TWEET CONTROVERSY WVU Mum About How It's Handling Student Trainer's Offensive Tweet
Reported by: Associated Press
Web Producer: Jeff Morris
Reported: Oct. 19, 2012 10:41 AM EDT
Eyewitness News Photo
Morgantown, Monongalia County
, West Virginia
West Virginia University athletic department officials won't say how they're handling an offensive tweet about President Barack Obama by a student trainer for the baseball and football teams.
According to the WVU directory, athletic training student Shane Douglas Cooney is from Gainesville, Fla.
On Wednesday, Cooney tweeted that he can't bring himself to think about voting for -- in his words -- "that colored man."
Cooney doesn't have a phone listing and didn't immediately respond to an email Thursday.
Athletic department spokesman Mike Fragale toldthe Dominion Post he can't comment because Cooney is protected by federal student privacy laws. Fragale said it's a personnel issue that will be handled internally.
Cooney's Twitter account has been deleted.
A few people retweeted his post. Some called it racist.
Neighboring facilities in W.Va. differ on abortion May 19, 2013 2:09 PM EDT A crisis-pregnancy center that counsels women not to have abortions has moved next door to a health facility in Charleston that provides abortions.
Dalai Lama begins visit to Louisville May 19, 2013 5:48 PM EDT The Dalai Lama spoke to about 15,000 people at the KFC Yum Center as the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists began his visit to Louisville.
Police in NW Ohio: home invasion victim targeted May 19, 2013 4:36 PM EDT Police in northwest Ohio are searching for three suspects in the shooting death of a business owner during a weekend home invasion.