🔥🔥BREAKING🔥🔥 Statement from Gordon Gee and Wren Baker

[Keenan Cummings]

Statement from President E. Gordon Gee and Director of Athletics Wren Baker:


On Monday, May 8, Head Men's Basketball Coach Bob Huggins was interviewed on a Cincinnati radio show where he used derogatory and offensive language. It was inexcusable. It was a moment that unfairly and inappropriately hurt many people and has tarnished West Virginia University.

It is also a moment that provides the opportunity for learning. A moment that can shine a light on the injustice and hate that often befall the members of our marginalized communities. While the University has never and will never condone the language used on Monday, we will use this moment to educate how the casual use of inflammatory language and implicit bias affect our culture, our community and our health and well-being.

To begin, the Athletics Department will partner with WVU's LGBTQ+ Center to develop annual training sessions that will address all aspects of inequality including homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ableism and more. This training and programming will be required of Coach Huggins and all current and future athletics coaching staff.

Next, according to the Williams Institute, West Virginia has the highest percentage of transgender youth in the nation. To address the concerns of our West Virginia youth, Coach Huggins will be required to meet with LGBTQ+ leaders from across West Virginia with guidance from the leadership of WVU's LGBTQ+ Center. We want to partner with ACLU-WV, Fairness WV, Morgantown Pride and other organizations to elevate the conversation regarding the issues that affect our state. Through those conversations, we expect Coach Huggins, in accordance with these partners, to engage in additional opportunities to show support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Coach Huggins also will be required to meet with leadership from WVU's Carruth Center to better understand the mental health crisis facing our college students, particularly those in marginalized communities. It is expected he will work with the Center and the University to raise awareness on how we can best support our students' health and well-being.

The annual compensation of Coach Huggins will be reduced by $1 million. Those dollars will be used to directly support WVU's LGBTQ+ Center, the Carruth Center and other state and national organizations that support marginalized communities. University leadership will seek input from these organizations to determine how to best utilize those funds.

We also take seriously the disparaging way in which the Catholic faith was characterized in the comments. Coach Huggins personally volunteered and WVU agrees that he will make a substantial donation to Xavier University to support its Center for Faith and Justice and its Center for Diversity and Inclusion.

In addition, the following actions have been taken because of this incident:

• Coach Huggins will be suspended for the first three regular season games of the 2023-2024 season; and
• his current employment contract will be amended from a multi-year agreement to a year-by-year agreement that will begin on May 10, 2023, and end on April 30, 2024.
• We have made it explicitly clear to Coach Huggins that any incidents of similar derogatory and offensive language will result in immediate termination.

We will never truly know the damage that has been done by the words said in those 90 seconds. Words matter and they can leave scars that can never be seen. But words can also heal. And by taking this moment to learn more about another's perspective, speak respectfully and lead with understanding, perhaps the words "do better" will lead to meaningful change for all.

E. Gordon Gee
President, West Virginia University

Wren Baker
Vice President and Director of WVU Athletics

 

[Vernon]

Huggins statement

 

[Vernon]

Statement from Bob Huggins:



Over the past 48 hours, I have reflected on the awful words that I shared on a radio program earlier this week. I deeply regret my actions, the hurt they unfairly caused others and the negative attention my words have brought to West Virginia University.



I also regret the embarrassment and disappointment it has caused our Athletics family, members of our campus community and the state of West Virginia. I am sorry for the hurt and distress I have caused our students and our student-athletes. I represent more than just our University and our basketball program, and it pains me to know that I have let so many people down.



I have no excuse for the language I used, and I take full responsibility. I will abide with the actions outlined by the University and Athletics leadership to learn from this incident. I have had several conversations with colleagues and friends that I deeply respect and admire over the last 24 hours, and I am keenly aware of the pain that I have caused. I meant what I wrote on Monday - I will do better.



