september 17, 2012 issue 3 ~ volume 98
IN THE
DARK Orsak’s dismissal still unexplained, questions remain unanswered Kalen Petersen Editor-in-Chief
Mystery continues to surround the firing of Dr. Geoffrey Orsak from the University of Tulsa’s presidency after 74 days in office. Orsak’s removal was announced Wednesday in an e-mail to students and staff signed by Duane Wilson, Chairman of TU’s board of trustees. That message did not cite any cause for the unexpected decision. Executive Vice President Kevan Buck, the university’s chief financial officer, will be taking over the duties of the president until the board decides on an interim president. Buck said that he was notified of the board’s decision “about a day in advance.” Buck, who has spent 29 years in higher education, said that TU can expect a smooth transition because of its highly experienced senior staff. “As far as the University’s going forward, we’re in good shape,” he said. In a statement to the press, Orsak said he was “very disappointed given the lengthy due diligence process for the position.” Orsak was Dean of Southern Methodist University’s Lyle School of Engineering before taking the helm at TU. “My family and I made significant professional and personal sacrifices when we uprooted from Dallas so that I would have the special opportunity to lead the University of Tulsa,” Orsak said. Buck called Orsak “a nice guy,” but declined to comment on the causes of Orsak’s termination. “I have to give you the answer that’s been published,” Buck said. “The board did an exhaustive search to find him, and wanted it to work, and it didn’t.” Members of the board and administration have consistently declined to comment on the reasons for Orsak’s firing. In a statement Thursday, Wilson acknowledged that the decision “occasioned intense interest and many questions,” but offered no further details as to the board’s action, citing “discretion and university policy.” Orsak’s release came one day after it was announced that he was taking a leave of absence to visit his father, who is hospitalized in Dallas with a brain tumor. The board’s second statement noted that “Although unavoidable, the timing of this decision was particularly unfortunate,” and wished Orsak’s family well.
Students and staff alike reacted to the firing with shock. “I think it’s a big deal because when we just got a new president and we’re in this period of transition, he just goes away on mysterious circumstances,” said sophomore Trokon Johnson. “You wonder what happened, and if the university’s alright.” Jerry McCoy, a TU physics professor, said that he was “caught off-guard” by the news. “I knew his father was ill, I knew he was in Dallas tending to that, and even got a note from him two or three days ago from Dallas,” McCoy said. “In the note, he acted all presidential, and I was aware of nothing. Then I hear yesterday that he’s taken a leave of absence. Then I started getting indications, hearsay from others that it’s more serious than that.” McCoy said that he was told by an employee in the Office of Human Resources that while it is “not illegal to disclose personnel actions, it would be to invite a lawsuit.” Wilson offered assurances of a “smooth course” ahead, expressing confidence in both Buck and in the board. “We are moving forward with business as usual,” he said. After its 18th president served the shortest term in university history, that business will now include counteracting rumors and convincing the TU community that the school is still on course. “It’s an unfortunate thing, but I don’t see it as setting us back, I really don’t,” Buck said. “There’s too many people who think too highly of this university.” Wilson said that the search for Orsak’s successor would soon be underway: “The board is discussing next steps as we work toward identifying TU’s 19th president.” Buck confirmed that the board would meet Monday to discuss an interim presidency. While no arrangements have been made yet, Buck said that former President Steadman Upham might be considered to lead TU through its presidential transition. “It wouldn’t shock me if he were to say, ‘I’ll come back and stabilize things until we continue the next search,’” Buck said. Buck called Upham, with whom he worked for eight years, “a great guy, a gentleman,” and expressed enthusiasm for the possibility of his return. Buck declined to comment on whether the search process for Orsak was flawed, but pointed out that the search agency that identified Orsak was the same one that brought Upham and former President Robert Lawless to TU. “We’ll probably go back to another exhaustive process to find somebody again, and hope it works out better,” Buck said.