GPB, GSU and the Board of Regents Timeline of Events

2006-2007
2006--2007:

GPB proposes placing programming on Georgia Techs student

radio station WREK. Other proposals from Public Broadcasting
Atlanta and the Georgia Tech Athletic Association are also
presented to Techs Radio Communications Board. Tech also holds
an on campus town hall meeting for feedback on the future of
WREK. All proposals are rejected or dropped and WREK continues
to be student-run on analog 24 hours a day.

http://clatl.com/atlanta/public-radio-vies-for-airtime-on-wrek-fm/Content?
oid=1265806
http://friendsofwrek.blogspot.com/2007/01/tech-administration-on-wrek.html
http://friendsofwrek.blogspot.com/2007/01/why-this-blog.html
2008
April 2008

A proposal by GPB to place programming on WRAS is rejected by

Georgia State University. GSUs then Senior Vice President of
External Affairs Tom Lewis writes: While GPB is offering
compensation, the value to our University of our 100,000 watt FM
signal and our ability to maintain an independent program format
is much greater. In our efforts to engage students in student life at
Georgia State, we believe that WRAS is one of our greatest assets,
and one which should not be compromised.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/226786726/Georgia-Public-Broadcasting-Proposal-forWRAS
November 2008

GSU Senior VP Tom Lewis retires

December 2008

GSU President Carl Patton retires.

2009

January 2009

Mark Becker installed as new President of Georgia State University.

March 2009

Teya Ryan named President of Georgia Public Broadcasting.

2010

November 2010
Nathan Deal elected Governor of Georgia. Is inaugurated the
following Jan.
2011
January 2011

Gov. Deal appoints his longtime confidant Philip A. Wilheit to the

Board of Regents. He also served as treasurer for Congressman
Nathan Deal for 28 years and served as the Statewide Chairman of
the Deal for Governor campaign.

http://www.usg.edu/regents/members
2012
October 24, 2012

GSU President Mark Becker calls a meeting of GSU officials to

discuss the future of radio at GSU.

http://georgiastatesignal.com/documents-reveal-gsu-gpb-partnership-discussionsdate-back-to-2012/
The GSU documents come from Open Records Requests by The
Georgia State student newspaper The Signal after the GPB/GSU
Partnership was announced in May of 2014. According to the
article outlining the documents Nov.-Dec. 2012 documentation
was not provided in ORR requested documentation.
Early November 2012
GPB President Teya Ryan meets with Governor Deal about
hiring
State Senator Chip Rogers at Georgia Public Broadcasting.
http://www.cbs46.com/story/20286969/gov-deal-called-meeting-to-discuss-formersenators-new-gpb-job
Rogers was the Senate Majority leader but had become a political
liability to the Governor. He had just won reelection to his Senate
seat.
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/chip-rogers-leaving-statesenate/nTMbb/
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/sen-majority-leader-once-regular-sportshandicappi/nPFLc/

November 2012

Philip Wilheit elected Vice-Chair by the members of the Board of

Regents.

December 2012

Chip Rogers resigns his State Senate seat to take the position at
GPB.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/chip-rogers-announces-sudden-resignationstate-sen/nTMwQ/

2013
January 3, 2013
Gov. Deal appoints 4 new members of the Board of Regents
including longtime confidant T. Rogers Wade.
http://gareport.com/story/2013/01/03/deal-puts-his-stamp-on-the-board-of-regents/
http://www.georgiatrend.com/November-2013/Deals-Kitchen-Cabinet/

January 18, 2013

Chip Rogers GPB salary of $150,000 is revealed by the Atlanta

Journal Constitution. Days later veteran GPB producer Ashlee
Pendley Wilson resigns in protest.

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/chip-rogers-will-make-150000-at-gpb/nT2Nc/
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/flap-over-chip-rogers150000-salary-at-gpb/nT5PX/

January 22, 2013 GSU Attorney Kerry Heyward sends a draft of the WRAS
agreement to VP of Student Affairs Douglas Covey.
Throughout 2013 GPB and WRAS engineers plan and prepare
technical aspects of sharing the signal. Ratings research for WRAS
and WABE are discussed.
August 7, 2013

Longtime WRAS advisor Jeff Walker notes in a email to Douglas

Covey ...It looks like there has been a decision--one year of the
original plan then a license split. I dont see how we can start Sept.
1 with all the technical details to be worked out.

November 2013

Regent Wilheit elected Chair of the Board of Regents.

http://www.usg.edu/news/release/wilheit_named_chair_of_the_board_of_regents_o
f_the_university_system_of_geo

2014
April 2014

Chip Rogers fired by GPB. The cause was a second job he held that
had been public knowledge. Gov. Deals Chief of Staff seamed to
instigate the firing.

http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2014/04/24/clues-over-what-led-to-chip-rogers-gpbdeparture/
May 6, 2014

GPB announces the Partnership with GSU affecting WRAS. The

student DJs feel blindsided and abused.

http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2014/05/06/gpb-to-take-over-wras-daytimeprogramming-student-djs-blast-unexpected-move