I am looking forward to working with WVU’s LGBTQ+ Center and other state organizations to learn more about the issues facing the community. As a leader, I am eager to use my platform to take what I learn and share it with a broader audience.



I also regret my comments regarding Xavier University. I am hopeful that my personal donation to the university to support its Center for Faith and Justice and its Center for Diversity and Inclusion will further the work it does and the impact it has on its students.



West Virginia and West Virginia University are my home. I love this University and know first-hand that the education and experiences students receive here make a difference. I am truly sorry for the damage I have done. And I am grateful for the chance to move forward in a way that positively represents this University and our state.

 

[MountaineerWV]

Wow. Statement written by two guys who have NO DOUBT used that same word dozens and dozens of times in their lifetime. For God's sake, Huggins wasn't using the word to describe homosexuals. Huggins was wrong, but still..........hypocrisy.

 

[locustwv]

If I was him I’d leave!! The hell with all that!! This world is so messed up.

 

[MountaineerWV]

If I was him I’d leave!! The hell with all that!! This world is so messed up.

I'm glad he's back, but part of me would have liked to see him say four simple words......."F**k You, I'm Out"

 

[locustwv]

I'm glad he's back, but part of me would have liked to see him say four simple words......."F**k You, I'm Out"

It’s getting harder and harder to support this university.

 

[MountaineerWV]

It’s getting harder and harder to support this university.

I'll 100% follow WVU until I die. Nothing gonna change that. Win, Lose. The PC crap. But I understand what you are saying.

 

[Vernon]

 

[gardeneer]

My opinion is completely different from the majority on here. I'm pissed of at Huggins and glad he's getting an actual education on the people he hurt and offended, especially by meeting with select groups on and off campus. He said he would take whatever was coming his way, so if he's a man of his word he's going to genuinely use this to be better to all people. Actions mean a hell of a lot more than words, and this is his opportunity.

I am glad he wasn't fired, although I would have understood.

 

[Vernon]

My opinion is completely different from the majority on here. I'm pissed of at Huggins and glad he's getting an actual education on the people he hurt and offended, especially by meeting with select groups on and off campus. He said he would take whatever was coming his way, so if he's a man of his word he's going to genuinely use this to be better to all people. Actions mean a hell of a lot more than words, and this is his opportunity.

I am glad he wasn't fired, although I would have understood.

FWIW, much of this was what Huggins suggested as his punishment. I posted that within hours of it happening.

One other thing, there's some serious irony in this part of what you wrote, "Actions mean a hell of a lot more than words".

 

[WVUBRU]

My opinion is completely different from the majority on here. I'm pissed of at Huggins and glad he's getting an actual education on the people he hurt and offended, especially by meeting with select groups on and off campus. He said he would take whatever was coming his way, so if he's a man of his word he's going to genuinely use this to be better to all people. Actions mean a hell of a lot more than words, and this is his opportunity.

I am glad he wasn't fired, although I would have understood.

Completely agree.

 

[Hogan's Hero]

If I was him I’d leave!! The hell with all that!! This world is so messed up.

i would leave to.. we are a weak society and being in great fear of people that have no belief in what our God says that wrong in his eyes...sure what he said was unfortunate...we are a country ready for the fall

 

[The Bell Tolls for Thee]

Now y'all f@gs get your panties unbunched. That's the end that got left out

 

[steeleer]

My guess is that he will not do talk show interviews anymore after this, which is good.

I’ll also guess he had a couple of beers before this as well, which should also be another lesson learned.

 

[Rootmaster]

My opinion is completely different from the majority on here. I'm pissed of at Huggins and glad he's getting an actual education on the people he hurt and offended, especially by meeting with select groups on and off campus. He said he would take whatever was coming his way, so if he's a man of his word he's going to genuinely use this to be better to all people. Actions mean a hell of a lot more than words, and this is his opportunity.

I am glad he wasn't fired, although I would have understood.

Screw my alma mater. Hope the athletics and attendance continues to crater. Tired of the world catering to a bunch of weirdos.

