KWMU employees were called into a meeting Monday afternoon to be informed that Patty Wente is no longer the station's general manager (or CEO, or whatever title she was carrying at the time).
The university released a statement, and news coverage soon followed at:
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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.”
9 comments:
"Current" trade publication has the story this morning as well as the other media outlets listed. www.current.org
don't forget the link to the Business Journal too!
This is an excellent first step--but let's hope President Forsee and Chancellor George continue to do the right thing with complete disclosure of the findings of this review. The public and former and current employees have the right to know what has been going on. In addition to this first step, I implore UMSL to insist on complete transparency of all KWMU fundraising, and to implement a real board of directors with true governance and oversight. As listeners and taxpayers, we all have a stake in this public radio station. I urge other listeners and members to support the staff--most of whom had nothing to do with the impropriety and unprofessional behavior of Ms. Wente--during this time of healing and growth.
I'm sad to hear that Patty was the only employee let go from the station. As a former employee I can assure you that both Shelley and Sherry knew and had a major hand in what was going on and should be held accountable as well.
To poster #4: Agreed. It'll be a shame if the next GM doesn't get rid of them. They have a heckuva lot to answer for, those two. They did her bidding, every step of the way.
And the new/old PD (oops, sorry, "administrative manager") should follow them out the door.
Too much to hope for, I know.
Picking on the rest of Senior Staff post #5 and #4. Patty made her OWN choices you moron. Now you want to blame others..what a bonehead you are. I am a former employee who left in the late 90's and disliked Patty. But now you go to the extreme and pick on others. No one legit (minus a few fools on staff) is going to buy your load of crap because you want to blame others for Patty's demise. PW got what she deserved but now you have crossed over the line.
Post #5 and Patty actually have something in common- they are two twisted individuals who want to be in control of all things and a desire to blame others. Imagine that Post 5. You never thought that you would be thrown in the same boat as Patty? Freaked you out didn't it!
What's wrong Post #5 and #4..don't like to be criticized? You can't take the heat can ya'. What's wrong...can't take being slammed?
Go try on some diapers because who knows what other crap you will pull out of your behind.
Whenever someone tells you "Don't look over there!" you can bet there's a reason for it.
Anonymous 6 is bluffing, by the way. Current and past KWMU'ers (I doubt s/he is one, frankly) are well aware of the -real- situation. One wonders why s/he feels the need to defend, and in such a vulgar manner, people to whom s/he allegedly has no relationship.
Meh. Given the tenor of this particular "Anonymous"'s post, I leave it to readers to decide whose posts here benefit from first-hand experience and rationality,and whose ad hominem remarks are bordering on the hysterical.
This is getting ridiculous--slamming each other. This is why I pray that UMSL does a full disclosure of the findings of the review. That way people like poster #6 and a few other current employees who have been critical of those who were brave enough to speak out can see the full extent of the crimes you were all made a party to. This was not just about halter tops and "unprofessional" behavior. As I understand it, there is credible evidence coming out of this review that may even be prosecutable. And it's not just one thing--more like five different things that she did. I won't go into specifics, but please, please stay on top of UMSL so that those left at the station can come together for positive growth and change. You should all demand to know the full extent of the review's findings. And yes, sadly, that may mean that a few other top managers who were there for years and years either looked the other way, or were her puppets. This is with the exception of the news department which turns out an excellent product and was generally allowed to operate autonomously. Probably why they have such a great product--PW pretty well left them alone. Peace.
19 years too late
(former KWMU staffer)
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