Emotions ran hot at the corner of University Avenue and Dole Street this morning as University of Hawai‘i students were greeted with angry shouts from some faculty members on the picket line.

“Scabs can’t teach you anything!” one faculty member yelled at students getting off a bus to attend classes. “Scabs teach you to be traitors!”

None of the students who got off the buses turned around. Some who listened to music on headsets didn’t even hear the shouts of “Go home! Ride your skateboards home!”

Many of the students who did hear the shouts said they felt uncomfortable. They said they sympathize with their unionized professors, but feel caught in the middle of the labor dispute.

“I’m coming to classes because my classes are taught by a (teachers’ assistant) who’s not in the union,” said Pat Le, a junior studying computer science. “If they don’t teach, they don’t get paid. If they teach, we have to come. If we don’t do our assignments, then we pay the consequences.”

Roger Ames, a professor of Chinese philosophy, was in charge of the dozen pickets at University and Dole this morning and apologized for those who yelled at students. “People are excited,” Ames said. “I’ll get them to stop using that language.”

Rouel Velasco, a freshman studying secondary education, said he didn’t mind being shouted at by the striking faculty. But he said “if they’re going to attack me, I’m going to get their names and report them.”

“My teacher has to be (in class) because he has to,” he said.

Hirono joins UH picket line

Breaking ranks with her boss, Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono today visited picket lines put up by the Hawai‘i State Teachers Association and the University of Hawai‘i Professional Assembly.

Hirono said she was showing her support for striking faculty and teachers.

“I care about students, support our teachers and I want to see a fair settlement,” Hirono said of her presence on the picket line.

Hirono visited picket lines at Kauluwela Elementary School, the University of Hawai‘i-Manoa and Kaimuk&Mac246; High School today and was scheduled to go to either Dole Intermediate or Farrington High School later in the day.

Gov. Ben Cayetano has said the state cannot afford the pay increases sought by university faculty and public school teachers. Hirono, who has said she will run for governor in 2002, said there was nothing political in her appearance on the picket line.

HCC picket line crossed

At the Honolulu Community College, not eveyone honored the picket line, but strikers said they remain determined to get an acceptable contract.

Troy Baker, 31, HCC student body president at HCC, stayed out of class in support of the striking professors even though he is scheduled to graduate this semester.

"It's looking gloomy," said Baker. He said students are crossing the line to get to classes taught by part-time instructors not in the faculty union.

"Students don't want to cross the line, but they don't want to flunk either," Baker said.

David Cleveland, a sociology professor, said he's hoping for a short strike, but added: "We've been without a contract for 600 days. We've been bargaining for over 800 days. We are resolute. We'll stay out here until we get one."

Cleveland said the strike was about drawing the line in the sand in the wake of years of budget cutbacks within the university system.

"We can't gut this university anymore. We spend our lives and careers working for the university, (only) to watch it wither for the past decade," he said. "It has been increasingly frustrating and depressing."

Kaua'i picket lines quiet

On Kaua'i, the picket lines were quiet but well organized at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School outside Lihu'e. Two of the school's 61 teachers crossed the picket line without incident.

Principal Maggie Cox said she intended to meet with teachers and other school employees who crossed the lines later in the morning in order to assign work.

Even though no students arrived at school this morning, she said she would have no difficulty finding tasks for them.

"This is a new school. There's always lots of work to do," she said.