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University of Hawai'i |
(808) 956-8856 Telephone |
For Immediate Release: |
June 30, 2000 |
Contact: Dean O. Smith, Sr. Vice President/Exec Vice Chancellor - 956-7486 Jim Manke - University and Community Relations - 956-6106
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| Committee Completes Review of March Demonstrations |
A committee of faculty, staff and students convened by University of Hawai`i Senior Vice President Dean O. Smith to review events that transpired in the aftermath of the March 15-17 sleep-in and demonstrations at UH Manoa Campus Center has completed its review and presented its report.
Among other things, the committee commends both students and the university administration "for their commitment to safety planning before the event." The committee also acknowledges that "all parties involved acted in good faith."
The report further contends that the university administration did not communicate effectively and over-prepared in its efforts to ensure public safety on the Manoa campus when faced with the prospect of demonstrations and announced plans for civil disobedience.
"The university administration genuinely appreciates the time and effort committee members invested in developing this report," said Senior Vice President Dean O. Smith. "Committee Chair Dr. Doric Little and the students, faculty, and staff who were on her committee offer good feedback that will be very helpful to us in the future." Based on the report and what we can learn from this experience, I will make recommendations to President Mortimer on how we can move forward more collaboratively."
Smith also said that he "will review the report carefully to weigh the committee's recommendations in light of how each would allow the university to ensure free speech and academic freedom, and also to preserve campus safety and security."
Smith said that his recommendations relating to future situations would include designating a single point person from the university administration to be responsible for coordinating the university's response to events such as the March demonstrations. Once identified, such a point person could then maintain regular dialogue with key on- and off-campus audiences. Smith also plans to recommend that senior UH administrators and staff, including campus security personnel, participate in educational programs on protest and civil disobedience as a means to better understand both in the era of the information age.
Members of the review committee included:
Doric Little, EdD, Associate Professor, Native Hawaiian Center for Excellence and Chair, UH Manoa Ethics Committee
Margarita Ayala, freshman student, Political Science major and member of the UH Manoa Student Conduct Committee
Karen Cross, Educational Specialist, Program on Conflict Resolution, Matsunaga Institute for Peace
Ikaika Hussey, senior student, Liberal Studies major
Jared Ishimoto, senior student, Accounting major and member of the UH Manoa Student Conduct Committee
John Rieder, Professor of English, College of Languages, Linguistics and Literature, and Chair, UH Manoa Faculty Literature, and Chair, UH Manoa Faculty Senate Committee on Professional Matters
Brent Sipes, Associate Researcher, Plant Pathology, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, and member, Student Conduct Committee