 

[WVUALLEN]

If I was him I’d leave!! The hell with all that!! This world is so messed up.

I believe he retires at the end of this season.

 

[MountaineerWV]

I believe he retires at the end of this season.

The university got out of a buyout at the end of each year now. So makes it easier to push him out if they want.

 

[WVUALLEN]

The university got out of a buyout at the end of each year now. So makes it easier to push him out if they want.

It's also a year to year contract. His original contract was expired in 2024. This is why I believe he steps down in 2024.

 

[deedoubleyou]

The whole thing about "woke" or whatever, is these groups like LGBTQ, no one really used to care much about them. People just lived and let live. They werent hated like they claim at all and not even close, but now they are going to make everyone hate them. It is like a self-fulfilling prophecy. I never cared about gays or any of that stuff, but nowadays I really cant stand those fkn weaklings at all and have zero sympathy for them. I used to feel very different about it. They are making me against them, but not because they are gay. Its because they are tyrants and fools.

 

[GhostofGraves]

If I was him I’d leave!! The hell with all that!! This world is so messed up.

"we expect Coach Huggins, in accordance with these partners, to engage in additional opportunities to show support for the LGBTQ+ community."

we expect you to show support for the LGBEIEIO community. WOW. We will tell you what you WILL support, and think. No thanks. I'm about done giving $ to WVU. It's become one more shithole.

 

[jlaudiomaster]

University won’t get my donation money anymore since this is where it’s going

 

[deedoubleyou]

I'm selling my property in Morgantown and will never give that town, or WVU a dime of anything until they wake up. This is ridiculous. They are so out of touch with the real people of this country. Did they not see what happened with Bud Lite? I hope the real silent majority continues to wake up and vote with their feet and money. They are fkd without the normal people. Remind them of it.

 

[HotInEER]

Statement from President E. Gordon Gee and Director of Athletics Wren Baker:


On Monday, May 8, Head Men's Basketball Coach Bob Huggins was interviewed on a Cincinnati radio show where he used derogatory and offensive language. It was inexcusable. It was a moment that unfairly and inappropriately hurt many people and has tarnished West Virginia University.

It is also a moment that provides the opportunity for learning. A moment that can shine a light on the injustice and hate that often befall the members of our marginalized communities. While the University has never and will never condone the language used on Monday, we will use this moment to educate how the casual use of inflammatory language and implicit bias affect our culture, our community and our health and well-being.

To begin, the Athletics Department will partner with WVU's LGBTQ+ Center to develop annual training sessions that will address all aspects of inequality including homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ableism and more. This training and programming will be required of Coach Huggins and all current and future athletics coaching staff.

Next, according to the Williams Institute, West Virginia has the highest percentage of transgender youth in the nation. To address the concerns of our West Virginia youth, Coach Huggins will be required to meet with LGBTQ+ leaders from across West Virginia with guidance from the leadership of WVU's LGBTQ+ Center. We want to partner with ACLU-WV, Fairness WV, Morgantown Pride and other organizations to elevate the conversation regarding the issues that affect our state. Through those conversations, we expect Coach Huggins, in accordance with these partners, to engage in additional opportunities to show support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Coach Huggins also will be required to meet with leadership from WVU's Carruth Center to better understand the mental health crisis facing our college students, particularly those in marginalized communities. It is expected he will work with the Center and the University to raise awareness on how we can best support our students' health and well-being.

The annual compensation of Coach Huggins will be reduced by $1 million. Those dollars will be used to directly support WVU's LGBTQ+ Center, the Carruth Center and other state and national organizations that support marginalized communities. University leadership will seek input from these organizations to determine how to best utilize those funds.

We also take seriously the disparaging way in which the Catholic faith was characterized in the comments. Coach Huggins personally volunteered and WVU agrees that he will make a substantial donation to Xavier University to support its Center for Faith and Justice and its Center for Diversity and Inclusion.

