theprestige
Penultimate Amazing
Zeno's Elucidation strikes again.
University of West Georgia deceptive claims
- Thread starter Sherlock
- Start date
Sherlock
Muse
Thanks very much for the quick clarifications from your support documents and notes. Extending a UWG psychology major graduate back to 1987 enlarges any possible TV production helper. However, those involved more in parapsychology likely remain a small niche within the total psychology graduate group. In any case, Taylor Robinson remains simply a recent winter graduate of a University of West Georgia (UWG) parapsychology focused Master of Arts in psychology, and not connected to the TV production work noted earlier.
I've recently been referred to some overlaps between the University of West Georgia (UWG) and the Ingo Swann Research Fellowship. For those who aren't familiar with the deceased Ingo Swann --- a close friend and colleague of Noreen Renier --- he is credited with the term 'remote viewing' and had a very significant involvement with the Church of Scientology. Ingo Swann's personal library of over 1,600 titles—many of them noted by the UWG as rare and scarce—are in the Ingram Library on the UWG campus within its UWG PSI Special Collections, and the library awards a Ingo Swann Research Fellow designation each year.
Many years ago I was a member (among about 10-20 members over many years) of the CSICOP UFO SubCommittee under the late CSICOP Fellow Phil Klass. Ingo Swann was deep not only into the paranormal but also had a 'UFO / ET' proponent and friend who went by "Mr. Axelrod" --- you can search for many interesting stories on line -- which just goes to highlight what a wide mix of paranormal materials the UWG sustains in its PSI Collections. Yet the issue remains, the UWG has made no effort to clarify and correct some of its public communications covering its PSI Collection materials which are sometimes stated as fact rather than as inaccurate or lies. Stating --- and never correcting after years of being shown a specific claim is false --- such as that Noreen Renier has worked an estimated 600 unsolved public law enforcement and FBI cases --- shows the UWG likely has an ever growing collection of fictional charades. Which it continues to widely distribute. That seems like a public academic and research center with troubling and weak self-correcting integrity and honesty standards. I believe the public, students, teachers, donors, and grant centers can easily find much better alternatives with more credible oversight.
I've recently been referred to some overlaps between the University of West Georgia (UWG) and the Ingo Swann Research Fellowship. For those who aren't familiar with the deceased Ingo Swann --- a close friend and colleague of Noreen Renier --- he is credited with the term 'remote viewing' and had a very significant involvement with the Church of Scientology. Ingo Swann's personal library of over 1,600 titles—many of them noted by the UWG as rare and scarce—are in the Ingram Library on the UWG campus within its UWG PSI Special Collections, and the library awards a Ingo Swann Research Fellow designation each year.
Many years ago I was a member (among about 10-20 members over many years) of the CSICOP UFO SubCommittee under the late CSICOP Fellow Phil Klass. Ingo Swann was deep not only into the paranormal but also had a 'UFO / ET' proponent and friend who went by "Mr. Axelrod" --- you can search for many interesting stories on line -- which just goes to highlight what a wide mix of paranormal materials the UWG sustains in its PSI Collections. Yet the issue remains, the UWG has made no effort to clarify and correct some of its public communications covering its PSI Collection materials which are sometimes stated as fact rather than as inaccurate or lies. Stating --- and never correcting after years of being shown a specific claim is false --- such as that Noreen Renier has worked an estimated 600 unsolved public law enforcement and FBI cases --- shows the UWG likely has an ever growing collection of fictional charades. Which it continues to widely distribute. That seems like a public academic and research center with troubling and weak self-correcting integrity and honesty standards. I believe the public, students, teachers, donors, and grant centers can easily find much better alternatives with more credible oversight.
Sherlock
Muse
Noreen Renier will be giving a lecture at the Fairfax County library (Lorton, Virginia library) tomorrow (Saturday, March 29, 2025) at 2:00pm. Details available at Lorton, VA., Fairfax County Library Renier announcement. Anyone who might be able to attend (unfortunately on this late notice) I'd sure like to know how, at 88 years old, she does in this public performance, which appears free.
