E. Gordon Gee (President West Virginia U.)

[Wadcutter]

I'm upset for many of the same reasons already stated by others. I think I read in this thread that there was some friction/dislike between Gee and the governor of Ohio, and by extension, one of the BOT members that was an ally of the governor. Don't have any insight whatsoever into this as I don't live in Ohio so am probably not privy to a lot that is common knowledge to some. Having said that, if that is the case, I wonder if there wasn't more to that scenario that we (the public) don't know about that contributed to this. If that is the case I would think that situation plus the media shitstorm plus any and all other stress inducing actions that would accompany this position anyway didn't all finally add up to the decision to leave? That is assuming that this was Gee's idea and not the BOT's. I sure would get tired of all the pc crap that has to attach to his position and I think everyone has a limit of what they are willing to put up with in their jobs. Maybe this is Gee's way of saying,(not that I think he would, at least publicly) "OSU needs me more than I need OSU- its been real, see ya." I just get the feeling, and it is just that no other info, that Gee decided he wasn't going to play their game and decided that if that is where the BOT is coming from he didn't need to be there any longer.

 

[DaveyBoy]

Other than oversee OSU during an era of research and educational rankings improvement, what did Holbrook F up?

To be honest, the only thing required of this job is to not [censored] things up ala Holbrook. Grossly overpaid like all university admin jobs.

 

[DaBears]

I am sad to see Gee go. As my president for six years as student, I enjoyed his passion for Ohio State and for living life with his students that he loved unconditionally. Seeing him at house parties and at local bars taking pictures with everyone no matter how drunk they were is a fond memory of mien. Gee's relationship with the students is basically impossible to follow. EVERYONE, minus maybe one percent, loved him. I imagine there were many reasons why Gee chose now to retire and we will probably never know all of them, but I will miss President Gee. I am also extremely worried that the Board will hire another epic disaster like Holbrook. Serving as President at Ohio State is tough, following Gordon Gee is tougher. They need to hire someone who understands Ohio State and the passion of its alumni for both sports and academics.

 

[BIATCHabutuka]

Other than oversee OSU during an era of research and educational rankings improvement, what did Holbrook F up?

alum relations were her main screw up.

i don't credit her or any university president with improvements, that should be expected and a job requirement.

 

[Mike80]

Don't you just love it how they're rejoicing right now? Like they (media) just accomplished something in their F'ing lives.

It's nice to see other parts of the media start picking up on ESPiN's "Troll Ohio State at all costs" schtick...

Its only partially the media's fault. The bigger part of the fault lies on the board, faculty, alumni and the rest for not staying the course and telling the media to piss up a rope. So long as the people continue to let this kind of thing happen, it will continue to happen.

I wasn't blaming this entirely on the media this time, it was more of a general statement of fact that this episode added to as an example.

 

[scarletmike]

Absolutely bullshit.

Shortened version of a super long rant after some SEC fan compared the outrage of OSU fans over the media's role to ESPN breaking the Mike Rice situation on Facebook: Priorities have gotten way out of line such that sports journalists have exerted a lot of public pressure on a University president over some simple non-PC jokes in a faculty meeting half a year ago that likely contributed (a lot) to his sudden resignation. As a fan who really only focused on sports (grew up in central Ohio, didn't attend OSU), I'm part and parcel in the whole issue. Starting today I will try and place sports in perspective of the larger University mission, and despite never having been a student, try to take a genuine interest in the non-sports aspects of the University. If more fans did so (I think most on this board already had their priorities in line, and most of you being alumni probably help that perspective a lot), I think enough may change to get priorities more in line. Unfortunately, I don't hold much hope that actually happens.

Thank you, President Gee, for what you did during your time at Ohio State, and best of luck in the future. :osu:

 

[gost8]

Remember the good times, right :)

Flash Mob at the Ohio Union 5/3/2010 - The Ohio State University - YouTube

This is the real E. Gordon Gee. Not the one the media tries to portray. I remember him walking through the Fawcett Center parking lot during one of our tailgates down there. He stopped and threw some corn-hole with us. You could tell he was genuinely enjoying it. Can't imagine Kerwin or Holbrooke ever lowering themselves to do anything like that. Great man. Ohio State is losing a good one here.

 

[Buckeneye]

I am sad to see Gee go. As my president for six years as student, I enjoyed his passion for Ohio State and for living life with his students that he loved unconditionally.

This. It will be damn near impossible to find anyone that will match the relationship/rapport that President Gee had with the students.