In addition, the following actions have been taken because of this incident:

• Coach Huggins will be suspended for the first three regular season games of the 2023-2024 season; and
• his current employment contract will be amended from a multi-year agreement to a year-by-year agreement that will begin on May 10, 2023, and end on April 30, 2024.
• We have made it explicitly clear to Coach Huggins that any incidents of similar derogatory and offensive language will result in immediate termination.

We will never truly know the damage that has been done by the words said in those 90 seconds. Words matter and they can leave scars that can never be seen. But words can also heal. And by taking this moment to learn more about another's perspective, speak respectfully and lead with understanding, perhaps the words "do better" will lead to meaningful change for all.

E. Gordon Gee
President, West Virginia University

Wren Baker
Vice President and Director of WVU Athletics

If your group is marginalized, you don’t yield this type of power.

 

[Buckaineer]

It sickens me to see hatemongers trying to pretend religion and politics have anything to do with this. No God except the devil condones hate, hate speach, intolerance. etc. Its about as anti-Christian as anyone can get.

Huggins did something very wrong and has to be punished for it. He got off easy and likely set his own punishment. Could have been far worse for him but hopefully he and others will learn the lesson that their hate doesn't have to be tolerated by anyone else on this planet. Its no ones right to put down others--ever heard of "let he who is without sin.....????"

Of course not--your too busy worshipping Trump and watching FOX "News" lie to you and eating it all up. Shameful.

 

[Rootmaster]

It sickens me to see hatemongers trying to pretend religion and politics have anything to do with this. No God except the devil condones hate, hate speach, intolerance. etc. Its about as anti-Christian as anyone can get.

Huggins did something very wrong and has to be punished for it. He got off easy and likely set his own punishment. Could have been far worse for him but hopefully he and others will learn the lesson that their hate doesn't have to be tolerated by anyone else on this planet. Its no ones right to put down others--ever heard of "let he who is without sin.....????"

Of course not--your too busy worshipping Trump and watching FOX "News" lie to you and eating it all up. Shameful.

What was "very wrong" little Bucky Wucky? Are you butthurt or just sore from your last date?

 

[jlaudiomaster]

It sickens me to see hatemongers trying to pretend religion and politics have anything to do with this. No God except the devil condones hate, hate speach, intolerance. etc. Its about as anti-Christian as anyone can get.

Huggins did something very wrong and has to be punished for it. He got off easy and likely set his own punishment. Could have been far worse for him but hopefully he and others will learn the lesson that their hate doesn't have to be tolerated by anyone else on this planet. Its no ones right to put down others--ever heard of "let he who is without sin.....????"

Of course not--your too busy worshipping Trump and watching FOX "News" lie to you and eating it all up. Shameful.

Then leave the board once and for all. Just bc people are not happy with all this doesn’t mean they condone what was said.

 

[The Bell Tolls for Thee]

It sickens me to see hatemongers trying to pretend religion and politics have anything to do with this. No God except the devil condones hate, hate speach, intolerance. etc. Its about as anti-Christian as anyone can get.

Huggins did something very wrong and has to be punished for it. He got off easy and likely set his own punishment. Could have been far worse for him but hopefully he and others will learn the lesson that their hate doesn't have to be tolerated by anyone else on this planet. Its no ones right to put down others--ever heard of "let he who is without sin.....????"

Of course not--your too busy worshipping Trump and watching FOX "News" lie to you and eating it all up. Shameful.

This is the f@ggiest, f@g post that ever f@gged.

 

[WVUALLEN]

It sickens me to see hatemongers trying to pretend religion and politics have anything to do with this. No God except the devil condones hate, hate speach, intolerance. etc. Its about as anti-Christian as anyone can get.

Huggins did something very wrong and has to be punished for it. He got off easy and likely set his own punishment. Could have been far worse for him but hopefully he and others will learn the lesson that their hate doesn't have to be tolerated by anyone else on this planet. Its no ones right to put down others--ever heard of "let he who is without sin.....????"

