Posted on: Saturday, April 30, 2005
McClain to meet UH protesters
By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer
A sit-in at the office of University of Hawai'i President David McClain by students and faculty opposing a Navy research center stretched into its second night with McClain agreeing to spend today meeting with small groups of protesters at the administration building.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser Campus security forces were monitoring the situation.
More than 35 protesters were peaceful as they initially pitched about eight tents Thursday on the lawn next to Bachman Hall. They hung banners opposing military research from the indoor railing, occupied McClain's office and demanded that he sign a statement opposing creation of a Navy research center that could include classified research.
McClain has declined to do so.
Opposition has been wide-ranging, based on concerns that the research could involve secret weapons projects and objections to constraints on academic freedom and the right to publish. Other issues are Native Hawaiian concerns that a Navy research center would "fuel military expansion and its negative impacts on the land and people of Hawai'i," according to an official statement from opponents.
"We'll stay as long as necessary," said Ikaika Hussey, a graduate student and an opposition leader. "Our resolve is strong and our numbers are growing. We're starting to receive solidarity statements from other community groups and those on the Mainland and overseas."
While McClain said the students were trespassing, he also said he would accommodate them in his office even though their presence is disrupting university operations. However, he expected to be out of the office most of yesterday, and said he could work from an office at College Hill, the president's official residence.
McClain has also agreed to become more closely involved in the deliberations within the campus over what is officially called a Navy University Affiliated Research Center — UARC — that could bring as much as $50 million in research money into the university in the next five years.
There are four such centers nationally — at Penn State University, the University of Texas-Austin, the University of Washington and Johns Hopkins University.
The UH Board of Regents authorized Manoa administrators to proceed with negotiations, but has not yet officially approved such a center. The subject is not expected to come before the regents for approval until fall.
Three public meetings have been held by Manoa Chancellor Peter Englert in the past month to give the community a chance to voice opposition or support. Still, many students feel they have not been heard and that the negotiation process between the university and the Navy has not involved enough consultation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8013.
By late afternoon yesterday the ranks of protesters was growing with the addition of Native Hawaiian students wearing red shirts and adding their own flags of protest. Some of the strongest objections to the Navy research proposal have come from Native Hawaiians.
Protesters pitched tents and hung banners Thursday at Bachman Hall at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. UH President David McClain agreed to meet today with small groups of the protesters, who are upset over a proposed Navy research center at UH. There are four such centers around the country.
