It is obvious that Wente, who has not yet answered allegations in separate articles by the Riverfront Times, St. Louis Business Journal and the public broadcasting newspaper Current, fears basic questions from her staff, who can confirm the truth of everything in the articles.
This retreat from the retreat is no surprise though. Wente ran and hid from Riverfront Times reporter Chad Garrison when he showed up unannounced at KWMU in April. All Garrison wanted to do was ask a few inconvenient questions of his own about Wente’s use of donor and taxpayer money.
23 comments:
Patty scaling back and including senior staff means that those excluded will be on her crap list. And Patty, if you get wind of this or someone directs this your way, I know your gameplan and its going to fail. To those not invited, she may or may not find a reason to increase your revenue goals. This is vintage Patty...jack up your workload so she can find a legit reason to can you or force you to resign. For those non revenue positions, Patty will ask your supervisor to create other hurdles. In the end she will force your supervisor and pit that person against you. Hey Wente, your hand is being played and the bluff game is over. So fold em because every move you make is under the scope.
Keep the review team updated in case things get even stranger for those not invited to the retreat. Though I am sure she will have a few glasses of wine along the way. Maybe she will drink and drive then get pulled over again!
All is to quiet on the comment front here.
let's just say, people can expose the bush administration all day long and yet the status quo remains.
all the time I worked there I likened her 'regime' to that of GWB.
It really is that bad, and she really is, apparently, as secure in her job as george w. is.
hence the no comments.
we are all worn out.
the only real change will happen when the current staff marches to woods hall and refuse to go back to their jobs until this is handled appropriately.
ever thought a total tyrant could be in charge of a public radio station be exposed and still keep their job?. well, we're living it.
isn't this what public radio stories are made of? why hasn't NPR or KWMU done a story on all of this???
hello public radio reporters- where are you when we need you?
It's true. From UMSL to the State Legislature to the White House and beyond. Corruption is the order of the day. We live in an era where evil regularly eludes justice - even when exposed - and only greed and cronyism are rewarded.
No wonder we're all so cynical. Thanks, Chancellor! Thanks UM System Trustees! Thank you for giving us all another reason to believe that nothing will ever change. Bravo.
Well as anyone in St. Louis circles can attest, Patty's "off-site" meetings were always held at different restaurants, whether it was Breakaway Cafe or Bristol's. The difference between Patty and decision makers who broker accurate deals is a severe amount of alcohol was not involved with the latter, while the former impairs her judgment. Insert the words alcohol, Patty and decision making & that equals poor results.
Then Patty takes it to a whole new level and becomes a "faux pas" Christian, carrying her bible and quoting scripture.
Simply put, no one else is responsible for her antics. She is the only one who did this to herself-- no one forced her. Three husbands later, an alcoholic by choice, a DUI that had nothing to do with a GPS unit, a stalking charge, asked by a Funeral Director to stay away from a service.....she will find someone else to blame for all her woes.
Bad news: there is no turning back now. The investigation team is in full force and this is ONE area she can't control.
As a former investor in the station (I stopped giving back more than three years ago because I didn't appreciate her rude remarks in public), I read the latest article in Current and have made several observations.
-The two former employees -- Karen A and Laura T -- have not just guts to step forward but obvious documentation to show Patty Wente's crazy ways. I stopped caring about the station in late 2004 because I recall her at an event and making a pass at a guy while his wife was in the same room. My guess is this is not the first time this occurred.
-The other two former employees- Laurie S and Kathleen U-- appear to have wanted to change Patty. Ladies, I have dealt with numerous alcoholics and the bottomline is you can't change Patty and her mindset. Your claims of deception are worth looking into, but the other two employees in the article appear to have more credibility. I am not saying your wrong but you sound way too bitter about not getting what you hoped for.
Lesson learned: you can't change an alcoholic no matter if they commit deception or not. You are going to have come forward with more information about her antics than just claiming no one listened to you. Remember: I am sending this to you from the outside and no I didn't work there but I did volunteer once to answer pledge drive phones and regretted it. She came into the room where we all sat and made some sexual reference about one of the noise-makers. Patty needs to check into a rehab clinic: this is a very sick individual.
BUT public perception can weigh heavily on how the KWMU will be dealt with. I work for a business that supports the station still, otherwise I would give full disclosure. Every time I asked to sit at a table for an event, I have to call ahead and make sure she is not sitting at or near our corp. table. Personally I don't want to be seen ten feet near her and I have voiced my concerns to my company about how it looks to be affiliated with the station's leadership. I don't have the final say but all corporate support is being evaluated at this time so we shall see.
Are other businesses withholding support from the station???
