No. 1 man at UH connects politically

By Bob Dye
Kailua writer and historian

"Political partisanship has no place in higher education," says the most politically connected president in the history of the University of Hawai'i.

On the day of the announcement of his appointment, Evan Dobelle is greeted by Alan Teramura, left, University of Hawai'i senior vice president for research, and by Lily Yao, chairwoman of the Board of Regents. Advertiser library photo • March 12, 2001

He is, by far, the highest-paid president in UH history. He will make $442,000. That's probably the best salary on campus — maybe beating out the football coach who takes in about $430,000 a year, if you count endorsements and other celebrity fees.

But no one knows, for sure.

So, you're nonpartisan?

"No. I'm an Independent. And have been for 20 years. In college I worked as a Young Republican, sometimes with Hillary Rodham when she was president of Young Republicans at Wellesley College.

"I was twice elected mayor of Pittsfield, Mass., as a Republican. As a Southerner in my youth, I was impressed by Jimmy Carter, the Democratic governor of Georgia, and worked for his presidential election. I was chief of protocol for the White House and assistant secretary of state for President Carter. I chaired his re-election campaign in 1980.

"As penance, I served on the Democratic National Committee," he joked.

He has friends on both sides of the aisle, in the U.S. House and Senate, he says. Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic National Committee chairman, once worked for him as an intern, when he was a senior at Catholic University. Sen. Arlen Specter is a friend. Secretary of State Colin Powell visited with Dobelle at Trinity in 1998.

The list of good connections goes on and on: Gov. George Volpe of Massachusetts, Former Sen. Ed Brooke, the Kennedys.

Dobelle talks faster than this old man can take notes. I would have flunked his course in public policy.

I interrupt. Do you know Sen. Dan Inouye?

"Very well."

"And (longtime Inouye aide) Henry Giugni?"

"Yes. Henry is an old friend of mine. He showed me around

Honolulu on previous trips here."

Did Henry help you get federal funds for Trinity?

"No. We did not use Cassidy, his firm."

Before leaving Connecticut on his whirlwind trip to Honolulu, Dobelle told me that he had the pleasure of bestowing an honorary doctoral degree on Inouye. He encouraged Giugni to attend the ceremonial event at Trinity College but Henry couldn't make it. Giugni, who worked for Inouye since the territorial Legislature, is a former sergeant-at-arms of the U.S. Senate, and now a Washington lobbyist for UH, among other institutions.

On this trip he met with former Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi, a graduate of Trinity, Class of '42, and other alumni of the private liberal arts college who live in Hawai'i. Frank is impressed by Dobelle. "Quite a guy! A big improvement over what we've had. He's a doer. Gets the job done!"

"There are quite a few Trinity graduates living here," Dobelle says. A son of banker Walter Dods went there. So, too, did John Alves, publisher of Honolulu Magazine.

Do you know Rose Tseng, the Hilo chancellor?

"Only slightly," from the days when they both were working in California. "I do know Joyce Tsunoda, and have great respect for her."

And he knows John Leopold, who once ran as a Republican for governor of Hawai'i.

You know everyone, I say.

"No, I don't. But I am trying to meet as many people as I can. I want to listen to what they say. That's the only way I'm going to learn what I need to know."

He is no stranger to these islands. Dobelle recalls that he has made a hundred trips to Hawai'i. In 1961, he accompanied his dad, who was considering joining Kaiser here. "We stayed at the Halekulani. The Hilton Towers weren't yet built. Waikiki had open spaces."

Considered for the presidency or chancellorship of Brown, Tufts, Wisconsin and Miami, why did he choose to be president of UH? According to what he told the Hartford Courant, people e-mailed him, warning: "You don't want to get involved in this." Nevertheless, he took a hard look.

On a campus visit in February, Dobelle saw a UH librarian wearing a button that threatened: "I don't want to go on strike, but I will." She did, and so did other faculty and staff, for 13 days. He may have wondered why he didn't heed those e-mails. Instead, he decided the strikers needed "leadership," and in March accepted the job.

What's your biggest challenge?

"The malaise on the campus. I have to raise spirits, lift expectations, reconnect the university with voters, legislators and the governor. We can't ask for more dollars until we convince people the money will be well spent. People are glad to pay taxes, if they get value in return. Taxpayers don't want other people to waste their money. They can do that well enough by themselves."

He is a consensus builder. "We have to stop treating the university as a special interest group, and begin treating it as the integral institution that it is to this state's welfare and well-being."

Although his selection as president was top secret, and unnecessarily so, he will initiate a more open selection process for chancellor of the Manoa campus. State Sen. Cal Kawamoto was disappointed in that process "because local candidates didn't get a fair shake." The more open process Dobelle proposes may ensure local candidates get a chance for the top Manoa job.

Dobelle wants a committee, composed singularly of faculty members chosen throughout the disciplines of both the undergraduate and graduate schools, to select the top candidates. And "where of concern" to have conversations with the faculty union. He wants the three to five finalists to speak to students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees and, get this, people in the community.

"I have never been failed by a faculty that has been validated and empowered," he says.

Not since Tom Hamilton has UH had a president who is a proven community-friendly shmoozer. Don't knock it. Described as "a passionate advocate of public-

private partnerships to spur economic development," Dobelle turned around the fortunes of Trinity College. In 1999, he was named New Englander of the Year.

My youngest daughter visited Trinity a couple of years ago, to see if she wanted to apply there. She didn't. My wife described the college as a "Tudor place in an angry neighborhood." Dobelle worked hard to dissipate that anger, and was rewarded by his efforts.

UH has never had a president who is more politician than academician.

"Faculty expectations are high," says J. N. Musto, executive director of the faculty union. He cautions, however, "It won't accept any political drivel." He points out: "The research faculty brings in $200 million a year. If they leave, the money goes with them. This place could become the University of Guam in a minute."

Like Dobelle, the union director was once a Republican, but of the George Romney stripe, and is now an Independent. He wants UH to get true autonomy, not the shibai kind it has now.

"It must have control over its property, and its people, the distribution of its resources, and be able to do what it chooses to do."

Musto also would like to see the prohibition lifted on faculty serving in elected offices. They now must resign to do so. "You depoliticize the university by being active in politics," he explains.

There is already speculation on the MŒnoa campus that Evan Dobelle, some far off day, will succeed Dan Inouye in the U.S. Senate. The speculation is not unkind, but hopeful of better days ahead for UH.