 "Photo: KAORI SAITOH")
 "Photo: KAORI SAITOH")
Many students on campus yesterday were stopped in their tracks along McCarthy Mall by dozens of other students and faculty marching to the teach-in at Hawai‘i Hall. The marchers held signs protesting the administration’s proposed distribution of budgets cuts at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, shouting, “Save UH!” and “Whose school? Our school!”
Onlookers leaving their classes or heading for lunch stopped what they were doing to see what was going on. By the middle of the teach-in, around 12:30 p.m., a professor announced that the crowd had grown to 500 people. Although sitting room under tents and in the shade filled quickly, the overflowing crowd endured the heat to hear the impassioned speakers.
The purpose of the teach-in was to educate students and faculty about the UH administration’s proposed Last Best Final Offer contract, which includes salary cuts for faculty paid with state funds and the possibility of layoffs. The effects of such layoffs could result in retrenchment, the loss of certain classes, programs and majors.
“Retrenchment is not acceptable whatsoever,” said A.J. Duxbury, a graduate student in American studies and disability studies, who spoke at the teach-in.
Duxbury worried that UH degrees would be less valuable nationally if certain programs and lecturer positions were cut. Other speakers shared concerns that a decline in the quality of education at UH could cause students with money and talented professors with other options to avoid coming here altogether.
UH Mānoa is being asked to take 73 percent of the budget cuts in spite of the fact that it is the flagship campus of the University of Hawai‘i system. Sharon Rowe from Kapi‘olani Community College came to speak in support of UH Mānoa.
“It’s Mānoa that’s being threatened with the bulk of the consequences, and that’s not fair,” Rowe said. “Community colleges should back up Mānoa, and Mānoa should back up community colleges.”
ASUH President Mark Ing spoke early on at the teach-in, drawing cheers from students and faculty. He reminded students of the power they have and encouraged them to get involved, stay involved and not to allow themselves to become pawns.
“Students have the power to shut down the university; if things get too out of hand we can walk out of class - we can shut it down now because we are the university. It wouldn’t exist without students,” Ing said. “We are our own political force.”
Although some came to the teach-in with strong opinions, many came just to learn about the issues.
“I’m trying to get a broader sense of what’s going on and other people’s perspective,” said Kari Peterson, a UHM junior majoring in English, who joined the march early on.
Marissa Guerrero, a UHM senior majoring in political science, heard about the teach-in from a friend and decided to check it out.
“I think it’s really important to show the people that you support education,” Gerrero said.
Although UHM Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw was said to be in attendance, she did not respond to the speakers.
Hinshaw will hear students’ and faculty’s comments and complaints at a listening session this Friday at noon in Hemenway Theatre.
Listening Session with the Chancellor
On Friday, Oct. 9, UHM Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw will hear student and faculty responses to the budget cuts at Hemingway Theatre at noon.
Board of Regents Meeting
On Thursday, Oct. 15, the Board of Regents will be meeting on campus. Organizers of the teach-in encourage students to attend.
First Furlough Friday for Hawai‘i’s Public Schools
For the first Furlough Friday on Oct. 23, at 8 a.m., a walk-in will be held at Noelani Elementary School to protest the shortened school week for Hawai‘i’s publicly educated children due to budget cuts.
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