After her firing this week, Patty made an extremely predictable move: Try to appear as the victim. New articles appear today in the Post-Dispatch and Business-Journal.
Sigh.
Meanwhile, we hear the new interim GM is already making rational and necessary decisions and changes that should have been made years ago.
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Statement from UMSL
UNIVERSITY REPLACES GENERAL MANAGER
University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor Thomas George today terminated the employment of longtime KWMU (90.7 FM) general manager Patricia Wente. The action followed a review of financial and management issues raised by current and past employees and outside auditors.
“KWMU is a St. Louis treasure,” George said. “This action is being taken to protect that treasure for the university and the community.”
KWMU is a National Public Radio affiliate with a 100,000-watt signal. The station is housed at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and licensed to The Curators of the University of Missouri.
George said that he has asked that KBIA (91.3 FM) General Manager Mike Dunn serve as interim general manager. Dunn has been the general manager of the public radio station on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus for 22 years.
“It is not unique that one UM campus loan expertise during times of transition and I’m thankful to MU for their cooperation,” George said. “I know that our award-winning radio staff here will work well with Mike as he oversees daily operations, as well as continues to review the station’s financial and management policies. We want to ensure that the proper checks and balances are in place to maintain our fiscal integrity and highest standards of professional behavior.”
27 comments:
She has a lawyer.
She has the same quotes used all the time ("I'm taking the high road").
She has the same quotes, same lawyer for her life crises and she has no sour grapes.
She has the same quotes, same lawyer for her personal issues, no sour grapes....wait a moment. Are those the same grapes from all the wine she drank?
This is exactly why the public needs to insist on full disclosure of the review findings and also demand that any evidence be turned over to the proper authorities. Keep in mind that while I applaud the termination, UMSL only took decisive action AFTER they learned that CPB (The Corporation for Public Broadcasting) had been contacted. They could no longer contain the story "in house".
With that said, Wente is absolutely delusional. Does she really not understand that the dozens of people who participated in the review were not anonymous. They were brave and came forward with hope for positive change. Just because UMSL chooses to finally do the right thing and protect their identities from her to prevent her from retalliation does not mean that any of it was anonymous. Does she really not get it. Does she really want a big battle and ALL of it to become public?
Since Patty likes to brag about calling CPB in for a full audit of KWMU when she began there, it's only fitting they should return upon her exit.
If you agree, here's info on contacting them: http://www.cpb.org/oig/
Question: Is the capital campaign consultant still on the KWMU payroll?
I hope his contract is closely examined after what I read in the Business Journal last month and that has not been talked about it since that story was published.
Anyone know if he went down with PW or is he still charging an insane amount of money to the tune of $20K per month??
Ostroff's employee is still at KWMU, so the contract must still be in place. Lets hope the interim GM has the sense to cancel that ASAP too. From what I hear, it looks promising.
CPB is involved...damn this thing has more legs than a circus. And I looked at Michael Ostrohoff's website and he used to do some work for CPB. Of course, Patty was there. Just amazing.
Patty is probably at some B&B in Hermann near one of the wineries or walking a beach in Florida. Who knows, she might stumble into another consultant. Then again, ask anyone how she acted on the RCGA retreat in San Diego.
The one thing that woman is: tenacious. It seems to me, at least, that her mania and near-sociopathic obsession with winning at any cost make it impossible for her to admit any responsibility for her actions. Ever.
I hope this -does- end up in court! Imagine all the people she's harmed over the years who would LOVE to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth, about what they've witnessed.
Her quotes about "not responding to anonymous" are total BS and she knows it. Much of what was handed in to the review team was in no way anonymous.
I'm NOT a lawyer, so I don't know the rules here, but shouldn't the University state to her in writing their reasons for firing her. And shouldn't her last personnel review have indicated that she was skating on thin ice. And is it possible for some sort of class action lawsuit for all the employees who were knowingly abused by her.
"Your guess is as good as mine," she said. "I can't give you the reasons why. I'm a tough manager, and managers have to make tough decisions. When you make decisions, some people will be happy and some will not be happy."
Now that's Patty quoted in Wednesday's Post-Dispatch. As a former employee, please notice here using the phrase "I'm a tough manager" in the P-D story 6/5/08.
She's almost acting as if she is still a KWMU General Manager and is very delusional. I have a bad feeling that Patty will take this to court. On the other hand, evidence from the review team may prompt someone else to take her to court.
