University of Hawaii won't renew embattled chancellor's contract

[struggle4progress]

By Audrey McAvoy
ASSOCIATED PRESS

3:06 a.m. June 23, 2005

HONOLULU – The chancellor of the University of Hawaii's main campus won't get his contract renewed after criticism of his leadership style and for his efforts to bring a Navy-funded research institute to the school. <snip>

"I have conducted an evaluation of Dr. Englert's performance, and based on that evaluation I will not recommend to the board that it act to extend his appointment agreement," university Interim President David McClain said Wednesday in a statement. The regents accepted the recommendation. <snip>

In a case that sparked student protests, Englert drafted a proposal for a Navy research center that would have brought in $50 million in military funding. About 15 percent of the research would have been classified.

Protesters said the facility would have further militarized a state which is home to several major military bases, including the Navy's Pearl Harbor. Native Hawaiian activists said the center would trample on Hawaiian values of living in harmony with the land, citing the damage done by live fire training around the isles. <snip>

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/education/20050623-0306-universitychancellor.html

[Benhurst]

1. ...

:toast:

[struggle4progress]

2. You betcha!

:bounce: :toast: :bounce:

[KamaAina]

3. This gets so confusing...

Englert supported -- indeed, sponsored -- the UARC classified military research center, and the native Hawaiian community (among others, present company very much included) bitterly opposes UARC, so Hawaiians (and everyone) should be happy to see Englert go, right?

Um, not so fast...

http://starbulletin.com/2005/06/23/news/index7.html

Jonathan Osorio, director of the Center for Hawaiian Studies, said he was "extremely disappointed" to see the chancellor go. He praised the financial support Englert gave the program and his willingness to listen to its needs.

Meanwhile, as always under our current repuke administration, there are political riptides along these shores. Englert was hired by former UH president Evan Dobelle, a political opponent of Gov. Lingle (R-Talks Moderate But Backs Bush**) who was ousted last summer by a UH Board of Regents dominated by Lingle lackeys, er, I mean "appointees".

Now, interim president David McClain will search for an interim chancellor to replace Englert, with a permanent chancellor to follow in two years -- both of whom would have to be approved by this same Board of Repukes, um, Regents, unless we can get our act together and vote Lingle off the island in '06.

In the words of the immortal Vinnie Barbarino, "I'm so confused..."

Edit: The point, if there is one :-) , is that the next chancellor(s) probably won't be staunch UARC opponents, either (barring another successful sit-in, perhaps!), and might well be less friendly to Hawaiian interest overall than Englert has been. "Better the devil that one knows..."

[struggle4progress]

4. I just can't curtail my knee-jerk reactions!

:D

[KamaAina]

5. Actually the anti-UARC movement may well have had an impact here

thus, it's hardly a "knee-jerk reaction" (but then, you are a liberal, so I guess it is :sarcasm: )

The proof: This really lame denial from McClain (from the same S-B article)

McClain said the discussion and consultation on the University Affiliated Research Center proposal is continuing and will not be affected by Englert's departure.

And if you believe that, he';s got this bridge he'd like to show you...

[struggle4progress]

6. Anyway, thanks for your comments in #3 above.

We'll hope the Center for Hawaiian Studies fares well in the future and the UARC not so much ...