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A group of upset protesters yesterday left the second of three public consultation forums on a proposed University Affiliated Research Center demanding longer meetings to allow their concerns to be heard.
University of Hawai'i at Manoa Chancellor Peter Englert organized the meetings, which are being held at the Architectute building, to gather public feedback on the UARC before he can bring the proposal back to the Board of Regents for final approval.
But when the meeting ended, protesters chased Englert as he walked to his car and blocked the road, preventing him from leaving the campus.
As he had done in the first forum on Wednesday, Englert once again outlined possible benefits of having a UARC in his presentation before opening the forum for questions.
UH Manoa Women Studies Professor Ruth Dawson spoke in opposition to the UARC.
"For many of us," Dawson said, "the fundamental issues are ethical." Englert disagreed and said he didn't believe all military research was unethical.
One of the protesters' main concern, as was the case in the previous meeting, centered on whether public opposition could influence Englert to reshape his position about the UARC.
Ikaika Hussey, a graduate student in Political Science, said during testimony that he thought the consultation arrived about two to three years to late.
"I don't believe this is a real consultation process -- as far as I'm concerned this consultation is over," he said.
Englert tried to answer people's concerns but was continually interrupted by shouts from the crowd and protesters.
"The process of consultation has to be entered into with an open mind," Englert said. "I have to ask you to have an open mind as well as myself."
Groups of protestors once again gathered outside the Architecture auditorium before the meeting and entered the auditorium throughout the presentation.
During Englert's response, about 25-30 protesters, with skeleton face paint, climbed onto the stage and simulated choking to death.
"We came here to make a statement. We're afraid that a collaboration with the Navy will hinder academic freedom," one of the protesters said. "We're afraid that the Navy will take control and seriously restrict student access."
The meeting lasted one hour and 30 minutes, ending at 4:30 p.m. Several people were still in line to give testimony as Englert left the room.
Englert has said he would like to bring the UARC proposal for board approval sometime after the summer break, and consultation would continue until then.
But the protesters blocking Englert's car said they were angry for not getting a chance to speak at the event yesterday.
"For months we've been doing this. We've spent lots of time and energy on this issue and we expect the same in return," said one protester. "This was not our strategy. Our strategy was to ask some questions in there."
Campus Security Capt. Donald Dawson and other security guards tried to disperse protesters so Englert would be able to leave. But Englert reparked his car and went back into his office.
One of the protesters, former U.S. Diplomat Ann Wright, who resigned in 2003 over the Iraq war, said she was upset about the small amount of time reserved for the forum.
"There were 10 of us left with no time left to voice questions," she said. "Consultation can't happen in an hour and a half."
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