Posted on: Friday, April 29, 2005
Protesters take over UH president's office
By Jaymes Song
Associated Press
Students, faculty members and community activists took over the University of Hawai'i president's office yesterday to protest a proposed military research laboratory.
At least 50 people began their peaceful sit-in at interim President David McClain's office in Bachman Hall at 10 a.m. Under heavy police presence and security, they were allowed to stay overnight but could risk arrest today.
They were protesting the university's plans to enter a multimillion-dollar deal with the Navy to establish a classified research center on the Manoa campus. Four University Affiliated Research Centers now exist across the nation.
"This is to specifically stop the expansion of the war machine on the UH campus," said protester Gene Ray, a visiting art professor from Berlin.
Hawai'i administrators have been pushing for the contract that is estimated to bring in $50 million in federal money over five years to conduct military research.
"It's a different way of bringing money to the institution, and faculty members will have an option to participate or not," said Gary Ostrander, vice chancellor of research at the university.
Ostrander said federal research funding is "getting harder and harder to get."
The center also will put UH on a level playing field with the nation's top research universities, he said.
"Our expertise is in the areas such as oceanography, astrophysics, optics, development of sensors," Ostrander said. "These are all areas the Navy is interested in."
He promised that the university will not develop weapons of mass destruction, as alleged by some opponents.
Protest co-organizer Ikaika Hussey said he was prepared to camp inside McClain's spacious office until the university changes its position on the research facility, even if it results in his arrest.
Hussey and others accused the administration of secrecy in an effort to push the center through with little opposition or comment.
Protesters also said the center contradicts the university's strategic plan, core values and educational mission.
"What I see here is the militarization of the university and Hawai'i," said Noel Kent, who has taught ethnic studies at UH for 32 years. "That's what is scary."
McClain was at his office early in the day, but later left for meetings. He told protesters that he could not guarantee that he would stop the project from continuing.
Contract negotiations with the Navy are expected to begin as early as in a few weeks. If the plan is approved by school administrators, it will go before the Board of Regents, which gave it preliminary approval in November.
The University of Hawai'i-Manoa, which is several miles from Pearl Harbor Naval Station, was recommended as the fifth research center in July 2004.
