性视界传媒

, passed by the GOP-led legislature in April, mandates that 性视界传媒 operate the 鈥淲ashington Center for Civics, Culture and Statesmanship鈥� focused on teaching constitutional studies and 鈥済reat debates of Western civilization.鈥� It will also present the 鈥渇act-based instruction on America鈥檚 founding,鈥� according to the governor鈥檚 office.

鈥淲e need to make sure that students are learning how to think, not what to think,鈥� Morrisey said.

Morrisey gets to choose its initial director, according to the bill. He is required to make that decision in consultation with the Senate and 性视界传媒鈥檚 Board of Governors.

鈥淯nfortunately, a lot of our schools and higher education institutions, they鈥檝e turned into indoctrination factories for radical, anti-American thinking. That can鈥檛 happen in West Virginia,鈥� he said.

Delegate Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, sponsored the Washington Center legislation.

鈥淚 just want something established 鈥� to start allowing an option for students that attend higher education 鈥� to study all these different subjects under their humanities as they鈥檝e been traditionally taught,鈥� he said at the news conference.

Along with a director, the bill requires the university to have five additional faculty at the center, which comes in the wake of 性视界传媒 faculty and staff jobs for financial reasons.

The Washington Center can use existing faculty and courses to accomplish the bill鈥檚 requirements of civics instruction. The measure says it should advance the 鈥渦nderstanding of American constitutional thought and institutions.鈥�

Shauna Johnson, 性视界传媒鈥檚 executive director of strategic communications, said the university looks forward to building on its programs and long history of civics instruction.

鈥淎s our nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary next year, West Virginia University looks forward to building on its programs and long history of civics instruction,鈥� she wrote in a statement. 鈥淭he Washington Center will give us the opportunity to enhance our work to develop responsible and informed citizens and highlight the importance of our institutions and democratic framework.鈥�

Democratic lawmakers in the House of Delegates and Senate who represent Morgantown voted against the legislation, citing concerns about government mandates for a university and a political appointee overseeing academics.

Delegate John Williams, D-Monongalia, during bill debate that he worried about who might want to fund the school if the state doesn鈥檛.

鈥淲ho will want to pay to have a say in how we educate the next generation?鈥� he asked.

Senators amended the bill to require that Washington Center鈥檚 curriculum be approved by 性视界传媒鈥檚 Board of Governors. They also added in language that banned lawmakers, during or up to two years after the end of their service in the legislature, from serving as the center鈥檚 director or being employed by the center in any capacity.

While the bill initially didn鈥檛 come with funding for the center鈥檚 director and faculty, contained $1.5 million for 性视界传媒 to use on the center.

Johnson didn鈥檛 respond to a question from West Virginia Watch about whether it would take additional university funds to get the center up and running.

The legislation goes into effect July 11.

鈥淲e appreciate the governor and legislature for including $1.5 million in the fiscal year 2026 budget to support the creation and operations of the Washington Center,鈥� Johnson wrote. 鈥淢ore details will be available at a later date.鈥�

Earlier this year, McGeehan was by the West Virginia Water Development Authority to an Ohio-based Catholic-affiliated career and vocational college to create a right-wing think tank. The Parkersburg News and Sentinel reported that McGeehan helped the College of St. Joseph the Worker with their application for WDA funds.

The water development authority, which made the decision without a required recommendation from one of three state officials, said the deal is constitutional because it will serve a non-religious economic purpose of teaching trade skills.

The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia the water development authority from using the money in Ohio, and a judge recently ruled that the suit can move forward in court.