UH-MANOA

REPORT CARD SHOWS WHO MADE THE GRADE

After four hours of UH athletic witch hunting, here's my report card:

Denise Konan: Handled unorganized and irrelevant questions with ease and poise and stood her ground when required. A+.

Herman Frazier: They loved you a year ago, so we knew this day would come. Thanks for your continued efforts for the student athletes, coaches and programs of our university. Stay the course. A-.

Rep. Jerry Chang and Sen. Norman Sakamoto: Whatever. C.

Rep. Mark Takai: Misguided professional politicians just scare me. I wish the zeal in uncovering soap-dispenser cost and installation-date inconsistencies was applied to getting lights on H-1 and H-2. Holding the athletic director accountable for parking-lot hours? Demanding names of major donors? Enough. Note: Basing your information on "what Colt said" and "blogs" is sad. D-.

Colt Brennan: Sigh. If you were good enough to play at a big Mainland college with soap and everything, I'm guessing you would have. One good year in the WAC does not make an NFL quarterback — just another prima donna. F.

LEGISLATURE HAS GREATER WORRIES THAN FOOTBALL

We have so much to worry about in this state and what do our legislators do? They go after the athletic director of UH for a football schedule.

What is wrong with you people?

Let Mr. Frazier do his job, and you do yours. Start doing something about getting a lottery, better drug laws and getting guns off the street.

You people need to wake up and do your job or get out. And leave our football alone.

UH ATHLETIC DIRECTOR DESERVES TO BE KEPT ON

It seems to me that ever since Riley Wallace's contract was not renewed, there has been a witch hunt for Herman Frazier's job and head.

It was way past the time for a change. And Riley Wallace needed to go. Unfortunately, Frazier is the goat for something that should have taken place a long time ago.

Frazier has done a fine job, and hopefully he will be allowed to continue.

STADIUM

LOWER MANOA AREA GOOD SITE FOR STADIUM

In a recent letter to the editor, a writer claimed that building a new stadium on the UH-Manoa lower campus is stupid.

What caught my eye in this letter was the suggestion to develop more land, which must be assumed to be land taken out of agriculture use in Kapolei. I would rather see a redevelopment on land already in use for zoning other than agriculture or preservation land.

It will not be in a far away future until the community surrounding the UH-Manoa lower campus will require serious thought for upgrading. Much of the current structures at these present locations can be observed as being very old and in need of replacement. This may be the time for our city and state to be creative toward a plan to accommodate a stadium for the University of Hawai'i. This plan and design can be developed to address noise and traffic concerns.

It will invariably take countless stupid ideas to get debate going for any good idea to emerge. If we can remain objective and refrain from any personal attacks, these stupid ideas may get the creative juices flowing and the truly brilliant idea will emerge for a new stadium built on the UH-Manoa lower campus.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

THE FDA MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR STANCE

Referring to your editorial of May 20, it is very disheartening to read FDA's stance on the matter of complementary and alternative medicine. Thousands of people have been killed by prescription drugs, and that is documented. A very small number of deaths have occurred from alternative methods. I agree with your writer who says that FDA is driven by its close ties with the pharmaceutical industry.

I have been following this subject for many years and it hasn't gotten any better. In fact, it is worse. How can the FDA control alternative medicine when it can't even control the big pharmaceuticals which, I believe, have the FDA in their back pockets. The FDA should be concentrating on reducing prescription drug deaths and prescription drug TV advertisements, instead of going after CAM.

On a related subject is the use of chemicals in genetic modification produce. We are ingesting this stuff; what will it do to us? The FDA should be checking into that. And now some experts tell us that honeybees are dying from ingesting the pollen from produce plants, because some of the chemicals used in GM produce are killing the bees. How long do you think we can exist without bee pollination? Not very long.

The FDA must be held accountable, and quickly.

