Ka Leo O Hawaii

Issue date: 1/17/08 Section: Commentary

Media Credit: Mark Brislin University administrators have requested $100 million from the state Legislature to improve facilities around campus.

Prior to the start of last year's football season, University of Hawai‘i Warriors quarterback Colt Brennan publicly denounced the deplorable condition of the college's athletic facilities. His remarks made national headlines and were echoed in June Jones' letter of resignation, in which Jones cited the repair and maintenance problem as a motivating factor in his decision to leave UH.

In order to lessen the blow to UH's image, university officials have sacked Herman Frazier as athletic director and have already appointed a new head football coach. But there's still a more prominent problem lingering in the background, the solution to which requires financial farsightedness and a great deal of political will.

No matter how stellar the credentials of the individuals brought in to replace Jones and Frazier, the condition of UH's athletic facilities will remain a roadblock to success until elected officials vote to appropriate the necessary funds to begin renovating the athletic department. Certainly new personnel are more likely to generate innovative ideas than the people who've perpetuated a faltering system. But fresh blood won't equal fresh paint unless the state Legislature decides to intervene.

During last year's legislative session, UH administrators requested $165 million to repair the school's deteriorating infrastructure. Legislators responded by allocating a mere $40 million in operating disbursements. Lawmakers also cut in half a supplemental budget request of $100 million for repair and maintenance, instead providing enough money to cover the cost of soap and new carpeting. Maybe.

This year, legislators must act quickly to rectify the unanticipated consequences of their prior indifference. Concrete measures must be adopted to ensure the continued sustainability of university programs, and appropriations must be inserted into the state's annual budget to curtail the rate of structural decay around campus. Accordingly, these appropriations should be increased to a level commensurate with the rate of inflation and must reflect a serious commitment to higher education in Hawai‘i.

Continued...

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