In response to the last comment. I am Laurie S., and I did get the fund drive changed.
Maybe the articles weren't clear in the fact that the fraudulent fund drives were addressed while I was at the station.
Not to speak for Kathleen, but she did her best to stop the fraudulent fund drive practices. Our concerns for the fraudulent fund drives went beyond trying to change an alcoholic.
As account representatives and sales managers- we were told to commit fraud to the listeners. And while I was there- the policy changed due to my actions with the University.
Luckily for me- I had an attorney (then my boyfriend, now my husband) who was knowledgeable about the deceiving practices and backed me up with the Missouri Statute that clearly stated what the station was doing was fraud.
Let's not forget- the University KNEW of the fraudulent fund drive practices BEFORE I went to them, via- Kathleen U. and Hillary W.- to name a few.
To say that we wanted to change Patty is unreal. We wanted to change the FACT that the station was committing FRAUD during the fund drives- per PW.
I went to work for a public radio station assuming everything was being conducted in a lawful and ethical manner. You can imagine my disdain when I realized fraud was being committed and NO ONE was doing anything about it. (no one except quite a few employees before me who tried to come forward).
So I sounded bitter??? How would you sound if you were confronted with the same situation?
Call me bitter for not agreeing to Fraud.
Laurie S.
Another comment:
I met with the Review Team and gave them pages of documentation regarding the fraudulent fund drives. PAGES of documentation. Valid documentation of the fraud that was committed while I was working there.
I also gave the Review Team written documentation that an employee of the station informed the University of the fund drive practices BEFORE I even started at the station. And this document was NOT anonymous.
(note Don D. comments in the RFT regarding the anonymous document that was given to him on '04-and I quote directly from the RFT article:
Had the authors filed a formal grievance, Driemeier says, the university would have been compelled to further investigate. "We've had the grievance procedure in place for years and it protects employees from retribution," he adds. "But with this letter there was no one to follow up with. If you want people to delve into an issue, you've got to tell them who you are.")
end of quote...
The University received a written grievance about the fund drive- before I started. This grievance was NOT anonymous. The Review Team is well aware of all of this- and more.
With this information, PW has yet to even be placed on leave- per UMSL.
The RFT article explains my situation better than the Current.
But again- both articles only scratched the surface of what really went on during the fund drives- and that I have documentation to back me up.
I wasn't just 'complaining' of a deceptive practice.
and yet- she is still there- amid all these other allegations.
My 'allegations' along with my documentation of the University's knowledge of the practice- prompt a leave of absence and not just a leave of absence for PW alone.
The Review Team received confirmation from over 5 different people confirming what I was saying about the fund drive.
And that numerous steps were taken to try to address the issue both with PW and the University that were NOT anonymous.
Again- let me point out- it was only addressed after the University received the Missouri Statute- which was clear to the University legal counsel- that the person making the grievance clearly was speaking to an attorney. Hence- after all of the complaints- both anonymous and not- UMSL decided it was time to 'address the issue'.
At the least- it showed the Review Team that UMSL is complicit in all of the station's wrong doings.
Alcoholic aside- is the whole University system out on a drinking binge?
I urge all businesses and donors to stop giving money to UMSL until this is handled. The station should not suffer for being under siege.
I cannot stress enough- how ALL of this information along with a whole lot more- has been given to the Review Team by a lot of people.
And yet, UMSL isn't saying or doing a thing.
Not anonymous....
Laurie S.
Former Account Executive of KWMU
(and for the record- I left on good terms with the station)
If Businesses are pulling their funding from KWMU, I ask that you also write a letter to both George and Forsee informing them of why you are not giving to the station.
Otherwise, the only people that will suffer will be the staff at the station. NOT PW. The staff will have to work that much harder to find a replacement for the corporate support.
Laurie S.
let's face it. the only people reading this blog are former or current employees and people who side with PW. The anonymous person who said I was bitter- it is obvious to me- based on what you described- that it was a total bait to get one of us to talk.
Those of us who have worked there- can spot a bait from her side a mile away.
Otherwise- why don't we all stop being anonymous?
If people who really care about the station are actually reading this blog- then we need to come forward.
Silence is golden to UMSL. And even though we have all spilled the beans with the Review Team- let's not forget- the Review Team works for the University system. It is NOT an independent investigation handled by an outside entity. As long as all the info given to the Review Team stays within the University system- the better it is for UMSL.
So I have put my info out there for everyone to read. I just pray that someone who can do something about this situation is reading the blog and will take our complaints seriously.
Are there actual listners/donors actually reading this blog that aren't affliated in any way with the station???
Laurie S.
