected a motion that would have simply censured Garrison.
The motion reads: "The Faculty Senate of West Virginia University votes no confidence in President Mike Garrison. For the good of the institution and for the benefit of our students, he must resign or the Board of Governor's must require his resignation."
"Our once proud institution has been denigrated," said WVU professor Virginia Kleist.
Professor Sherman D. Riemenschneider called the Heather Bresch controversy "a long nightmare."
Professor Larry Hornak said the controversy was a result of the "encroachment of political influence."
Professor Sophie Blades said the faculty was losing control of the institution - "The prerogative of the faculty was usurped by fraud...This is a gross error in academia."
Professor Steve Kite said "Mike Garrison was not involved" in the decision to award Bresch the degree, although his Chief of Staff attended the meeting during which the decision was made.
A full meeting of the entire faculty is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14th at the Creative Arts Center.
A West Virginia University history professor conducted an un- scientific poll focused on where WVU faculty members stand on Garrison's resignation.
The informal survey showed that of 210 people who responded to his survey, 200 thought President Garrison should resign.
READ 5-05-2008 "WVU SCANDAL RIFE WITH COVER-UP AND SPIN " | 
