For Immediate Release From Clark Colvin Oregon Governor Candidate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM CLARK COLVIN OREGON GOVERNOR CANDIDATE

May 5, 2010

Clark Colvin Oregon Governor Candidate Disagrees With Academic Reporting

The Oregonian on May 4, 2010, stated “Clark Colvin, a Republican candidate for governor, never earned the doctorate in public administration he claims in campaign information”, citing Tasia Veene (in fact Tasia Neeve) director of marketing and communications of Golden Gate University.  In the Oregonian’s article, Ms. Neeve stated “Mr. Colvin did not complete his program and therefore does not have a degree from Golden Gate University,”.

In another article on April 5, 2010, reporter Nick Budnick of the Bend Bulletin wrote “….  A Golden Gate records administrator, however, said school records indicate that Colvin received a full PhD, dissertation and all”.

In reconciling the differing views on his record, Colvin states that “discovery of existing evidence (from Mr. Budnick) outweighs not finding evidence from Golden Gate University” (from the Oregonian).  The University states they have a practice where paper records are not kept over five (5) years.

Mr. Colvin entered the Golden Gate PhD program in 1986 and completed his coursework in 1988 with a 3.7 GPA according to transcripts.  His dissertation proposal was approved in 1988 and he spent the next two years writing his dissertation.  It was then submitted in 1991.  The dissertation committee consisted of the late Dr. Otto Butz, then president of the university, Dr. Jean Claus a professor, and the late Dr. Russell Kirk, a well known author.  Drs Butz and Claus supported Colvin’s thesis, while Kirk dissented. 

Colvin’s 1000+ page thesis titled “Representation In Evolution” traced history forward from ancient Athens and concluded that republican forms of government degenerate over time because of liberalism and eventually eroded into socialism and/or a government sponsored dictatorships.  Colvin declined to rewrite his dissertation to adapt to Kirk’s ideology instead believing that his historical conclusions and concerns for modern America were indeed valid.

After Kirk was no longer on the committee, Butz and Claus continued to review the document appointing another reader to the committee.  “Both Butz and Claus worked to see I was awarded the degree which was done in 1995.  The award date of 1995 coincided with Budnick’s findings from Golden Gate University” says Colvin.

 Additionally, regarding the Oregonian’s note of “Colvin’s listed diploma from the University of London, and attendance at Harvard Business School and the Amsterdam Institute of Finance could not be confirmed.”, Colvin states that he has certification documents of all these completions.  While there are two “University of London” branches, one in the U.S., and the other in London England, Colvin attended the original London site in The United Kingdom.