MCC grapples with UH president's firing

The Maui News
Thursday, June 17, 2004

By CLAUDINE SAN NICOLAS, Staff Writer

KAHULUI - Students and staff at Maui Community College began coping Wednesday with the announced termination of University of Hawaii President Evan Dobelle.

"We're still in the learning mode of what's transpiring," MCC Chancellor Clyde Sakamoto said Wednesday in a telephone call from Honolulu.

Sakamoto was on Oahu Tuesday for the regents meeting as well as a regular meeting of the community college chancellors in the UH system.

The Board of Regents announced Tuesday night its decision to fire Dobelle "with cause," signaling its intent not to pay the $2 million severance package in his contract.

"Clearly, this is the most difficult decision ever to be made by the regents," Board of Regents Chairwoman Patricia Lee said in a written statement. "However, we are confident that we have made the right decision at the right time and that our beloved University of Hawaii will continue to move forward successfully."

MCC philosophy instructor Bud Clark did not want to comment on Dobelle's firing Wednesday because he said he did not have enough information about the regents' decision.

However, Clark applauded the decision to appoint David McClain, vice president of academic affairs, as acting president effective immediately.

"I have deep respect and confidence in David McClain," Clark said Wednesday. He described McClain as a "competent and respected leader" and said he was trying to view the positive in the regents' action.

Sakamoto said he, as well, anticipated working with McClain. "We're looking forward to the future," he said.

Maui Community College will establish its first baccalaureate degree program this fall, and Sakamoto credited Dobelle for his "vision" and for his initiation of a strategic plan for MCC.

Gina McGregor, a third-year student at MCC, said she's hopeful that a change in leadership will bring positive results.

"I don't know. All I can do is trust in the Board of Regents," McGregor said.

She said under Dobelle's leadership, she has seen her tuition increase and availability of courses decrease.

"It's only gotten harder to go to school," McGregor said.

State Sen. Shan Tsutsui, a member of the Education Committee and a Democrat representing Central Maui, Kahakuloa and Lower Paia, said he was aware of disagreements between Dobelle and the Board of Regents but was shocked to hear about Dobelle's termination.

"I really didn't think we were at this point," Tsutsui said.

He expressed concern that the regents may have not fully considered the ramifications of their decision and questioned the wisdom in terminating Dobelle when the president was not present. Dobelle's office said Tuesday that he was on the Mainland, touring colleges with his son Harry, a student at Punahou School, and was scheduled to return Monday.

The regents said they arrived at their decision to terminate after deliberations that lasted 12 hours on the three-year evaluation of Dobelle.

"Sadly, we have come to the realization that the president no longer has our trust and there is no longer a unity of purpose between the board and the president or a clear recognition of his integrity, character and commitment," Lee said.

Tsutsui said firing "with cause" would mean to him that an employee had committed a felony or perhaps may have done something embarrassing to the organization with which he's employed.

Sen. J. Kalani English said it does not appear that the regents have outlined clearly their reasons for Dobelle's termination. English said Dobelle was particularly effective for Maui County, pointing out that his administration built and opened the Molokai Education Center as well as expanded higher education opportunities for individuals in Hana and Lanai.

He said the Maui campus of the University of Hawaii was established under Dobelle. "He's done nothing but good for Maui," English said.

MCC culinary arts student Jeremy Chos said he believed that the budgetary cutbacks at the Maui campus were the result of decisions made by the Legislature and state administration, and not Dobelle.

"I am very surprised. I thought overall he was doing a good job," Chos said about Dobelle.

Tide Rivers, a student who re-enrolled in January at the MCC campus after being absent for a few years, said he never met Dobelle but heard some of his statements in the media.

"It sounded kind of rude and kind of arrogant," he said.

Rivers said it was difficult for him to react Wednesday to Dobelle's firing because he really didn't know much about the president. "I think a lot of people would be more attached to him if he walked around and talked to people," he said.

MCC freshman Bruna Kajiya said she hadn't even heard of the president until her classmates were talking about the firing Wednesday morning. "I don't even know the guy," Kajiya said.

Helen Souza, a third-year student at MCC, said she was shocked by the regents' decision. "I thought he had the support of everyone," she said.

Copyright © 2003 — The Maui News

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