2008 Woodie Awards
Committee formed to find new PR chief
Prior reprimands, altercations led to Nov. 30 firing of Morrison
By: Alex Piazza
Issue date: 1/7/08 Section: News
The university has formed a search committee to replace the vacancy left by Public Relations Chief Rich Morrison's firing last month.
Kathy Wilbur, vice president of government relations and public affairs, will serve as chair of the committee.
"The group has met at least once," said Steve Smith, director of media relations.
Smith will continue to serve as interim associate vice president of public relations and marketing until CMU finds a permanent replacement.
The university fired Morrison on Nov. 30 because of a string of altercations he had with fellow staff members.
Three months before Morrison was fired, University President Michael Rao issued Morrison a formal reprimand for his behavior.
The reason for Morrison's Sept. 6 reprimand is unclear, but Rao characterized his behavior as "egregious," according to documents Central Michigan Life obtained through the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.
Rao received a number of reports relating to Morrison's behavior, but because they were of a personal nature, they were not released because doing so would constitute an invasion of privacy, said Barrie Wilkes, interim associate vice president of finance and administrative services.
"President (Michael) Rao has told me that my recent encounters with staff and others have caused him to have serious doubts about my judgment," Morrison wrote in a statement to Central Michigan Life. "My job was to help the president find public relations and marketing solutions to university issues and initiatives, not to bring problems."
A Nov. 20 incident seemed to have been Morrison's final straw.
On that day, Morrison organized an impromptu meeting to point out his distaste with a staff member.
"I was so angry and I wanted everyone to hear what I was going to say," said Morrison in an interview with CM Life in December.
Rao then met with Morrison on Nov. 26 to discuss his behavior at the meeting and how it affected his status at the university.
Kathy Wilbur, vice president of government relations and public affairs, will serve as chair of the committee.
"The group has met at least once," said Steve Smith, director of media relations.
Smith will continue to serve as interim associate vice president of public relations and marketing until CMU finds a permanent replacement.
The university fired Morrison on Nov. 30 because of a string of altercations he had with fellow staff members.
Three months before Morrison was fired, University President Michael Rao issued Morrison a formal reprimand for his behavior.
The reason for Morrison's Sept. 6 reprimand is unclear, but Rao characterized his behavior as "egregious," according to documents Central Michigan Life obtained through the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.
Rao received a number of reports relating to Morrison's behavior, but because they were of a personal nature, they were not released because doing so would constitute an invasion of privacy, said Barrie Wilkes, interim associate vice president of finance and administrative services.
"President (Michael) Rao has told me that my recent encounters with staff and others have caused him to have serious doubts about my judgment," Morrison wrote in a statement to Central Michigan Life. "My job was to help the president find public relations and marketing solutions to university issues and initiatives, not to bring problems."
A Nov. 20 incident seemed to have been Morrison's final straw.
On that day, Morrison organized an impromptu meeting to point out his distaste with a staff member.
"I was so angry and I wanted everyone to hear what I was going to say," said Morrison in an interview with CM Life in December.
Rao then met with Morrison on Nov. 26 to discuss his behavior at the meeting and how it affected his status at the university.
