[Editor’s note: What follows is one woman’s account of the Scott Walker she knew at Marquette University. To the extent possible we have verified its accuracy, including the accuracy of details not printed here in order to protect the identities of the people involved. All of the elements are consistent: the principals were at Marquette University when the incidents recounted here allegedly happened, and “Ruth” did have a baby shortly thereafter.]
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“First off, let me be clear, set the stage here … I’ve had a high level of integrity all the way back to my early days as a kid when I earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and have shown that during my time in the State Assembly, as the County Executive, and now as the Governor of the State of Wisconsin. I will continue to have high integrity long after I’m in this position and long after this whole process is complete.” –Scott Walker
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Bernadette Gillick was a college freshman in 1988 when she first met Scott Walker. It was spring semester, and she had just transferred to Marquette University. She was assigned a room in O’Donnell Hall (then a women’s dormitory), which she shared with her new roommate, Ruth (not her real name). Ruth was dating Scott Walker, who was 20 at the time, and, according to Bernadette, Ruth was deeply in love with him.
Midway through that spring semester, Bernadette alleges, Ruth found out she was pregnant. She informed her boyfriend, Scott, and initially he was supportive. Yet that support changed to callous indifference for his girlfriend’s predicament after Scott informed his parents of the pregnancy.
Bernadette reports that at this point Scott began denying that he was the father of the baby, and when Ruth said she was considering an abortion, he claimed he didn’t care, as he wasn’t the father anyway.
Bernadette remembers being present when Ruth was dealing with the wrath of Scott’s mother, who allegedly admonished Ruth for trying to “ruin [her son’s] reputation.”
“I supported her [Ruth] as he [Scott] went from encouraging her to get an abortion, to telling me it was in my best interest to keep my mouth shut, to denying that he was the father and having his own mother call her and tell her to stop erroneously accusing her son of paternity,” Bernadette recounts.
It was a “horrible time” for her friend. “Her life was changed tremendously and she took the high road in the face of incredible adversarial conditions. Imagine her being 18 years old and pregnant, walking around Marquette’s Jesuit Catholic campus with her boyfriend denying he was the father,” says Bernadette.
All this was taking place while Walker was running for student body president and serving as chair of the Marquette chapter of Students for Life.
According to Bernadette, Walker finally had to concede after the birth and paternity test, but “he hid everything he could and had little to do with the child.”
After consulting with her family, Ruth decided against an abortion. Bernadette was with Ruth in the hospital for the birth of her child later that year (and says Walker was not present), and later stood up as a bridesmaid in Ruth’s 1992 marriage to another man.
Why did Bernadette come forward with this story?
Dr. Bernadette Gillick is now a highly esteemed college professor and researcher at the Gillick Pediatric Research Lab at the University of Minnesota, specializing in brain plasticity and neurorehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy. Through her attorney, Mike Fargione, she issued a statement: “It is rare that you will ever hear from me on issues of politics… but I’m asking you to consider what I have to share …”
Bernadette recounts how, in the run up to the 2012 Wisconsin recall election, she watched a televised debate between Scott Walker and Tom Barrett. As Walker talked about his “lifelong integrity” her anger grew. This was a man who had abandoned his pregnant young girlfriend — completely turned his back on her at the most fragile point in her life. She notes his “now-convenient ‘pro-life’ proclamations” after burying his past “indiscretion.”
Despite repeated attempts to contact Walker and his campaign staff for comments, only one person responded to our request. Former campaign staffer Luke Fuller refused to comment, saying he no longer works for the Walker campaign and cannot reveal the source of his current employment.
Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative 
But what can be confirmed is that Obama was a lawless pothead in high school and college. I guess the lefties on this blog are going to recall him now?
COMFIRMED! Entire story in this article is a complete LIE. Pathetic.
Keep the lies coming1 YOU FOLKS ARE NOW THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. obama must be so proud of you.
Does anyone else find it hilarious that it was DailyKos that debunked this libelous story?
Fish gotta swim. Birds gotta fly. Liberals gotta lie.
This is a true story and it’s a shame that the public may never have full access to verification. Dr. Gillick is one of my best friends, and you’ll never find a person with more integrity and more love for the state of Wisconsin. That Ruth has felt she cannot speak the truth, even though it means tarnishing the reputation of the friend who stood with her in the hospital while her father of her child would not, points to the power of intimidation. I know this story is true, and I stand behind Dr. Gillick 100%.
Please, support your friend and try to forgive the hateful & ignorant comments. I apologize for the foolishness of these people to slander her, as if she’d profit in some way from telling us the truth. I, for one, value her courage. Please, give her our thanks.
“Desperate?” Walker’s running (recently-withdrawn) ads showing Barrett and a deceased two-year-old child.
All’s fair in the sick world of politics. If the story about “Ruth’s” child is untrue, then Walker doesn’t have to worry about it.
Personally, I’m more interested in the evidence that Walker’s office engaged in non-stop campaigning from state offices.
If I engage in political activity while at my state office, I face losing my job; I don’t see why Walker should be any exception. Goose, gander.
Poor Dr Gillick
A typical of Public University Professotrix.
Tenured overpaid incompetents.