Sherlock
Muse
Fairfax County, Virginia has now scheduled another lecture session by TV psychic medium Noreen Renier in McLean, Virginia at the Dolley Madison Library on April 12, 2025 at 4:30 to 5:30pm. Again, it appears to be free. Further info at this link Noreen Renier at McLean, VA., Dolley Madison library Apparently Fairfax County has decided to make these a hit series across their county.
Gord_in_Toronto
Penultimate Amazing
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I wonder if any non/dis-believer will show up and ask an embarrassing question or two.
Ernie M
Graduate Poster
PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVES AS A PLATFORM FOR NOREEN RENIER
I wonder if any non/dis-believer will show up and ask an embarrassing question or two.
First Amendment freedoms of the U.S. Constitution gives Noreen Renier a protected, public platform from which to speak, as long as Renier (or library) doesn't do something that violates free speech.
Key issues to keep in mind according to the American Library Association (ALA):
(Start quote)
By virtue of the Fourteenth Amendment, the First Amendment's constitutional right of free speech and intellectual freedom also applies to state and local governments. Government agencies and government officials are forbidden from regulating or restricting speech or other expression based on its content or viewpoint. Criticism of the government, political dissatisfaction, and advocacy of unpopular ideas that people may find distasteful or against public policy are nearly always protected by the First Amendment. Only that expression that is shown to belong to a few narrow categories of speech is not protected by the First Amendment. The categories of unprotected speech include obscenity, child pornography, defamatory speech, false advertising, true threats, and fighting words. Deciding what is and is not protected speech is reserved to courts of law.
The First Amendment only prevents government restrictions on speech. It does not prevent restrictions on speech imposed by private individuals or businesses. Facebook and other social media can regulate or restrict speech hosted on their platforms because they are private entities. (End quote).
Read the entire American Library Association's "First Amendment and Censorship" article.
What the Dolley Madison Library asks for in registration to attend Renier's presentation:
Online registration for the Noreen Renier presentation on April 12, 2025, at the Dolley Madison Library in McLean, Virginia (Fairfax County in VA) requires attendee first and last name, Email, and also asks for (but not required), a phone number, and attendee age. The age field shows that "Adults may enter ADULT". Sure, that's often typical, general information, but someone likely now has some information about you.
Some of my thoughts on the Renier library talks:
- Why is Noreen Renier appearing at libraries in the Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL), in Virginia? Doesn't Renier currently live in Florida?
- Is someone connected to the library able to tell if you clicked a link from the ISF (or elsewhere) to view the FCPL Noreen Renier presentation information?
- Will FCPL –or whoever has access to the registration info– share that info with Noreen Renier, or someone else?
- Is Renier going to talk about some of her cases that ISF member Sherlock has shown to contain false, misleading, and inaccurate information?
- Science has not proven the existence of psychic powers, telepathy, psychometry, remote viewing, and psychic healing. Renier has perviously put out in the public that she has psychic powers, and uses psychometry, and remote viewing to help solve missing persons cases.
Sherlock
Muse
Today I received a very professional and cordial response from Eric Carzon, the Director of the Fairfax County Public Library. I stated in an email to him last week my concern over a few statements that the library website was using to promote the Noreen Renier Fairfax County Public library presentations. I added that “While she certainly deserves the right to be publicly heard, the public should also recognize that many PLE officials, researchers, judges, courts, and investigators have in recent years showcased materials which seriously call into question the validity of many of her claims.”
I noted that ”five U.S. federal judges supported a U.S. federal court ruling which Noreen Renier appealed twice and lost, which found Noreen Renier misled a federal court, and the initial federal judge ruled that Renier was not a credible witness.” I also briefly cited FBI senior officers who testified that Noreen Renier had marketed false sanctioned work claims, and my own concerns of her court testimony covering her claims of locating missing persons and children by using her claimed communications with the dead during her typical $20 to $40 a minute fees for her private medium sessions.
