Monthly Archives: July 2014

UH freeze may stem from “do whatever it takes” order to fund Cancer Center

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An important story about UH by Will Caron appeared in the Hawaii Independent on Tuesday. It ties the current budget freeze directly to the demand that UH “do whatever it takes” to significantly boost the number of highly paid Cancer Center researchers (“Apple cored: business as usual at UH“).

Caron reported:

…during a Saturday meeting in June between the president, chancellor, (Cancer Center director) Carbone and several key power players including (Medical School dean) Hedges, Apple was confronted with a demand that the CRC receive an additional $9-10 million in order to hire 16-25 new faculty over the next two years (salaries would average in at close to $400,000, based on the $9-10 million figure).

The reasoning was that without new hires to diversify its research, the CRC could lose its federal National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation and P30 grant funding from the Office of Cancer Centers. “In order to meet this demand [Apple] felt obligated to institute the freeze and budget reductions for M?noa, which will result in approximately 75 faculty positions not being filled this year on the M?noa campus,” reports our source.

Caron’s sources identified several outside “players” who took part in this pressure-filled session.

In addition to Baker and JABSOM Dean Jerris Hedges, the Independent has been informed that three additional key power players present at the June meeting were Art Ushijima, CEO of Queens Hospital, venture capitalist and part-time Hawai‘i resident Barry Weinman and former UH Board of Regents (BOR) Chair John Holtzman.

The article quotes an email from Carbone which includes the “do whatever it takes” quote.

You’ll need to read Caron’s article for the details.

I have to wonder: Although the cancer center and medical school may be important to the state, they certainly are not absolutely essential to the core mission of the UH Manoa Campus. That’s the standard being set for exceptions to the hiring freeze. Can you imagine UH without a medical school? Certainly. How about without a cancer center? Again, I think the answer is certainly in the affirmative. So why should the needs of these programs take precedence over all the other programs that make up the system’s flagship campus? If these are state priorities, rather than UH Manoa priorities, shouldn’t the legislature be stepping in to provide the needed funds?

Throwback Thursday: Bachman Hall sit-in, University of Hawaii, 1968

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Events at the UH Manoa campus are moving almost too fast to report. Now former chancellor Tom Apple made his ouster officially public last night. Now speculation moves to who will be appointed temporary chancellor to take over at this painful moment.

My Hawaii Monitor column at Civil Beat yesterday looked at the impact that the sudden hiring freeze is having on the Manoa campus.

It seems appropriate for this Throwback Thursday to harken back to the May 1968 sit-in at Bachman Hall, which started in the president’s office.

The scene below shows students gathered on the second floor of the building, many hours into the occupation of the building.

Click on the photo see all of the pictures I have posted.

1968

Bachman events were also discussed in Volume 1, Number 2 of “The Roach,” an underground magazine edited by Jon Olsen, which was published for about a year in 1968-69. This issue includes an “honor roll” of those arrested when police broke up the demonstration.

How not to organize a successful sit-in

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Did you catch the Hawaii News Now story Tuesday night which included an early announcement of a planned Thursday sit-in at UH President David Lassner’s office?

The UH Graduate Student Organization and the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii – the undergraduate student government group – announced students will occupy Bachman Hall Thursday morning in protest of the potential removal of Apple as chancellor. Lassner and the Board of Regents work in Bachman Hall.

The student group plans to gather at 7 a.m. in front of Hawaii Hall, where Apple’s office is located, and will march to Bachman Hall at 8 a.m.Thursday, a news release from the two student groups said.

I guess they haven’t had much experience with such things.

Perhaps the key element of surprise isn’t part of the current curriculum. If you announce days in advance that you’re going to occupy the office, don’t you suppose countermeasures will be taken to block the action?

What were these groups thinking when they issued a press release? Go figure.

Hanabusa’s record doesn’t show aversion to PAC contributions

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The Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat is certainly heating up now that voting has started.

Senator Brian Schatz received the active support of Elizabeth Warren this week, courtesy of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. In an email to PCCC supporters across the country, including nearly 5,000 in Hawaii, Warren praised Schatz and solicited contributions for this campaign.

Since joining the Senate, I’ve done my best to fight back to hold Wall Street accountable, reduce student debt, and expand Social Security benefits.

One senator who has been my strong progressive ally is Brian Schatz of Hawaii.

Brian has fought by my side to expand Social Security benefits instead of cutting them. Now, he’s being attacked for his work protecting our seniors and most vulnerable.