In the grand scheme, she lost and did it to herself
What's funny is she actually thinks she's a good manager. When I was first employed at the station I remember her saying she wanted to write a how-to management book. She had the title already, "The Right to Manage." Back then she had an article St. Louis Magazine wrote about her framed on her wall with the headline "I'm a bitch, but I'm a good bitch." I think we should take a vote on that one. Delusional has been a fitting description of her for a VERY long time.
Thank God she is out of there. After this initial period of readjustment, KWMU is going to grow in leaps and bounds in ways we could barely dare to dream before.
One question: anyone have any idea when the review team will wrap up the investigation? Like the next 4-6 weeks? End of June?
How will this be communicated to the station?
Check out Saturday's Post Page A7 and the last three paragraphs. UM President Gary Forsee supports the firing of Patty Wente. I didn't have time to locate the online version...anyone else seen it at stltoday.com?
Here's a link to Forsee's comments:
http://tinyurl.com/4rx7bj
Here's the thing. There is a tremendous amount of misinformation out there--even by members of the press whom you would expect to be informed on the issues. Did you see Donnybrook on Channel 9? Come on folks--don't start a debate on regional television if you are not well reserached. Only Charlie Brennan seemed to have gone to the trouble of reading all of the various reports and articles. This is exactly why it isn't over yet. If the public sentiment stands with "poor Patty", this could actually HURT the station's future recovery and fundraising ability. This is why it is crucial for UMSL to come totally clean on this and disclose--at least in general terms--the various abuses and impropriety she committed. And if they don't, then maybe someone else should.
To Post #15: I agree with your assessment and here's the thing: Patty is/was a member of the Press Club and more than likely is spreading the role of the "poor me" to her inner circle of friends inside the STL Press Club. A bullet point findings from the review team should be released by UM or UMSL.
Mark it on your calendar folks...this would be the first time Ms. Wente EVER took the high road on anything!!! She epitomizes low-brow, low-class behavior and UMSL, KWMU and it's listeners deserve much better.
As for Ms. Wente, she will not admit any wrongdoing as she's never been know to accept responsibility for her deplorable business practices or her unprofessional actions.
Kudos to the new UM President for supporting the firing of Ms. Wente, and for Chancellor George for finally having the courage to eliminate the "gem" of the cancer it long endured.
To get back on topic, Wente's demonstrating selective memory to the Current (public radio trade paper). Article here:
http://www.current.org/radio/radio0810wente.shtml
She says there was no mismanagement. When did using station funds as your personal bank account become proper business practice? This is documented in the station's audit, not hearsay. Hiring friends and family? Lying to members about challenges "on the table"?
Can we talk about the Friends Board? What is happening with them? I hope the chancellor and UM System have the sense to dismantle that whole group entirely. Sadly many of them have been brainwashed by Wente to believe she was doing a good job. It helps when all you tell them is what you want them to know. I particularly feel for Rosalie and Les. They love the station and have given countless hours of their time and substantial amounts of financial support. They deserve to get an accurate account of what's going on. Every supporter does! Do away with the figurehead fundraising board and develop a true governing board. It's a crime the Friends board is able to claim they raise millions in support of the station and a slap in the face to every single staff member who works so hard to raise funds to keep the station operating.
All one has to do is tune into St. Louis On The Air and hear the thoughts/feelings from listeners. They were put off by Patty's tone during fund drives and then upon finding out about mismanagement, it drove them to seriously consider or already put their dollars elsewehere.
With today's economies, non profits have to be held accountable. Then again, why did she have a $15,000 per month ($180,000 a year!) expense account? I hope that's not just looked at but done away with.
By the way, I liked hearing Mr. Dunn today. KWMU received new furniture...what's wrong with a desk that's like 15 years old? Mike did a wonderful job today.
Now that the freak-obsessed dude and his little tirade have gone away, how will listeners -and former subscribers for that matter, know when to start supporting the station again?
I'd like to start supporting KWMU again but just wonder if there are any other things that could come out of the woodwork later on and give me cause to regret doing so. I've joined a station in CA in the interim.
Any ideas?
It's absolutely refreshing to hear someone of sound mind talking about management and the future of KWMU. Nice job, Mike!
I love that he has the glass door to the admin. offices propped open now too. Patty used to insist I try to stop everyone from entering her office to ask what they needed first.
Regarding furniture, nothing's wrong with buying it if there's a need and you can afford it, but taking out yet another loan from administrative services to pay for it is a whole other animal. I was more than happy with my fully functional fifteen year-old desk! If she had polled the staff I imagine those feeling they needed new furniture would've been only a handfull. Instead the whole station's bright, shiny and new. This is supposed to tell visiting donors their support is needed?
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