Mr. Carzon in his response today wrote the following, a segment of which I’ve italicized below:
“Thank you for your email. Libraries strive to provide access to educational and entertaining programming that represents all viewpoints and the exploration of diverse perspectives –which encourages critical thinking and dialogue. Our library staff did do some review of Ms. Renier before they booked the program and those materials supported her success as a lecturer, author, and television entertainer. I respect your feedback below regarding the claims about the efficacy of her involvement in criminal investigations, and I did ask staff to modify the program description to delete the language that appeared to have been copied from or at least inspired by her marketing materials about her involvement in those cases. Our primary interest is to present the public who are interested with an opportunity to meet an author who has a substantial readership and viewership. The program topic was also a departure from much of the programming we typically offer to adults, and we find there is some value to diversifying our programming topics.”
I very much appreciate his response above, and find that the promotional website wording for her upcoming lecture has indeed deleted its earlier promotional reference of a “true crime talk” and also completely eliminates the previous statement “Psychic Investigator Noreen Renier has contributed to over 600 unsolved cases across 42 states and six countries. Renier's unique abilities and remarkable success in finding missing persons make her a valuable resource for re-opening dead-end cases.” This is a far faster and far more credibly tailored community communication than the sensationalized fiction still being distributed after 5 years directly from the University of West Georgia (UWG) and some of its UWG Ingram Library senior faculty and staff, and also some of the UWG related UWG parapsychology PSI Library Collection staff.
I believe a great deal of integrity credits should go to the Fairfax County Library system and its Director, Eric Carzon. I certainly wish them continued success in their community efforts in bringing in guest speakers before the public.
I noted that ”five U.S. federal judges supported a U.S. federal court ruling which Noreen Renier appealed twice and lost, which found Noreen Renier misled a federal court, and the initial federal judge ruled that Renier was not a credible witness.” I also briefly cited FBI senior officers who testified that Noreen Renier had marketed false sanctioned work claims, and my own concerns of her court testimony covering her claims of locating missing persons and children by using her claimed communications with the dead during her typical $20 to $40 a minute fees for her private medium sessions.
Mr. Carzon in his response today wrote the following, a segment of which I’ve italicized below:
“Thank you for your email. Libraries strive to provide access to educational and entertaining programming that represents all viewpoints and the exploration of diverse perspectives –which encourages critical thinking and dialogue. Our library staff did do some review of Ms. Renier before they booked the program and those materials supported her success as a lecturer, author, and television entertainer. I respect your feedback below regarding the claims about the efficacy of her involvement in criminal investigations, and I did ask staff to modify the program description to delete the language that appeared to have been copied from or at least inspired by her marketing materials about her involvement in those cases. Our primary interest is to present the public who are interested with an opportunity to meet an author who has a substantial readership and viewership. The program topic was also a departure from much of the programming we typically offer to adults, and we find there is some value to diversifying our programming topics.”
I very much appreciate his response above, and find that the promotional website wording for her upcoming lecture has indeed deleted its earlier promotional reference of a “true crime talk” and also completely eliminates the previous statement “Psychic Investigator Noreen Renier has contributed to over 600 unsolved cases across 42 states and six countries. Renier's unique abilities and remarkable success in finding missing persons make her a valuable resource for re-opening dead-end cases.” This is a far faster and far more credibly tailored community communication than the sensationalized fiction still being distributed after 5 years directly from the University of West Georgia (UWG) and some of its UWG Ingram Library senior faculty and staff, and also some of the UWG related UWG parapsychology PSI Library Collection staff.
I believe a great deal of integrity credits should go to the Fairfax County Library system and its Director, Eric Carzon. I certainly wish them continued success in their community efforts in bringing in guest speakers before the public.