Had it not been for Laurie S. and other former employees I respect coming forward long before me there's no way I would've been able to. I seriously question the intent in labeling any of us as brave or bitter when the reality is we're united in wanting KWMU management held accountable for well documented wrongdoings.
It is imperative NOW as the UM System review team enters the fifth week of their investigation that other voices are heard. Read the RFT article. Nothing there was fabricated and as was said, it merely scratches the surface. If this is not how you want your dollars spent, please contact UM System Pres. Gary Foresee today and let him know how you feel: forseeg@umsystem.edu.
Laurie S...I am the person who wrote earlier and I was suprised but in a good way to see the replies. Actually I found the blog under the comments section of the RFT where there were like 40 postings. The blog's spot was listed and I checked it out as our company prepares its budget review every August.
I totally feel for all in how you were treated and from a business perspective, our company is a top class group and we don't want to associate with the General Manager nor the station in the PR value arena. We have sat near the KWMU table at various events around town and it is truly embarrasing to be seen with her because she is like a drunk and a tramp.
Thank you for stepping forward when you saw fraud occuring. But as a business person, her bizarre ways at public events are just sick and my experience answering phones during the Feb drive and her sick comments made me not want to help out again. Therefore I spotted the blog site and made a posting. I have no idea how the staff currently works there but a walkout of some sort sounds like a good idea if the review team gives her a slap on the wrist.
It sounds like a soap opera and when I read about her behavoir in front of the NPR board and her style with employees...she has to go!
Thanks to this blog, I have made copies of these articles for my company to review and then we will send out emails to those atop.
Good luck. I am sure you all are in a better position than working there.
The latest story from Current was mentioned on another blog: http://blog.52ndcity.com/.
Not everyone who reads this blog is a former/current, opposite of what someone wrote yesterday. They are assuming way to much and yes I choose to remain anonymous because I did give what little I had to help support the station. I was an actual donor/listener not affiliated with the station and I have written to the UM President.
The University has a policy against sexual harrassment and creating a hostile work environment. Obviously, these workshops that managers and employees are supposed to attend are nothing but a dog and pony show.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
–Margaret Mead
Change has come
So Patty Wente has been fired...
The university was culpable; in all of this, the milquetoast Chancellor George and Don Driemier, 'looking the other way instead of doing their damn jobs is why the situation at KWMU reached this level.
They need to be brought under scrutiny by Mr. Forsee as well...
and since we all know the fish rots from the head down, let's not even consider Shelley Kerley or, God forbid, Robert Peterson as assuming the GM position.
The University did the right thing. In the end, Patty sunk her own ship and this was well overdue.
But now we have all boneheads like Brian who takes cheap shots at current staffers. Brian- put a lid on it. You sure are more than just bitter dude...you have an attitude problem.
My congratulations to the employees and former employees who kept telling the truth for years and years, even when no one would listen. Even when it subjected them to character assassination and ridicule, and worst of all, being dismissed altogether.
It took over 15 years, and God knows the collective personal toll, but justice has finally been served.
And to those of you who enabled, lied, backstabbed and covered up - may you get what's coming to you too.
Andrea
I'm glad Patty was fired today. I'm anti-PW but now we will see an onslaught of former employees who will remind everyone how fringe they are. Fringe as in they are the types that no matter what you say you will be wrong. These are the freaks who I hope don't return to the station and make us all look bad. Trust me if you challenge some of these people that worked there your feelings won't count. There are several employees who are respected and are welcome back.
I raised a glass of tonight and I am glad a new leaf will be turned. But then again, some ex employees will have a field day bashing others who work there. That's real smart. NOT!
KWMU's birthday is today as the station was founded on this day back in 1972.
Thirty six years later, the station made history again. The GM who had reigned for more than half of the station's life is no longer employed. There was no way she had support from anyone..now is the time to chill out.
"Fringe"? "Freaks?"
Seriously, dude, WTF are you on about?
Congratulations everyone!!!
Actually, anonymous outraged poster, Brian is absolutely right.
More than one upper-level manager was a co-conspirator. A person like Wente doesn't seize that kind of power without the help of highly- placed loyalist cronies with dirty hands.
However: This in NO way implicates the staff they supervised. THEY are the ones who suffered, and yet somehow managed to do a great job despite the insanity around them. Anyone who tries to conflate the actions of management with those of KWMU staff is probably, it seems to me, a management team member trying to cover his/her ass. How dare you.
The staff of KWMU has been through enough. It's too late for the people who made their lives a living hell to claim solidarity with them now.
I suspect the reason the weirdo has a problem with 'Brian' or whatever other 'freaks or fringe' (WTF?) is the comments he/they may have made hit too close to home.
Rather than straighten themselves out, they're resorting to criticism...
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