During an interview with Isaac Hinson, The Observer’s editor-in-chief, on Tuesday, Feb. 13, the CWU President, Jim Wohlpart, mentioned an internship that Hinson said came across as an offer. An internship is part of the degree requirements for the Media and Journalism bachelor’s degree Hinson is pursuing. 

When The Observer reached out to David Leder, associate director of Strategic Communications and University Relations, he reached out to his boss, Andrew Morse, chief of staff and the VP of University Relations, who spoke with President Wohlpart. Through a phone call, a text and then an email to Hinson, Leder empasized that this part of the interview was not a job offer but a theoretical conversation and “not relevant to the interview topic.” 

The interview in question was about the announced Provost, Dr. Patrick Pease, and the hiring process to choose who was hired to fill the position. Pease and Wohlpart have worked together in the past when Pease was Associate Provost for Academic Affairs at University of Northern Iowa (UNI) and Wohlpart was provost. 

“Please note that this part of today’s conversation was not relevant to the interview topic, which was CWU hiring a new provost. I would ask that you consider this fact when recounting what was said in the president’s office.”