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West Virginia University Radio Station GM Suspended Amid Claims

MARTINSBURG — West Virginia University has named an interim general manager to lead its radio station as it investigates sexual harassment allegations against Matthew Fouty made by students working at the station.

Contacted by phone Monday afternoon, John A. Bolt, senior executive director of WVU relations office and communications, confirmed that Fouty is the subject of a Title IX investigation.

A group of students held a news conference Monday afternoon detailing their complaints. Students of radio station WWVU, known as U92, went on strike Wednesday because they did not believe WVU administration was responding to their complaints against Fouty, who was hired as the station’s general manager in 2015.

“West Virginia University is committed to creating an educational and workplace environment where faculty, staff and students feel welcome, safe and free to express themselves,” WVU officials said in a statement released Monday. “However, this commitment has been questioned through the concerns raised by students working at the student-run radio station, U92.”

According to the statement, Kim Harrison was named interim general manager of U92, effective immediately. Fouty will not be permitted to report to work on campus, and WVU has hired outside legal counsel to review the students’ complaints, university officials said.

“The university remains steadfast in addressing the WWVU students’ concerns, and will work with the students to bring it to resolution as quickly as possible. WVU encourages any member of the university family who believes they have relevant information related to the current WWVU matter, or any other, to contact James Goins, the university’s Title IX officer.

“WVU will not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, domestic misconduct, stalking or retaliation. The university will continue to follow its policies and procedures to address any actions which would be considered contrary to this commitment.”

Jackson Montgomery, a spokesman for the group of striking students and volunteers, led a news conference Monday afternoon in Morgantown that was live-streamed, detailing the students’ complaints.

“This is a two-part issue,” Montgomery said. “There is the sexual harassment, but there also is a leadership issue. The station has gone downhill. There has been a slack in its output. We had enough in June.”

Montgomery said a group from the station met with Adell Crowe, who oversees the radio station, in June. He said at that time, Crowe told the group she was obligated to file a Title IX complaint about the sexual harassment allegations with WVU’s Title IX office.

Like many other colleges and universities, WVU has an office dedicated to Title IX issues, including investigating complaints. Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is best known for opening college athletics to women. It also has been used to enforce sexual assault, harassment, misconduct and other sexually related violations.

“I sent a lengthy statement, but I never received any word back that it was being looked into,” Montgomery said. “I never received confirmation that my statement had been received.”

An attempt to contact Crowe by phone was unsuccessful.

Montgomery said the group also met with Corey Farris, WVU’s dean of student life, last week. According to Montgomery, Farris told the group the complaint was being investigated.

In a previous statement by the WVU administration, an investigation of Fouty on sexual harassment allegations was neither confirmed nor denied.

Montgomery said the lack of response is what spurred the “spontaneous” strike last week.

The radio station was off the air for a short time on Thursday, but has since been broadcasting automated programming.

In a previous telephone interview, Montgomery said 35-50 of the about 100 students who work at the station are participating in the strike. The sports department is not taking part.

Montgomery, a Martinsburg High School graduate, said the striking staff will stay off the air through the holiday break and re-evaluate the situation in January.

Montgomery graduated in the summer and was working as a volunteer at the station. He had worked as the media director at the station and was selected by the students to be the spokesman for the group.

He said he had witnessed alleged sexual harassment by Fouty.

“There were multiple sexual harassment complaints,” Montgomery said. “There were inappropriate comments and jokes. And students said he was trying to date students.”

According to published reports, Fouty has denied the allegations. He said the students do not want a university employee overseeing them, and are using recent highly publicized sexual misconduct cases in Congress, Hollywood, the media and elsewhere as an opportunity to get rid of him.

Montgomery said the students are compiling their statements and screenshots, which will be posted on the website U9ME2.org.

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