West Virginia University’s president, Michael S. Garrison, said Friday that he would skip a planned address during this weekend’s commencement ceremonies so that he would not become a distraction to students and their guests, the Associated Press reported. He does plan to attend many of the graduation events, however.
Mr. Garrison has been beset by calls for his resignation in the wake of a scandal in which the governor’s daughter was awarded an degree she hadn’t earned. Mr. Garrison, with the backing of the Board of Governors, has insisted that he will not step down. But the university’s provost and the dean of its business school have resigned, and last week the board chairman said he would give up the top post but keep his seat on the board.
In a statement Friday, Mr. Garrison said, “I think it’s important for everybody to note, and particularly the president of the university, graduation is not about me.”
“Graduation is not about anybody except our students and their faculty who got them to where they are today, helped them get to where they are today. We want to focus on the students. I certainly don’t intend to be a distraction.” —Lawrence Biemiller