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The Senate hearings involving the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, the university administration and politicians over the past two weeks were stunning.
There was enough blame, overreaching and grandstanding to go around, and all of them should be ashamed.
Both hearings have been unproductive, won’t resolve anything and were motivated by the desire to humiliate people.
Legislators should honor UH’s semi-autonomous status and allow it to resolve the issue internally.
The Wonder Blunder and resulting lack of accountability gives legislators an excuse to revoke that semi-autonomous status.
The regents should take immediate action, including:
» Training to go over the role (limitations) of board members;
» A comprehensive review to update, amend or delete board policies, which are overwhelming and make it impossible for regents to develop any kind of working understanding of them;
» Adopt a policy that if any politician suggests anyone for any job or position in the UH system, that politician’s name will be posted on the UH website with the name of the person suggested.
Lost in these hearings has been the university’s mission of providing all the sons and daughters of this state access and opportunity to earn a degree from a quality, accredited university. UH has made a world of difference for my family. Everyone in my family holds degrees from UH.
From the humblest of backgrounds, my father rose to the position of attorney general for the state of Hawaii and retired as the administrative judge for the District Court, First Circuit, State of Hawaii.
My mother retired as a well-respected elementary school teacher, making a profound difference in the lives of her students.
My sister is recognized as one of the state’s top environmental lawyers.
My brother retired from Hawaii Air National Guard, flying the F-15 Eagle, and gained the reputation of being a fierce fighter pilot; he now flies for Hawaiian Airlines.
My wife is recognized for her work in the field of assisting victims of sexual abuse and helping foster families.
As a regent, my favorite official responsibility was attending graduation ceremonies, with each graduate bursting with pride in his or her cap and gown while being cheered on by family and friends. I shook each graduate’s hand, congratulated them and witnessed how UH fulfilled its promise to a new generation.
I knew that like myself, my family and my friends from schools across this state, their lives would be changed for the better.
I hope and demand that UH be led by regents and administrators who will remain true to the promise of giving students like me access to a quality education. I remember Presidents Harlan Cleveland, Fujio Matsuda, Douglas Yamamura and Richard Kosaki, who, as administrators, were committed to UH’s mission.
I remember professors like Walter Johnson (history), Katashi Nose (physics) Mitsuo Aoki (religion), Jim Dator (political science) and Richard Crowe (astronomy at UH-Hilo) — world-class scholars and dedicated teachers who taught entry-level classes because of their commitment to UH’s mission.
I also remember UH staff like Diane Morisato, Blair Odo and Takeshi (Take) Harada, who dedicated their professional lives to UH’s mission, helping students grow to see their life opportunities ahead.
As graduates, we are the ones now responsible for UH continuing its mission of access and opportunity and we must demand and fight for that same level of commitment from current regents, administrators and politicians. Otherwise, UH will be condemned to be the punch line of a joke, a place for cronies to pad their retirement, or a pit stop to collect fat paychecks and loud aloha shirts. That is not the UH I am willing to live with.
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