Manweller allegations disturbing but not plausible

I have read the disturbing allegations against Matt Manweller, and I too have been disturbed by them. I met Matt when I exited the Army at 33 and went back to school at CWU; he was the advisor of the College Republicans and I was a member.

I have had a drink or two over the years with Matt at the bar as we talked about issues at the school, the state, and came up with plans to fix it all. I have also been in his home when he had students over, both male and female.

At best I saw Matt act as a mentor to all students who asked, or whom he thought he could assist, and at worst I witnessed him with his sharp with sense of humor when he let his guard down.

No man is perfect, and Matt is, I’m sure, far from it. However, I never saw any indication of him acting in any inappropriate manner nor in any manner that could remotely be considered degrading.

Sure, I heard the same rumors that have now been turned into “facts” to harm his career and reputation, but they were the same one, repeated by someone who had heard it from someone else, who heard it from someone else, going all the way back to Kevin Bacon.

I believe that some believe Matt wronged them, but their belief does not make fact. What is a fact is that Matt is a decent man with conviction, and a man with conviction makes an easy target.

Paul Stayback

Renton, Wash.