Colleen Hanabusa’s campaign responded with a negative email blast attacking Schatz for accepting PAC contributions, saying the contributions show “he’s willing to say anything to raise money, even if it means abandoning his progressive ideals.”

She points out that most of her money for this campaign has come from individuals. True.

But it seems to me that’s because, in this race, she’s the challenger, and challengers have a harder time raising money, period.

But when she was the House incumbent, she didn’t seem to have the same qualms about those PAC dollars, did she?

I took a look at Hanabusa’s 2012 Congressional campaign, and downloaded a list of her PAC contributions. It isn’t a short list.

amount contributor_name
$1,000 AFL-CIO
$1,000 AFLAC Inc
$1,000 Air Line Pilots Assn
$1,000 Air Line Pilots Assn
$1,000 Alaska Airlines
$2,500 Alexander & Baldwin
$2,500 Alexander & Baldwin
$1,000 Amalgamated Transit Union
$1,000 American Airlines
$1,000 American Assn for Justice
$2,000 American Assn for Justice
$3,000 American Assn for Justice
$1,000 American Assn for Justice
$1,000 American Assn for Justice
$1,000 American Assn for Justice
$1,000 American Assn for Justice
$1,000 American Bankers Assn
-$5,000 American Bankers Assn
$1,500 American Bankers Assn
$1,500 American Bankers Assn
$5,000 American Crystal Sugar
$1,000 American Dental Assn
$1,500 American Dental Assn
-$1,500 American Dental Assn
$1,500 American Dental Assn
-$1,500 American Dental Assn
$1,500 American Dental Assn
$1,000 American Federation of Govt Employees
$1,000 American Federation of Govt Employees
$1,000 American Federation of Govt Employees
$2,500 American Federation of Teachers
$4,000 American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees
$1,000 American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees
$5,000 American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees
$1,000 American Health Care Assn
$1,000 American Hospital Assn
$2,500 American Maritime Officers
$2,000 American Maritime Officers
$2,500 American Maritime Officers
$1,000 American Nurses Assn
$2,500 American Optometric Assn
$1,000 American Optometric Assn
$1,000 American Optometric Assn
$1,000 American Physical Therapy Assn
$1,000 American Pilots Assn
$1,000 American Pilots Assn
$1,000 American Pilots Assn
$1,000 American Psychiatric Assn
$5,000 American Resort Development Assn
$2,500 American Resort Development Assn
$2,500 American Resort Development Assn
$500 American Shipping & Logistics Group
$1,000 American Sugar Cane League
$500 American Sugarbeet Growers Assn
$1,000 American Veterinary Medical Assn
$1,000 American Waterways Operators
$1,000 Amgen Inc
$1,000 Amgen Inc
$2,500 Anheuser-Busch
$500 Asian American Action Fund
$2,500 Asian American Action Fund
$2,500 AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
$1,500 AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
$1,000 AT&T Inc
$1,000 BAE Systems
$1,000 BAE Systems
$5,000 BAE Systems
$2,000 BAE Systems
$1,000 BAE Systems
$1,000 Blue Cross & Blue Shield Assn
$1,000 Blue Cross & Blue Shield Assn
$1,000 Boeing Co
$1,000 Boeing Co
$1,000 Boeing Co
$1,000 Boeing Co
$1,000 Boeing Co
$1,000 Boeing Co
$1,000 Boilermakers Union
$1,000 Boilermakers Union
$1,000 Boilermakers Union
$2,500 Bricklayers Union
$2,000 Bricklayers Union
$5,000 Carpenters & Joiners Union
$5,000 Carpenters & Joiners Union
$1,000 CBS Corp
$2,500 Central Pacific Bank
$1,000 Comcast Corp
$272 Council for a Livable World
$5 Council for a Livable World
$1 Council for a Livable World
$9 Council for a Livable World
$4 Council for a Livable World
$1 Council for a Livable World
$2 Council for a Livable World
$10 Council for a Livable World
$7 Council for a Livable World
$40 Council for a Livable World
$2 Council for a Livable World
$128 Council for a Livable World
