This blog post could be titled, Let Me Tell You a Story—Part IX. The story is about one of the nation’s most visible higher education leaders, E. Gordon Gee. He’s bright, articulate, experienced, humorous, and gregarious. He also has held more university presidencies than anyone.
Gee’s first presidency was West Virginia University (1981-1985), followed by the University of Colorado (1985-1990), followed by The Ohio State University (1990-1997), followed by Brown University (1998-2000), followed by Vanderbilt University (2001-2007), followed by a return to The Ohio State University (2007-2013), followed by a return to West Virginia University in 2014, where he continues to serve.
I have a high regard for Gee, both professionally and personally. We served together on the Southeastern Conference governing board during his presidency at Vanderbilt.
Gee is quick with a quip and recognizes, “I’m probably one of most quotable guys in America.” He said, “I tend to deal with most issues with humor… always have and always will. However, Gee and I share a tendency to occasionally engage mouth before engaging brain. Many examples of Gee putting his foot in his mouth have been documented, but he is very adept at extricating his foot without permanent damage to any part of his anatomy. His effectiveness at turning a faux pas into a positive is illustrated by the following example.
In November of 2010, to the Associated Press, Gee said football teams at places like TCU and Boise State didn’t deserve to be included in the Bowl Championship Series because they didn’t play strong teams. While serving as Ohio State’s president, he said, “We do not play the Little Sisters of the Poor.” His remarks went viral on the internet, resulting in a response from the Little Sisters of the Poor.
The New York Times reported, “For at least a half-century, ‘Little Sisters of the Poor’ has been used as a euphemism in college sports to describe a weak opponent. Its roots trace back to an emphatic victory by Senator Robert Taff of Ohio in his 1950 re-election, which the mayor of Cleveland compared to the ‘Notre Dame football team beating the Little Sisters of the Poor.’” [i]
The article added, “Gee had no idea that the Little Sisters of the Poor was a religious order. He quickly realized the Little Sisters, which was founded in France in 1839 with 2,700 sisters and 200 homes around the world, and is dedicated to helping the elderly poor, are the last people he should be picking on.”
Gee soon learned the Little Sisters of the Poor had a home in northwest Ohio. As The New York Times reported. After Gee removed his loafer from his molars, he called Sister Cecilia Sartorius, the mother superior here, to apologize. He wrote a $1,000 donation check, and has since given more. More important, he discovered the work that the Little Sisters do and pledged to help any way he could.
“‘We don’t have any alumni; our alumni die and go to heaven,’ Sister Cecilia said, flashing an electric smile during an interview last month.”
On August 17, 2011, Fox Sports reported, “Ohio State University’s president is back in the good graces of the Little Sisters of the Poor … Gordon Gee spent Wednesday touring a home for the elderly operated by the religious order in northwest Ohio … ‘As you know, I’ve made you famous,’ he told the residents and staff members.
“He later stood next to Mother Cecilia Mary Sartorius, the home’s administrator, who gave him a hug and whispered that he was forgiven. ‘Does everyone hear that I’m forgiven”’ he shouted. ‘My day of penance is over.’”[ii]
According to The New York Times, Gee’s visit included about 20 Ohio State students and the Buckeye mascot, Brutus. As for his statement to the Associated Press, Gee said “It was a dumb statement, it really was.” Several sisters, staff members, and residents from the home were Gee’s guests at Ohio State’s game against Toledo. “More important to the Little Sisters is the awareness that Gee’s gaffe has caused, helping spread word of their work and mission.
“‘I think the net result has been positive,’ Gee said. ‘Getting to know the sisters and getting an opportunity to talk about their cause. Personally, it’s been very satisfying to me.’”[iii]
Gee’s use of humor continued to get him into trouble and contributed to his exit from Ohio State and return to West Virginia.[iv] However, one should not mistake his humor for an inability to be serious. Gee said, “I simply take serious issues seriously, but I do not take myself seriously.” He can laugh at himself.
As evidence that Gee treats serious issues seriously, he embarked on a major restructuring of the academic offerings at West Virginia University. Before receiving a vote of no-confidence from the faculty, he announced that he will retire when his contract expires in 2025. Given the budgetary challenges the university faces, the restructuring and budget reductions are likely to extend into 2026. Thus far, a reduction of approximately 300 positions, faculty and staff, has been approved. Among the reductions are several eliminations of degree-granting programs. The undergraduate programs gaining the greatest national attention are humanities. Among the graduate programs that are slated for elimination are higher education, math, public administration, and several humanities programs.
Knowing Gee, I believe he understood fully what the reactions and ramifications would be in taking on the challenge of positioning West Virginia University to be an effective land-grant university in a post-pandemic future. As he exits the stage, I believe Gee wants his successor to be positioned for success. I also believe Gee understands that no one would consider what he’s doing to be a laughing matter. Including himself!
Next: Thank You, Woody Allen
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[i] Pete Thamel, “From Gaffe, Some Good for Little Sisters of the Poor,” The New York Times, September 8, 2011. See https://nyti.ms/qu9mbV.
[ii] See https://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/ohio-state-president-gordon-gee-to-meet-with-little-sisters-of-the-poor-nuns-081711.
[iii] Pete Thamel, ibid.
[iv] See http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2013-05-30/gordon-gee-ohio-state-president-remarks-notre-dame-catholics-big-ten-sec and http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2013-06-04/gordon-gee-apologizes-kentucky-louisville-james-rames-eli-capilouto-ohio-state.
