The following letter to the editor is taken from the Wheeling Intelligencer, Aug. 27, 2009 and is posted below with permission.

Shown below are Father Currie, Academic Vice President Letha Zook and Interim President J. Davitt McAteer at the University's recent Opening Gathering.

As one who spent 10 of the best years of my life at Wheeling College (now Wheeling Jesuit University), and continues to have a love affair with the institution and its very special people, I was deeply saddened by recent events.

Father Julio Giulietti has been a friend and colleague for many years, as have many of the board members and, of course, faculty and staff at the university. It is always painful to see relationships deteriorate as they did at Wheeling between the board and the president, leading to Father Giulietti's departure from the university.

No one "wins" in such a situation and the demands of necessary confidentiality prevent folks knowing all the details. I am satisfied that good people on both sides seriously disagreed on what was best for the university and a decision had to be made.

In similar cases, the president has moved on to do good work, as I am sure Father Giulietti will, and the institution also moves forward, as I saw on my recent visit to campus that the university community is doing. Faculty and staff were eagerly preparing for a large new freshman class and re-committing itself to the fine educational experience in the Jesuit tradition for which Wheeling Jesuit is known and valued.

They all deserve our prayers and best wishes.

Charles L. Currie, S.J.
Washington, D.C.

Editor's note: Father Currie served as president of Wheeling College from 1972 - 1982.