The
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Gordnev-Wehh University
Breaking News
Tuesday, October 1, 2002
www.gwupilot com
Volume 6 No. 4
Exclusive Q&A with Christopher White
President speaks
Jennifer Menster
Pilot design editor
copyright 2002 The Pilot
For the past three
weeks, Gardner-
Webb President
Christopher White has been
muzzled.
The president was told by
the board of trustees not to
speak to the media or students
while investigators from the
NCAA and lawyers from
Atlanta, Ga. were investigating
the school.
But now the investigations
are over (results from the
NCAA investigation could still
take months), and White is
speaking.
“There were legal issues
involved, and the trustees man
dated that I not speak to media
and groups,” White said. “I
really care about the students
and being muzzled is a retching
experience.”
White has been president
of GW for 16 and a half years.
Prior to that, he was a religion
professor, dean of academics
and provost at Elon College
(now University). White said
he is proud of his years at GW
and hopes to retire here.
White is married to Linda
and they have two sons. One is
a lawyer in Charlotte, and
according to White, has never
worked with Ed Hallman, the
investigative lawyer from
Atlanta, Ga. Their other son is
an executive with Royal Bank
of Canada. Both are graduates
ofGW
Mrs. White is a former
public education teacher. She
volunteers her time at the uni
versity as an interior decorator.
White said he has two main
principles when it comes to his
Photo by Scott Holstein
University President Christopher White chats with Matthew Marlowe, sophomore, during lunch on Monday.
job as president - 1. Uphold the
integrity of the school and 2.
Uphold student rights.
“Sometimes students aren’t
treated fairly,” White said. “I
just can’t stand that. Perhaps
that is a weakness and a
strength.”
When are you going to
talk to students?
White; Starting right this
minute. 1 think I have a dinner
to go to tomorrow night
(Tuesday). I don’t anticipate
talking to major groups. I want
small groups, maybe in the
cafeteria.
What do you have to say
to the students?
I’ve thought about it. I
don’t know. I think it is impor
tant for students to realize not
only did I not do the things I’ve
been accused of, but I’m not
capable of doing those things.
How do you feel about
the board’s decision?
I did not meet with the
board. I was ready to come to
the meeting if asked. It’s not
my privy to discuss anything
with the board. I had the privy
to look at the book. I support
the board’s decision. They
were given the evidence and
made a wise decision. I respect
the board’s authority and
integrity.
How did you feel when
The Shelby Star came out
with their article?
Other than appalled at, I
wondered what the issue was.
As executive of university, I
deal with a multitude of deci
sions on a daily bases that
come from all directions. So
often, the information to make
the decision is unclear and
debatable. It’s difficult to be
perfect.
How do you feel about
the no-confidence vote?
I don’t think feelings
would be appropriate to
express. I was appalled at the
matter in which the whole thing
was approached. I was appalled
with the way things were done.
Other than that I have nothing
to say about my feelings.
How did you find out
about the board’s decision?
Two members of the board
came to my house and gave me
a copy of the book. [The book
is an approximate 100-page
report from the Attorneys of
Decker, Hallman, Barber &
Briggs of Atlanta, Ga.]
How did you get your
statement to the media so
fast? [White’s statement
reached the media during the
press conference within 20
minutes.]
I had all kinds of time to
think, wonder and hope. I knew
what the truth was - hoping it
would come. I spent a lot of
time thinking and writing.
What are your feelings
toward Blackburn and
Williams?
I think each member of the
group of integrity did what they
considered to be in the best
interest of the school. I refuse
to have ill will to those. I am
not in the judging business. I
have no emotion. I was pre
pared to accept whatever judg
ment there was.
How do you plan to
rebuild the school after this
situation?
I think it will be an impor
tant task. The trustees have
spoken. We - all of us - can ,
move on to be the best univer
sity it can be. We have an out
standing student body and fac
ulty. I have no doubt this school
will get over this difficult time.
It is clear we’ve learned some
thing needs to be done. I say we
as in the community. We’ve had
a disregard to rights of privacy.
see White page 4
More Inside
Board makes decision p. 2
Lawyers’ findings p. 3
Faculty speaks p. 5
Student reactions p. 3
That’s Life p. 7
Letters to the Editor p. 6-8