HPD

COMMUNITY PROGRAM IMPROVES AWARENESS

As a graduate of both the Citizen's and the Business Citizen's Police Academy, I'd like to thank the Honolulu Police Department for offering free, worthwhile presentations that benefit the community. The coursework exposes residents to a sampling of police work and helps people understand how officers make decisions of great importance.

Students learn what it is like to drive a police car with lights and siren in a controlled environment, how radar guns work, and what goes into a police report. There are sessions on counter-terrorism, SWAT teams, K-9 patrol, how to identify narcotics, and even the Secret Service.

The police officers risk their lives daily for us to have a safer place to live. When a police car is hurrying on its way, people may assume it is to issue a ticket or make an arrest. Actually they are most likely to be on their way to help someone, perhaps a mugging victim or a person in distress.

Citizens, check it out. To learn more, apply through the Hono-lulu Police Department's human resources division. Up to 25 students are allowed in each class, and everyone from the police chief on down are often involved in the presentations. Graduates have no police powers but help keep the lines of communication open which contributes to a safer community. Over the years, nearly 500 people have been made aware of what police officers go through.

LEGAL TACTICS

ATTORNEY'S SOLICITATION FOR CLIENTS UNETHICAL

I completely agree with David Shapiro's commentary (May 23) that described attorney David Rosen's solicitation for clients willing to file a new lawsuit against Kamehameha Schools. I find Rosen's appeal to be thoroughly disgusting and unethical.

Sadly, by offering a "no-cost" arrangement, Rosen is sure to dredge up his quota of 10 to 20 plaintiffs. And, once again, the school will have to put out hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight a frivolous lawsuit in the court system, draining funds that would otherwise be going to address the educational needs of innocent and deserving Hawaiian children.

I hope that every person, Hawaiian or not, who believes that the will of Princess Pauahi should be upheld will write a letter to Rosen expressing their disgust over his solicitation.

BOYCOTT WOULD SEND LAWYER CLEAR MESSAGE

Attorney David Rosen's challenge to Kamehameha's entrance requirements is interesting in what it reveals about him personally and professionally.

Does he not have enough cases to keep himself busy? How did he become so empty that he believes he is entitled to what he is not? What do his actions say about his lack of character, that he can tie up monies that could otherwise educate Hawaiian children?

Does he seriously think his threat will go unchallenged?

Let us send a message he will hear, in his pocketbook: Boycott his business.

SHAMEFUL TACTICS WILL EMBARRASS LAW FIRM

Never in my life have I been more ashamed to walk down Bishop Street than at this moment, knowing that a firm like the Law Office of David B. Rosen is allowed to practice law in Hawai'i under the guise that it is ethical or moral or, dare I say it, even have a heart. Never.

I'm sure you will get countless letters that say the same, but let me make sure you hear it loud and clear: "Shame on them."

The law firm is fishing for the worst kinds of people: opportunists. And nothing will come of this but embarrassment for the law firm and shame for everyone involved.

I believe that people like Rosen are greatly underestimating the resiliency of the Hawaiian people and the steadfastness of Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate and its commitment to protect Pauahi's dream.

His foundation is greed and, as always, such a shallow foundation will inevitably crumble.

ATTORNEY'S CALL TO CASH IN UNFORGIVABLE

No one in their right mind can blame David Rosen for considering a new lawsuit against Kamehameha Schools. The KSBE trustees basically rolled out the red carpet to all such attorneys when they settled the John Doe case out of court.

What's unforgivable is Mr. Rosen's decision to issue an open invitation for others to cash in on this matter.

Young John Doe and his family chose to pursue their protest against KS's admissions policy because of their failed attempt to gain an invitation for enrollment.

Mr. Rosen, to his discredit, appears to be inviting non-Hawaiian students and their parents to help his "cause" (he says it's principle; everyone else knows it's about money) by applying for enrollment just so that they can get rejected by the school.

Shame on you, Mr. Rosen. There's no escaping this simple truth: What goes around will surely come around.