“On behalf of the Commonwealth University Council of Trustees, I write to convey the Council’s unwavering support of Commonwealth University President Bashar Hanna,” began a letter directed to the Board of Governors written by John E. Wetzel, the Chair of the Commonwealth University Council of Trustees.
The letter was sent on Aug. 27th, shortly after the announcement that four defendants were found liable in a wrongful termination lawsuit.
The letter continued, reading: “We believe that Bashar should continue to serve as our President and that his continued service is in the best interest of our students, our university, and the State System as well.”
Wetzel, in an interview with The Voice, reaffirmed the Council’s support for Hanna, saying, “We believe the president is the right leader. You look at all three campuses and you see increased retention rate, increased opportunities. We just dedicated an honors program.”
However, talk around campus hasn’t been about increased retention or opportunities on campus. The question on everyones minds is whether having Hanna continue to be the face of CU could damage the reputation of a university already struggling post-merger. The $28M deficit number looming over the university’s head has made it hard for some to trust the choices of the university.
“Listen clearly you can’t lose a lawsuit and say, ‘Oh, there was no impact on the [university’s] reputation.’ That’s just not being realistic, but at the same token, I think certainly in the next four months there will be headlines that don’t involve Bashar Hanna,” said Wetzel.
Hanna has made it clear that he has no intention of leaving his position despite doubts from students, faculty and staff.
“Leadership often involves making difficult decisions, and while I respect the legal process, I remain deeply committed to advancing our mission and ensuring that Commonwealth University remains a place where every member of our community can thrive. I recognize this situation has caused concern, and I am here to listen, to address those concerns, and to work together to restore confidence in our shared future. My dedication to serving this university and its students is unwavering. We will move forward, learning from this experience, and continue to focus on providing the highest quality education and support for our community,” wrote Hanna in his initial statement following the verdict.
