WBUR/Boston Fires 'On Point' Host Tom Ashbrook

Ashbrook

After two months on leave, TOM ASHBROOK has been fired from his hosting duties on BOSTON UNIVERSITY News-Talk WBUR/BOSTON and NPR's "ON POINT."  ASHBROOK was placed on leave in DECEMBER after allegations of sexual misconduct and bullying over a decade surfaced from 11 current and former WBUR employees.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY said that the decision to fire ASHBROOK came after an independent review by LONGPOINT CONSULTING verified the bullying claims, saying that he had created an abusive work environment; another investigation, by HOLLAND & KNIGHT, concluded that ASHBROOK's conduct was not sexual in nature and did not meet the definition of sexual harassment under school policy.

ASHBROOK's attorney LAURA R. STUDEN of BURNS & LEVINSON responded, "The independent investigation concluded that TOM did not engage in any form of sexual harassment, contrary to the initial media coverage of this matter. BOSTON UNIVERSITY’s decision was based solely on issues with TOM’s management of the team, which the university failed to address in a timely and professional manner that would have resolved these issues.

"Given the University’s failure to appropriately address these management issues at the time, it is fundamentally unfair that BOSTON UNIVERSITY would take such a drastic action against an employee solely based on his management interaction with his team. The workplace issues raised could clearly be addressed without this drastic action."

ASHBROOK issued a statement saying, "I am deeply disappointed by this decision, which I believe is profoundly unfair both to me and the listeners who are been such a part of ON POINT. I am very proud of my 16 years at WBUR, contributing to the national dialogue in a way that is especially important today. I am also proud of the extraordinary team who worked with me on the program and made it what it was. Some have been with the program from the beginning, and others have gone on to great careers in media beyond the show. I’m proud of those who thrived with us. I’m sorry to those who found the show’s pace and me just too much. I’ve felt a terrible urgency about our country’s direction, and that urgency played out -- maybe too stridently sometimes -- in our workplace. We strove for excellence in really challenging times and sometimes colleagues’ feelings were hurt along the way. I regret that.

"WBUR and BU stated that the sole basis for this decision was my management of our team. I believe that WBUR and BOSTON UNIVERSITY failed in their responsibility to effectively address these issues when they arose when they could have been more easily resolved. When these issues arose, there were suggestions of inappropriate behavior that were completely antithetical to my personal values and my respect for the people with whom I worked. In their decision, WBUR and BU concluded there was no basis for any action based on the review of those issues.

"I have learned a great deal about myself over the past couple months, and there are things I would do differently in the future. But my interaction with our team was always well-intended and driven by my commitment to great radio and tackling tough issues. Many listeners and guests have reached out to me to express their support, and I can’t express how much that has meant to me. I am fortunate to love what I do, and I look forward to rejoining the national dialogue in whatever way I can."

No permanent replacement has been hired to date; RAY SUAREZ, JANE CLAYSON, and TOM GJELTEN have been filling in during ASHBROOK's leave.

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