Only two years and two months into the job, WJU's new president is replaced!

Without a search for candidates, Wheeling Jesuit University, on 3/7/13, replaced President Rick Beyer with President-elect Jim Fleming, S.J., effective 7/1/13. A search committee was not formed.

Rick Beyer's abrupt resignation and the simultaneous appointment of Jim Fleming took place as a non-agenda item at a 3/7/13 meeting of the WJU Board of Trustees. On the WJU website, Board Chairman Mimie Helm said Rick Beyer quit "in part to spend more time with his family," and that the Board's "unanimous choice for president was Fr. Fleming."

The Associated Press today released only a perfunctory story based upon the WJU website. More to come?

The Big Elephant in the corner of the room that no one talks about is William J. Ihlenfeld, II, U.S. Attorney in Wheeling, West Virginia. Plea bargaining is ongoing. Rick Beyer has not spoken publicly about the federal investigation since his 4/18/12 letter saying WJU had hired "a former United States Attorney," but did not identify him. Openness?

Five C.E.O.s in less than four years
8/5/9 fired ---- Julio Giulietti, S.J.
8/5/9 to 2/8/10 ---- J. Davitt McAteer [WJU Hall of Honor member and accused felon]
2/8/10 to 1/1/11 ---- Francis Marie Thrailkill
1/2/11 to 7/1/13 ---- Richard Allen (Rick) Beyer
7/1/13 ---- James J. (Jim) Fleming, S.J.

James J. Fleming, S.J., has been employed by WJU since 7/1/10 in the capacities of (1) President's Chief of Staff; (2) WJU Executive Vice President; and (3) Chief Officer for Mission and Identity. Berkeley educated (indoctrinated) Fleming is (or was) a member of the Catholic Worker Organization which promotes, inter alia, the Marxist notion of redistribution of wealth. Teaching Marxist redistribution of someone else's wealth seems to come easily to some Jesuits who have taken a vow of poverty.

In May of 2012 eight members of the Catholic Worker Organization, claiming to be nonviolent advocates of peace and justice, were arrested and jailed after violently storming Chicago's Prudential Building during Chicago's NATO Conference.

-Mike Fahy