Posted on 05/03/2005 4:58:40 PM PDT by pabianice
HONOLULU, HI — The seven Hawaii state flags outside the University of Hawaii administration building are flying upside down in a symbol of distress.
But the flags raised on temporary poles outside Bachman Hall only hint at the frustration some students, faculty and community members feel about plans for a proposed Navy research center on campus.
Protesters have occupied the office of the university’s interim President David McClain and delivered new demands on Monday, asking him to take immediate action that would stall or stop the project.
Citing Native Hawaiian concerns, protesters say the proposed University Affiliated Research Center, which would be the Navy’s fifth on a U.S. college campus and the first in 58 years, would further militarize a state that is home to several military bases, including the Navy’s Pearl Harbor and headquarters for the U.S. military’s Pacific Command.
“They forget that living in harmony with the land is one of the most important tenets of the Hawaiian culture,” said Lilikala Kameeleihiwa, a professor and former director of the university’s Center for Hawaiian Studies. “Many bad things have been done to our lands by the military.”
Demonstrators began their sit-in last week, and university administration allowed them to stay through the weekend. Six days into the protest, students rotate in and out of the president’s office, attending classes and studying for final exams.
McClain, who has referred protesters’ demands to university counsel, said he would have a response by Tuesday. “I have received with interest the revised request,” he said in a statement. “I find much in it with which I can agree.”
Opposition stems from the university’s plans to enter a five-year, $50 million contract with the Navy to establish a research center on the Manoa campus. Some of the work there would be kept secret from the rest of the university.
As part of their latest demands, protesters want McClain to withdraw his approval of negotiations for the center and to suspend any further action by the Board of Regents until at least Oct. 1, to avoid any developments during the summer when there are fewer students and employees on campus. They also are demanding a full release of all documents and relevant information about the research center, and want a public meeting.
“We are taking a stand against the threat to the soul and future of our university,” student Jessica Oshita said Monday.
So far, the protest has been peaceful under the watchful eyes of unarmed campus security guards.
University officials aren’t saying how long they will allow the group to remain. McClain has told them they were trespassing, and some demonstrators have said they are willing to be arrested.
The university has denied accusations that the center would help develop weapons of mass destruction. It says the facility would help the school compete with the nation’s top research universities and attract federal dollars in tight budget times. University officials say only 15 percent of the research would be classified.
The four Navy-backed research centers in the United States are located at Pennsylvania State University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Washington and Johns Hopkins University. Hawaii was recommended for the fifth center in July 2004.
Lovely, are they going to start a Hawaii Independence Movement?
What do you mean start? That has been going on for years. I'd like to see them have their independence. The Socialist Republic of Hawaii can live on their own dime.
Cut off all Federal funds and stop all student loans to this school. If they want to run their school their way let them foot the bill.
The Navy screwed up. Instead of calling it a "Naval Research Center" they should have called it the "Gay Minority Whales Studies Center". The university would have welcomed it with open arms.
I wonder if any of these morons has ever visited Pearl Harbor? Maybe they would realize just what the military is for! Or, probably not!
Why would they study the junior Senator from NY?
Weren't they (U of H) called the Rainbows?
See http://www.hawaii.edu/floodinfo
On a listserv I saw some of the pics of the library...it looked terrible...but I don't feel so bad about it any more...
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