WV Radio: WWVU Reassigns GM Amid Complaints

West Virginia University announced Monday that it had temporarily reassigned the student radio general manager of WWVU 91.7 FM in Morgantown, who has been accused by station workers of sexual harassment.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dean of Students Corey Farris communicated the decision in an email seven minutes before the news conference was to begin outside WVU's Mountainlair student center.

Matthew Fouty

Matthew Fouty, 34 has described the accusations as groundless, but Mr. Farris said the university decided it was prudent to make the move while the investigation continued.

He said it was also hoped that striking student workers would return to the station, which has been running automated play lists since Thursday, when it also was off the air for three hours..

Students went ahead with the news conference, saying they were pleased with the university's action as an interim step but still wanted Mr. Fouty permanently replaced.

Jackson Montgomery, 23, a volunteer disc jockey designated by the group to talk with reporters, said student staff are upset with what he and others said were repeated inappropriate comments of a sexual nature, some delivered on the air.

He said Mr. Fouty, hired by WVU in March 2015, inserted himself into a morning music and talk show that was intended to be hosted by students.

"Matt would kind of always be the one to find the sex joke in the situation, throw that out there and then steer the conversation in that direction," said Mr. Montgomery, who graduated over the summer but previously held a supervisory position with the station.

Mel Smith

He said Mr. Fouty offered an assessment, on air, about the anatomy of Mel Smith, a senior strategic communication major. She is the station's news director, and sometimes was on the air with her boyfriend, part of U-92's sports staff.

"He (Fouty) would frequently make jokes about their sex life and try to get them to talk about it," Mr. Montgomery said.

Smith is among about 40 students staffers who are staying away from their jobs, a share equal to nearly half the largely volunteer staff of U-92.

Reached late Monday as he worked from home, Mr. Fouty reiterated that the accusations were baseless and said he watched the news conference streamed on Periscope, listening to accusations that to him were baffling.

"It shocks me how much hate people have in their hearts," he said. "I'm almost numb."

He said he did not insert himself onto the morning show but was invited on by a then-student DJ. He also said he did not make comments about women's anatomy, press Ms. Smith about her sex life or ever refer to a date-rape drug as his accusers publicly assert. He said instead he heard an individual's name and said it sounded to him like a prescription drug.