I believe the original plan called for research and development campus development, and that plan should be adhered to.

Let's start over and get it right this time.

UARC PROPOSAL

UH SENATE VOTE WAS 'DEFINITIVE STATEMENT'

The Nov. 18 editorial "UH needs clear poll on UARC proposal" was lame.

You question whether the vote of the Manoa Faculty Senate of Nov. 16 was "a definitive statement." The vote was 31 to 18. You then suggest that a secret ballot, rather than a show of hands, would have resulted in a different outcome. Here is your reasoning: "For those who might favor the plan, it would have been tough to truly vote your conscience in a public show of hands, with protesters, some of them colleagues, holding signs opposing the project."

Why portray members of the Faculty Senate as timorous or cowardly? It's my understanding that full discussion, an exercise in collegiality, preceded the vote. Why assume that members of the senate — adult, credentialed and tenured — are afraid of publicly declaring themselves on a matter of vital importance to the future of the university?

Interim President David McClain has declared UH-Manoa a "rape-free zone." He has made an attempt at transforming the stadium into a "half alcohol-free zone." His proposal, rejected by the Stadium Authority, would have banned alcohol from the right half: inside the stadium. McClain should now back the UH faculty and declare UH-Manoa a "secrecy-free zone" and not a link in the U.S. Navy's chain of command.

DOWNSIDE

DEFENSE OF VACATION RENTALS RINGS HOLLOW

T.A. Lopez's letter commending F. Kenneth Stokes' "reasoned" commentary misses the point regarding the inflammatory issue of vacation rentals. One could reasonably assume that both Stokes and Lopez have a vested interest in seeing these illegal operations continue.

Lopez tries to make the point that vacation rentals can offer benefits to everyone. Those of us who oppose vacation rentals have a entirely different view: that the vacation rental business negatively impacts the community in many ways. This includes excessive noise, fear of strangers constantly coming and going, adverse impact on property values, ad infinitum.

The only people I see benefiting are the operators who reap exorbitant profits at the expense of the community.

And these are not hysterical, fear-mongering myths. These are the facts in virtually every neighborhood that has the bad luck of hosting one of these operations.

OVERTHROW

'SCAPEGOAT' LETTER

WAS OVER THE TOP

Regarding the Nov. 22 letter by Thomas B. Stuart, "U.S. a scapegoat in overthrow": Mahalo to the UH Faculty Senate for voting against the UARC and acknowledging the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom by the United States.

Stuart's letter condemning the senate and Queen Liliu'okalani is utterly ridiculous. The Faculty Senate had a chance to vote for or against the UARC, and the majority of those present voted no.

Queen Lili'uokalani wasn't perfect, but she never condoned violence in any form. The U.S. warship Boston was docked in Honolulu Harbor during the 1893 overthrow. This wasn't just a little sailing vessel; it was a military war machine capable of bombarding Honolulu and most of O'ahu.

American political fanatics like Stuart live in a fantasy world and hide behind the mask of freedom perpetuated by the U.S. Constitution. Mahalo nui loa for the UH faculty members who voted against UARC and any further militarization of Hawai'i by the U.S.

WAR INTELLIGENCE

BUSH ADMINISTRATION EITHER INEPT, CRIMINAL

Perhaps, as Vice President Che-ney declares, this administration in fact did not distort the intelligence used in deciding to send U.S. troops to war.

If this is the case, then this administration is guilty of woeful inadequacy in evaluating the veracity and reliability of the information upon which they based this momentous decision to attack another country. Failure to adequately check out the sources on which this decision was made is inexcusable.

Cheney cannot have it both ways.

This administration is either deceptive as accused, grossly inept and incompetent, or criminally negligent in this decision-making that has already cost thousands of American — and tens of thousands of Iraqi — lives.

HAWAIIAN WATERS

MILITARY SCOURING ARCHIVES OVER CHEMICAL DUMPING

The U.S. Army and the Department of Defense are aware that the military disposed of chemical munitions off the coast of O'ahu during the close of World War II, as mentioned in recent media reports. While that was the practice of the day, I can assure you that the Army and its sister services remain committed to protecting human health and the environment.

Currently, the Army, its sister services and other federal agencies are working very deliberately to research archival records to better determine the locations and dates of military sea disposal operations in Hawaiian waters.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration lists a number of these sea-disposal sites on nautical charts commonly used by the shipping and fishing industries, to include several off the Hawaiian shores. We are working with NOAA to update its charts as part of this process.

Additionally, we are researching past scientific studies conducted to determine the effects of sea water on chemical munitions and the potential environmental effects at sea-disposal sites. Through this research, we will better understand the current condition of the munitions disposed of at sea.

As our research effort progresses, we are simultaneously coordinating with other federal agencies to ensure that every effort is being made to accurately characterize the situation at each sea-disposal site.

We appreciate the tremendous public interest in this issue and invite individuals with personal knowledge of sea-disposal operations in the Hawaiian Islands to contact the USARPAC Public Affairs Office at 438-2662 on O'ahu.

My earliest memories as a young boy growing up in the early 1960s are of the hours spent swimming, snorkeling and spearfishing in the waters off O'ahu. Over the years, I have returned on several occasions and have always been struck by the timeless beauty of the Islands and the fervent commitment of the people of Hawai'i to sustain the land and the surrounding sea for future generations.

We share that commitment and will work to preserve the natural splendor of the Islands for generations to come.