After a regular check-up with his doctor in Memphis, University of Central Arkansas President Lu Hardin learned Thursday the cancer in his eye that had been stagnant for four years has returned.
Hardin said during a telephone interview he will be undergoing surgery for the second time Aug. 12 to treat the malignant melanoma by inserting a radioactive plaque into his right eye to shrink the tumor.
"The original surgery was in May 2004, and for a little over four years, the tumor has stayed stagnant and hasn't grown, but today I learned the cancer was back and larger than the original tumor, so after four good years, the doctor unfortunately recommended surgery as soon as possible," Hardin said Thursday.
Although Hardin said he is confident this second surgery will be as successful as the first one, he said the news has come at a disconcerting time in his life, in the midst of public criticism after receiving an accelerated incentive bonus of $300,000 approved by the UCA Board of Trustees, but not publicly disclosed.
Hardin did return the bonus after questions arose about the funds used for the payment and faculty members requested him to do so. Shortly after he returned the money, the attorney general issued an opinion stating the bonus likely violated state salary caps and likely came from public, not private, funds.
"It is somewhat disconcerting that this comes at the only time in my professional life that I've had the type of public challenges I've had over the past two weeks," Hardin said.
Hardin said the second surgery is obviously going to be more serious, and he dreads going through the painful surgery again, but he said he is optimistic about the outcome.
"I am confident this surgery will go well, I am confident the fall semester will go well and I am confident we will get this bonus problem taken care of," Hardin said.
Although Hardin admitted his eye surgery would become public in a few weeks when it actually happens, he said he was disappointed the news became public the day of his diagnosis after he sent a memo to the trustees informing them of the situation.
"My only regret is not being able to call some of my friends and other family members and talk to them before this became public," Hardin said. "I hoped to keep this confidential until surgery."
Hardin said he will be undergoing more tests and procedures over the next few days, but he will be in attendance at the 2 p.m. board of trustees meeting today in Wingo Hall, during which he has said he understands the board will take a public vote on the matter of the $300,000 bonus.
(Staff writer Jessica Bauer can be reached by e-mail at jessica.bauer@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1236. To comment on this and other stories in the Log Cabin, log on to www.thecabin.net. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