But not bothering to get the father’s name right? Exposing oneself to a slam dunk fasle light lawsuit ? Really, Prof, that’s a bit much. Next time, let a guy handle it.
For all of the Dem idiots who believed this story and the ones who knew it was B.S. and ran with it anyway, how pathetic ARE you?? How desperate must you be to perpetuate lies like this?? LOL
As for the “integrity” of this site, if it had any, this story would no longer be posted.
You have a valid argument against Scott Walker. Why taint your message with slime?
As if the shameless lie and innuendo isn’t enough, as an Eagle Scout, I find your use of the official Boy Scout logo despicable. Worse than that, really. Though I’ve alerted the BSA, the Wisconsin Media Coop should take it down without prompting. Boy Scouts had nothing to do with the story. Leave the kids out of your politicking.
Funny you should mention a couple of dollars. Given everything that has been stated regarding this topic I think the simplest explanation is that there was a settlement payment which stipulated that “Ruth” deny Walker’s paternity. This seems particularly likely given the DEEP POCKETS of Walkers out of state supporters. How would Dr. Gillick have all of the other details right and somehow be mistaken about the identity of the boyfriend? That simply makes no sense. The story makes a whole lot of sense if there was a payoff. And considering the other instances of threats and intimidation from Walker supporters during this recall process – vandalism, physical threats, various instances of bullying recall volunteers – given all that it is also understandable that she would not want to become the target of these people. Sadly, Dr. Gillick now will.
That is right kbman. I went to college almost 30 years ago and the one thing I remember was who was dating who.
I think that Republicans are so fearful that this must be true is causing them to act a little silly on this website.
Wisconsin needs to recall Walker!!!!!!!!!!
It is my understanding that the Wisconsin Citizens Media Coop is a place for people to get their stories out to the public, it is a sort of alternative to the main stream media. If the MJS or WSJ had this story and verified it, they might not choose to run it just because it looks incredibly partisan. They would lose republican leaning advertisers, and subscribers. The WCMC is not beholden to paid advertisers. It can run a story like this without fear that they will be boycotted or shut down. The story has been floating around for sometime, there is substantial research backing up the credibility of the person reporting this story. This is not a “one person’s word against anothers’ ” this is a credible person’s word, and their lawyer, backed up by others’ accounts, and significant circumstantial evidence. Reporters are allowed to keep their sources secret, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have any.
A few odds and end…
The notion that a professor at a major university wouldn’t risk their job or reputation; did you ever hear about Jerry Sandusky? Perhaps you think the Duke Lacrosse team was found guilty?
It’s one thing to suggest the story had enough validity to go ahead and publish. It’s another to have various aspects of the story corrected, unverified, and devalidated; yet not once actually correct the record. Mistakes happen, the decision to not learn from and correct them is a conscious action.
I do doubt you’ll suffer any legal ramifications. I just don’t see the value in it. But in that, its a shame. Because with the ramification and the previously demonstrated weakness to learn from mistakes; this forum is bound to repeat this effort in the future without recognizing the shame.
Yeah Kbman. i also have it ob good authority that the Koch brothers have “Ruth” on ice at a secret undisclosed location where she is being fitted with an explosive vest by Dr. Karl Rove.
Whoever you are mary! If you truly believe yourself, you are a thoroughly evil, callous and blind person and you will all suffer if scott Walker remains Governor. And you will deserve having a liar, a hypocrite and a man of no integrity as your leader! I do not believe normal people speak as you do! So I believe you are a paid provocateur! Tom barrett is a good man and you are probably some man named john!
And Sofia, you know it’s not like he was just another dorky college kid, he was a high-profile student – in fact, one of the highest profile students at Marquette at that time. He was running for class president and showed up to class everyday in a 3 piece suit – hard to mistake him for someone else.
Furthermore, Dr. Gillick is not just some guy in a diner making these accusations. She has a professional position and stands to lose a great deal if she were lying about this. I find “Ruth’s” denial to be questionable, and I find Daniel Bice more than a bit disingenuous to claim that her saying this settles the matter. I thought he was supposed to be some kind of hot shot investigative reporter. Well do some investigating then. Look into the possibility that “Ruth” had a sudden financial windfall, possibly prior to Walker’s run for governor in 2010. That was when he became a high-profile Koch asset. It is easy to see them assisting him in tying up any loose ends that might be out there, so to speak.
I hope Walker holds Barrett down and gives him a haircut.
GO WALKER!!!
This is one woman’s account of her experience with Walker in College — It has been researched, and fact and people have backed the story up. It seems unlikely to me that the woman reporting this had two pregnant college roommates that she was personally involved with and that she mixed up their stories. Also, it would be strange if a woman got pregnant by a nasty guy and was mistreated, but then her friends mixed him up with the current governor because they have the same name. I know people with the same names, and I don’t mix them up.
I have the same name and have had a similiar situation- I would not marry but after proven paternity I choose to pay child support and help raise my daughter- turns out her mom still tainted the child against me and I have had no further contact with her since she was 14 and today she would be 22 – T Scott Walker
This is a strong allegation, and there is fairly good corroborating evidence. Because it looks so negative on Walker, I don’t think that a mainstream media outlet would publish this. Also, the John Doe Investigation is a way bigger deal IMO.