Of course not--your too busy worshipping Trump and watching FOX "News" lie to you and eating it all up. Shameful.

What did he do that was wrong? Typical liberal shits like yourself have no idea what you're talking about.

I think you should take your stupid shit and become turd fan.

 

[deedoubleyou]

It sickens me to see hatemongers trying to pretend religion and politics have anything to do with this. No God except the devil condones hate, hate speach, intolerance. etc. Its about as anti-Christian as anyone can get.

Huggins did something very wrong and has to be punished for it. He got off easy and likely set his own punishment. Could have been far worse for him but hopefully he and others will learn the lesson that their hate doesn't have to be tolerated by anyone else on this planet. Its no ones right to put down others--ever heard of "let he who is without sin.....????"

Of course not--your too busy worshipping Trump and watching FOX "News" lie to you and eating it all up. Shameful.

Bob Huggins wasnt on the radio to represent the Christian religion. You are an idiot. No one is really sorry that he hurt you and your fag buddies feelings. Seriously, very few people care anymore. In fact it is becoming very obvious that the large majority of Americans are turning against the LGBTQ community because they are sick of it and the crazy people involved in it. I expect to hear the use of words like fag a lot more in the coming years, until you and your buddies get back on the short bus where you belong.

 

[Rootmaster]

Plan to use the word today in fact!

 

[steeleer]

My guess is that he will not do talk show interviews anymore after this, which is good.

I’ll also guess he had a couple of beers before this as well, which should also be another lesson learned.

The fact that I not charging for my stuff is such a f$&king gift to this board.

 

[oceantide83]

Nice bump bait.

 

[Buckaineer]

Idiot bigots like the ones on this board are why WV is last in everything good and first in everything bad.

The majority of America cant stand your inbred ignorant as hell worthless asses and stupid as f thoughts ( or lack thereof) and thats why the rest of the world is growing and WV has been in decline for decades.

 

[WVUFanForever]

Idiot bigots like the ones on this board are why WV is last in everything good and first in everything bad.

The majority of America cant stand your inbred ignorant as hell worthless asses and stupid as f thoughts ( or lack thereof) and thats why the rest of the world is growing and WV has been in decline for decades.

Go **** yourself nazi piece of shit..

you are such a fag.

 

[steeleer]

Idiot bigots like the ones on this board are why WV is last in everything good and first in everything bad.

The majority of America cant stand your inbred ignorant as hell worthless asses and stupid as f thoughts ( or lack thereof) and thats why the rest of the world is growing and WV has been in decline for decades.

Shut up buck with your useless f$&king bullshit.

Just once.

 

[wilmingtoneer]

At this point, why is buck not banned from the board? He has put down many people here and now the whole state of WV. There is no reason he is allowed on this or any board concerning WV or WVU. Can we finally get rid of this fake poster.???

 

[WV Bruno]

It’s getting harder and harder to support this university.

It's a mess and an embarrassment on so many fronts. You go woke you go broke.

 

[ThePunish-EER]

Idiot bigots like the ones on this board are why WV is last in everything good and first in everything bad.

The majority of America cant stand your inbred ignorant as hell worthless asses and stupid as f thoughts ( or lack thereof) and thats why the rest of the world is growing and WV has been in decline for decades.

Yet, here you are on this WV message board. Ever thought of leaving for that California cesspool? The majority of Americans think like we do. It’s not bigoted. You libtards live in your own make believe world. Since WV went red we now have a surplus and reduced taxes.

 

[WVUFanForever]

At this point, why is buck not banned from the board? He has put down many people here and now the whole state of WV. There is no reason he is allowed on this or any board concerning WV or WVU. Can we finally get rid of this fake poster.???

I asked the same thing months ago and old Vern decided to go on the offensive with me on why I was picking fights with bucky.

This place sucks.