Posted on: Friday, April 22, 2005

Students ask regents to rethink tuition hike

By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer

More than three dozen students from campuses throughout the University of Hawai'i system voiced opposition yesterday to a proposed tuition increase, warning the Board of Regents that increases would deprive low-income students of an education or force students to carry several jobs to pay for school.

Later in the same meeting, heated words erupted between the UH-Hilo and UH-Manoa Hawaiian language and studies programs as a Hilo professor accused two new Masters program proposals at Manoa of not having enough rigor, credits or undergraduate requirements.

"Fund us before you approve this," demanded UH-Hilo professor Larry Kimura, complaining that the proposed new Manoa master's programs were created without input from Hilo, and with "extremely weak" entrance requirements.

"This is the home of our language and culture. Our people deserve better," said Kimura.

Anger erupted in the audience as Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa, former director of Manoa's Center for Hawaiian Studies, called for "rebuttal" and angrily told regents: "We're not duplicating them, we're outdoing them. That's the problem."

In approving the two new master's degrees, one an M.A. in Hawaiian Studies and the second in Hawaiian, regents agreed with Neal Smatresk, vice chancellor of academic affairs for Manoa, who called the programs "ground-breaking."

As yesterday's meeting began, the board was met with student demonstrators calling on them to postpone a tuition increase, modify it or cancel it altogether.

"We feel it's too much too soon," said student George Thronas, saying the increase for undergraduates at Manoa will be 124 to 128 percent by 2010. "We know there's a need for a tuition increase, but it's too much. You need to factor in the cost of living."

Students questioned how the money from the increase would be used and asked regents to either vote against a hike when it comes to the board as early as next month, or stretch it out over 10 instead of five years.

"It's the same as raising the sticker price on a Toyota and calling it a BMW and asking us to buy it," said graduate student Kawika Baker.

Reach Beverly Creamer at 525-8013 or bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com.