Patrick Henry President Graham Walker Resigns: The Inside Story
“It is no secret that there has been tremendous friction between the alumni community and Dr. Walker during the independent review process,” Patrick Henry College Alumni Association President Daniel Noa wrote in a statement the night of Walker’s resignation. Noa was referring to the “Alumni Review Committee” the school created to examine the issues raised in my article. (The college also announced the hiring of “a specialized legal firm” to audit the school’s policies and procedures but refused to disclose the name of the firm.)
In early August, the nine-member Alumni Review Committee released its findings. The report grappled honestly with sexual assault and harassment and institutional failure. Clearly frustrated with Patrick Henry administrators, the report noted, “The Committee is unanimous in our belief that the responses we received from the College did not display the level of candor and transparency that we expected upon the formation of this Committee.”
According to the report, Walker first instructed the committee “to abide by certain guidelines for the interviews.” Then, it seems, the administration tried to stonewall the committee. The report continued, “According to Dr. Walker, College staff refused to be interviewed unless the Chair agreed to refrain from asking questions about the New Republic article and the incidents detailed therein.”
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