 

[Dee-Liem]

Is it possible for someone to start a thread about the future Ohio State president, in case it was going to be speculated in Gordon Gee's thread?

There's probably going to be speculation. Just a thought.

And Gordon Gee actually talked to me prior to a final exam for 15 minutes years and years ago. I knew his time was valuable too.

 

[TheStoicPaisano]

Knocked off the front page by ARod and Braun.

 

[BB73]

Thanks for all you've done for The Ohio State University, Dr Gee.

He's always been a good E.G.G. in my book.

 

[Airspace]

Wadcutter may be more right than he knows.

Heard on the radio today that this whole thing did not make sense. Look at the time line.

1) Gee makes these comments in December.

2) OSU Board first talks to Gee about his comments in January and then again in March.

3) An audio tape is released at the end of May where the public hears it for the first time.

4) The information that comes out about compensation that paints him in a negative light.

5) Gee now announces retirement at the first of July.

Given the time frame, it appears that something is not right. Go back to last June when Les Wexner suddenly resigned his position as board chairman that was not to end until 2020. Wexner was one of the people who had gone to Vanderbilt to ask for Gee to come back. Could it be that there was a changing of the guard within the Board of Trustees that wanted to go in a different direction?

For a man to have done as much for OSU and moved it forward acasdemically. And has generated as much money in research and endowment to be done this way is wrong.

Just think there is more to it.

 

[DaveyBoy]

Then Gee failed. OSU has fallen slightly in academic rankings under Gee.

Gee could raise money with the best of them. But he wasnt considered a leader in the academia crowd......NTTAWWT

I think history will be kind to both of them

alum relations were her main screw up.

i don't credit her or any university president with improvements, that should be expected and a job requirement.

 

[WoodyWorshiper]

What a dark day and an absolute load of crap.

The media has to feel pretty good today about getting another Buckeye.

Sad thing is that Dr. Gee should have known better. Despite a few poor attempts he had to realize that "stand-up" is not his forte, and ultimately, contributed to his current situation. But, the absolute bottom line here is that if you have a microphone placed in front of you, no matter who you are, you are best served to say NOTHING, no matter what you're intent.

I look at the current gig with Roy Hibbert. He uses the term "No Homo" to a reporter as a play on a Rap Song and he's branded as being anti-gay. How many of you out there, like me, have been having a few beers in the back yard with a good friend and when he says something stupid you ask:
"Why don't you suck my d.ick you f.u.c.king fa.gg.ot"? Does that make me anti-gay? Hell, every 5 years at my wifes High School reunions she immediately seeks out the guy and his husband that was openly gay in High School and we make sure we sit at the same table for dinner with them.

Are blacks who refer to other blacks as "nig.g.er" racist"? That word is considered the Holy Grail of racist terms, yet millions of black americans attend rap concerts every year where the term gets thrown out there repeatedly. Anybody out there really believe Fuzzy Zoeller is racist because of his "fried chicken" comment he made after Tiger won his first Masters?

I don't know, I guess I'm just basically a cynical person living in northeast Ohio and being an Indians fan. Because GOD knows that Chief Wahoo is offensive to Native Americans, even though they were tickled pink to have the Indians return spring training to Arizona so they could come down and buy up all the Wahoo merchandise available. Native Americans for years have had no idea that the Cleveland Indians, Washington Redskins, and numerous others were "offensive" to them until some nothing better to do activist pointed it out to them.

This problem will continue for the remainder of time, and no matter what, the media will ultimately decide the fate of oh so many. This issue is huge, and using Dr. Gee's "retirement" as an example is simply like sticking your finger in the dyke. (OOPS! Hope I don't get banned for that Anti-Lesbian remark)

Ramble over.

Peace: To all of you, and to Dr. Gee and his loved ones.

 

[DZ83CK]

I'm disappointed they bowed to the media pressure. I don't think his comments merited losing his job. Just because there's media scrutiny doesn't mean a guy has to be let go.

But as far as the Cleveland Indians go, I think that's just a dumb name regardless of the offensive nature to Native Americans. After all, they weren't really from India in the first place. But combining the racial and factual errors associated with the Cleveland Indians, I think it is a mistake that they continue down the path they have stayed on.

At any rate, it is a shame that someone released that recording of Gee's comments. I would like to know who did it. To me, trying to undercut the university president (and by extension make the university look bad) by directing the media to some off-color jokes is really a treacherous thing to do.