UH leader defends Apple’s firing

University of Hawaii President David Lassner said former Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple’s performance over the past two years raised serious red flags about his abilities to turn around a fiscal crisis, inspire his leadership team to carry out strategic goals, and champion the university’s flagship campus.

For those and other reasons, Lassner said, he initiated discussions with Apple a couple weeks ago to remove him as chancellor.

"I have had concerns about his performance. I have tried to discuss them with him over this past year, and I have been unsuccessful in improving his performance," Lassner told a crowd of about 100 students and faculty who marched to his offices Thursday to protest his decision to fire Apple the night before.

He mostly read from talking points, and was clearly flustered at times as students and faculty peppered him with questions and at times booed him.

"I had several concerns. One was the financial condition of the campus," Lassner said. "I had concerns about (his) ability to lead a cohesive leadership team. I had concerns about divisiveness on the campus, and increasing zero-sum-game attitudes about who’s getting whose money."

Apple announced Wednesday night he was forced out by Lassner, following an unsatisfactory job rating. Apple, who was hired in May 2012 at a $439,008 annual salary, had three years remaining on a five-year appointment.

The school’s Graduate Student Organization and the Association Students of the University of Hawaii organized Thursday’s rally, which turned into a sit-in at Bachman Hall, where Lassner’s offices are located.

Students blasted Lassner, wanting to know why the evaluation process didn’t involve students and faculty.

"We had no opportunity, as the key stakeholders of our campus, to give you input before you made your decision," said Bonniejean Manini, a former chairwoman of the Manoa Faculty Senate.

Lassner said the evaluation process traditionally has not involved outside input, but added that he would revisit the policy.

He defended his decision to keep his discussions with Apple private.

"We went into a negotiation period, and his attorney advised us that Chancellor Apple had committed to him not to talk with the press," Lassner said. "It was during this period that Chancellor Apple began, clearly, to talk with people inside and outside the university, and this became news."

Manoa physics and astronomy professor John Learned said, "You had to have known this was going to cause an uproar."

"That was Chancellor Apple’s choice," Lassner said, triggering boos from the crowd. "I haven’t enjoyed this any more than you have or Chancellor Apple, quite frankly."

Lassner said the financial crisis at Manoa troubled him most.

He said he became aware of what Apple has characterized as a $20 million annual shortfall in operating funds soon after Lassner became interim president last fall.

"That did not exist in 2012. His vice chancellors have been trying to advise him of this, I have personally been trying to advise him of these challenges, and there was no apparent change in course of action until the freeze was announced, which was announced after we began our separation conversations," Lassner said.

In a July 15 memo, Apple announced a plan to save $10 million in each of the next two years by imposing a hiring freeze and suspending salary increases for nonunion employees until further notice.

"As Chancellor Apple’s line manager, if he’s as bad as he is, shouldn’t you be ultimately responsible for his performance? Shouldn’t we therefore be talking about your termination?" questioned Margaret Maaka, a professor in the College of Education, drawing cheers.

"It is not my job to manage the Manoa campus. It is my job to try to help the leader of the Manoa campus succeed, and I have done so regularly throughout the course of this year," Lassner replied.

Lassner insisted that outside influences did not prompt his decision. "There was no outside political influence asking me or directing me or pressuring me to remove Tom Apple," he said.

He was asked whether the 14 Manoa deans who nominated him for the permanent president post had lobbied him to fire Apple. "Was there a quid pro quo for your nomination?" Maaka asked.

"No. No. No," Lassner repeated, his voice escalating.

He was also asked whether Apple’s two failed attempts to fire UHCancer Center DirectorMichele Carbone factored into the decision. "Whether or not he believed that director should be removed was not a factor in my evaluation,"Lassner said.

Apple has agreed to a settlement that will reassign him as a tenured chemistry professor at a $299,000 annual salary, effective Sept. 1. He also will receive a $100,000 lump-sum payout. His chancellor duties have been rescinded.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on specific statements by Lassner.

He shared a five-page letter he sent Lassner in response to his job rating, outlining initiatives he’s implemented and defending his performance.

"You seem to have forgotten that you personally voiced support for my vision for (Manoa) on many occasions,"Apple wrote. "I stood up and took the knocks that inevitably come with such hard decisions, so I admit that I am very disappointed by the absence of support shown by you when controversy arises. … It appears that this was deliberately done to get the result you wished to achieve — support for a false claim of unsatisfactory performance."