Report on UH Presidential candidates forum in Hilo
Aloha peace ohana,
I watched via livestream this morning Interim President David Lassner’s talk and Q&A. I found him to be really intelligent with broad experience in the University. But more than that. I know him from the late 1970s. He was involved in support of protesting the eviction of Native Hawaiians at Hale Mohalu. He has a real sense of justice and compassion for people and is my choice for president.
I attended this evening’s talk by Retired Army Lt. General Francis Wiercinski. I sat in the third row middle and there were at least a dozen others throughout the auditorium like myself, holding signs questioning and protesting the General seeking to be UH president. His presentation was awkward, disjointed and came through as a canned talk. He seemed nervous. He has no experience with the University of Hawaii and his 34 years in a military culture (including illegal wars in Iraq and Afghanistan) is not compatible with a university campus of free flowing exchange. Some of the signs we held said: UH pivot to peace, not militarism, No Trust ! No Job! Have You No Shame – Withdraw Your Name! Hawaiian Values Aloha ‘Aina — Military Out of UH and Hawaii, No More UARC, Military Culture is NOT UH Culture, General NOT Qualified, Get a generalist–Not a General, No Combat College and War degrees at UH, Killing & Education Don’t Mix, The Pen is Mightier than the sword -No General, Return Stolen Nation – U.S. Out, Demilitarize Hawaii and Respect Mauna Kea, No TMT Industry, General UH Insult, Wiercinski LLC – “Foreign Military Sales” Expertise, No Education Expertise, No General- No Drone UH, Protest is Not the Problem, Dissent is Not the Enemy,
It seems to me the General is the inside track choice of the business community who want to cash in on the U.S. military pivot to the pacific and Asia, drone war training, etc. With Dan Inouye now gone, they are looking for every opportunity to bring in military bucks.
It was clear the General is not well grounded in Hawaiian history of the overthrow. Frankly, it is insulting to have a General of the occupying power now seeking to become the president of the University of Hawaii, but he seems clueless to this insult.
The Q&A was very controlled. Questions had to be put on cards and then selected and read by a Regent.
I wish there had been more students and community people there to join the protest but it wasn’t bad. I think we did it in a peaceful and respectful way to all involved, but the messages were clear. Quite a few people are not happy with the possible choice of a General for UH president. Dozens of those attending signed the petition opposing The General for UH President.