I guess we’ll know the truth after everyone involved with this report lose the libel lawsuit. Of course, if they don’t lose…or Walker never sues, then I guess that says it all.
First, NO ONE gets to talk about their own integrity. That’s the first clue that he’s clueless and has none.
Second, his ACTIONS are an indicator of who he is. He has zero credibility in his public life since he is the epitome of a bait-and-switch governor. The entire nation knows he never EVER campaigned on what he’s done to that state.
There’s your integrity, Scott Walker. In the trashcan where it belongs.
It’s halarious to hear Republicans calling Wisconsin Democrats liars when the Republicans are running fake candidates for office up there. What hypocrisy!
The plot thickens.
Not sure if I buy this, but I can understand why it was posted and I appreciate how the caveats were handled.
Makes bullying a gay classmate (Romney) seem not as bad.
I was already aware that Walker is a dick thanks to what I heard about the union issues.
I have read an article or two on this exact same scenario with G. W. Bush. And as we all know, he claimed to be pro-life, as well. If I remember correctly, in the Bush case, a termination was obtained. The woman basically disappeared into the woodwork and became very afraid once he became so powerful. Google it sometime just out of curiosity. Don’t know if anything can be found on it anymore, as they pretty much censored everything printed or through the media.
I also appreciate the way the piece was framed. Imagine that poor child finding out about this in such a brutal way. Let’s leave them be.
If this is true, then it’s another black mark on our Eagle Scout governor, and one he should not be allowed to deny. Also, if it’s true, then it is extremely important to protect the identity of the mother and the child; they did absolutely nothing wrong and should not be further victimized. This is a classic moral dilemma. If the only way to nail Walker is to reveal the identity of the mother and her now grown son, then the issue should be dropped. A reasonable solution would be for Walker and his Christian parents to voluntarily step forward and explain what their respective roles were back in 1988. They might want to get it off their chests.
The article by WCMCOOP.COM about Dr. Gillick’s direct experience with Scott Walker while they were at Marquette University is well researched and presented with sensitivity to the alleged birth mother of Walker’s child. The article was simply written as a report of one woman’s account of her direct experience with Walker. WCMC received information about Dr. Gillick’s statement made through her lawyer. The coop’s team of researchers looked into this story to verify that both Dr. Gillick and her attorney (Mike Fargione) were indeed who they claimed to be. After direct conversations with Dr. Gillick and Mr. Fargione, the researchers assessed their credibility and checked out the facts surrounding their assertions. In discussing their findings, all members of the coop found this story to be solidly supported by additional information that was withheld to protect the birthmother and the child. Withholding this information showed sensitivity, and coop members would not have given voice to Dr. Gillick’s story if they had any reason to doubt its accuracy. Researchers for the coop continue to compile more evidence to support Dr. Gillick’s report of her direct personal experience with Walker. The birthmother has reportedly denied that Walker is the father of her baby that was born at that time. However, she admits that she was Dr. Gillick’s roommate at the time of her pregnancy, and she claims that Dr. Gillick is confused and that there was “another” roommate that was pregnant in the following year. Gillick and her subsequent roommate deny any “other” pregnant roommate. It is not surprising that the birthmother may want to deflect attention from herself and her child (it would be horrendous to deal with the aftermath of such an admission, or her child may not even know, or the deep pockets of Walker’s allies may have even lead to some sort of nondisclosure agreement in the past). If this is the case, it is easy to see why she would have to deny such a claim when she was suddenly put on the spot. But this is not only her story. Dr. Gillick has her own direct experience with Walker and his behavior at Marquette. After she watched the debate where Walker bragged about his own integrity, Dr. Gillick feels that it is her moral obligation to share her story related to a man who has already caused great harm to his state, a man who could be reelected based on his claims of integrity and be positioned to inflict even more harm. I admire Dr. Gillick’s courage to share her story. She has nothing to gain and everything to lose if it were not true. I also respect the WCMC for their courage to publish a controversial story that they have thoroughly investigated, and continue to pursue.
this is good:
http://www.politicususa.com/reporter-working-paper-endorsing-scott-walker-denies-wi-baby-daddy-allegation.html
mary, i don’t have a dog in this fight so don’t think i am writing this because i am eithier against scott walker or for his opponent. but how can you blithely lock arms with a man who MIGHT be guilty of having done this to his girlfriend years before. the least you could do is try to do a little research to find out if any of this is true instead of blingly following whatever walker says. how sad for other women in your life. daughters, sisters, cousins, etc. if you think that you could never be rouched ny anything so heinous as what walker is being accused of, then go ahead and support him.
Great article. Should be broadcast on all the national networks along time ago.
When you listen to what kind of student he was it doesn’t sound impossible, as he committed plagerism, major fraud to try and keep other from finding out what was in the paper, this really sounds ike the truth to me. Some comments had been made by his parents especially his father about him being a very difficult boy growing up and being in counciling for his behavior. I believe this whole story and the length that someone went to to try and cover it up!
it’s obvious that integrity doesn’t mean what Walker thinks it means