Recently, numerous news articles have been published concerning the proposed strategic plan for West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery, W. Va.
According to the media releases, Tech Provost Dr. Scott Hurst believes Judge Irene Berger's ruling was satisfied when a previous report was sent to the state lawmakers. "This (proposed strategic plan) is not motivated by us trying to satisfy a court request," he said.
We, the Take Back Tech plaintiffs in this court case, do not agree with Hurst's declaration about Judge Berger's ruling.
The so-called plan submitted on Feb. 22, 2008, by the West Virginia University Board of Governors in response to Judge Berger's ruling, in no manner or form, met the mandates of West Virginia House Bill 4690:
- Maintaining the engineering program's prominent role on the Montgomery campus.
- Bringing faculty salaries at Tech in line with those at WVU.
- Making capital improvements to Tech's facilities and buildings.
Again, Hurst and the WVU establishment succeeded in eluding their obligations to Tech.
The public is wondering what authority and obligations WVU President James Clements and Higher Education Policy Commision Chancellor Brian Noland have in dealing with Hurst and the inept leadership of the campus.
Our initial reaction to the submitted plan relevant to HB4690 was to go for contempt of court against the WVU BOG.
However, after much deliberation, we came to the conclusion that Judge Berger's fair and favorable ruling and our actions to date had sufficiently addressed the issues on the Montgomery campus.
It was time the WVU and Tech administrations realized and accepted their responsibilities toward the Montgomery campus by taking the initiative to work with the legislature for improvement of the campus.
However, in retrospect, Tech might have profited from continued court proceedings.
In harmonization with Hurst's request for input for the proposed strategic plan and his desire to "do right by the institution," the community and Tech alumni continue to request that mandates of the HB4690 be met in the proposed strategic plan.
The public and the Tech alumni anxiously await the completion of this proposed strategic plan which could determine the future of our fine institution in Montgomery.
Sonya Petry, Mary Lou Vinyard and Dorothy Phillips are plaintiffs in Sonie Petry et al. versus West Virginia University Board of Governors.
is a member of the 
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