$850 Council for a Livable World
$1,000 Covanta Energy Corp
$1,000 Covanta Energy Corp
$1,000 Credit Union National Assn
$1,000 Credit Union National Assn
$1,000 Credit Union National Assn
$1,000 Credit Union National Assn
$2,000 Dan Inouye for US Senate
$5,000 DANPAC
$5,000 DANPAC
$19 Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte
$6 Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte
$7 Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte
$19 Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte
$8 Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte
$1,000 DuPont Co
$2,500 DynCorp International
$1,000 DynCorp International
$1,000 DynCorp International
$500 Federal Managers Assn
$1,000 Federal Managers Assn
$1,000 First Hawaiian Bank
$1,000 First Hawaiian Bank
$1,000 General Atomics
$2,000 General Dynamics
$1,000 General Dynamics
$1,000 General Dynamics
$1,000 General Dynamics
$1,000 General Dynamics
$1,000 General Electric
$1,000 General Electric
$1,000 Harris Corp
$1,000 Harris Corp
$1,000 Harris Corp
$500 Hawaii Medical Service Assn
$2,500 Hawaii Optometric Assn
$2,500 Hawaii Optometric Assn
$1,000 Hawaiian Airlines
$1,000 Hawaiian Airlines
$500 Hawaiian Airlines
$2,000 Honeywell International
$1,500 Honeywell International
$500 Honeywell International
$1,500 Honeywell International
$1,000 Honeywell International
$1,000 Honeywell International
$1,000 Horizon Lines
$1,500 Horizon Lines
$1,000 Horizon Lines
$500 Horizon Lines
$2,500 Horizon Lines
$1,000 Human Rights Campaign
$1,000 Inland Boatmen’s Union
$5,000 International Assn of Fire Fighters
$2,500 International Assn of Fire Fighters
$1,000 International Paper
$350 Intl Alliance Theatrical Stage Employees
$5,000 Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
$5,000 Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
$1,000 Intl Fedn of Prof & Technical Engineers
$1,000 Intl Longshoremen’s/Warehousemen’s Union
$1,500 Intl Longshoremen’s/Warehousemen’s Union
-$2,500 Intl Longshoremen’s/Warehousemen’s Union
$3,500 Intl Longshoremen’s/Warehousemen’s Union
$1,500 Intl Longshoremen’s/Warehousemen’s Union
$5,000 Ironworkers Union
$5,000 Ironworkers Union
$1,000 Jobs, Opportunities & Education PAC
$1,000 K&L Gates
$1,000 K&L Gates
$1,000 K&L Gates
$2,000 Laborers Union
$2,500 Laborers Union
$2,000 Laborers Union
$1,000 Lockheed Martin
$1,000 Lockheed Martin
$1,000 Lockheed Martin
$1,000 Lockheed Martin
$1,500 Lockheed Martin
$1,500 Lockheed Martin
$1,000 Management & Training Corp
$2,500 Marine Engineers Beneficial Assn/Dist 1
-$1,000 Marine Engineers Beneficial Assn/Dist 1
$1,000 Marine Engineers Beneficial Assn/Dist 1
$1,500 Marine Engineers Beneficial Assn/Dist 1
$1,000 Marine Engineers Beneficial Assn/Dist 1
$500 Marine Engineers Beneficial Assn/Dist 1
$500 Marine Engineers Beneficial Assn/Dist 1
$500 Marine Fireman’s Union
$1,500 Marriott International
$1,000 Marriott International
$1,500 Masters, Mates & Pilots Union
$500 Masters, Mates & Pilots Union
$1,000 Masters, Mates & Pilots Union
$500 Masters, Mates & Pilots Union
$1,500 Masters, Mates & Pilots Union
$500 Masters, Mates & Pilots Union
$2,500 Masters, Mates & Pilots Union
$2,500 Matson Navigation
$2,500 Matson Navigation
$1,500 McDonald’s Corp
$1,500 McDonald’s Corp
$1,000 McDonald’s Corp
$3,000 McKesson Corp
$3,000 McKesson Corp
-$3,000 McKesson Corp
$1,000 Michigan Sugar
$1,000 Minn-Dak Farmers Co-Op
$1,000 Monsanto Co
$2,000 Monsanto Co
$1,000 Monsanto Co
$1,000 Monsanto Co
$1,000 National Active & Retired Federal Employees Assn
$1,000 National Active & Retired Federal Employees Assn
$1,000 National Air Traffic Controllers Assn
$5,000 National Air Traffic Controllers Assn
$1,000 National Air Traffic Controllers Assn
$1,000 National Air Traffic Controllers Assn
$1,000 National Assn of Insurance & Financial Advisors
$5,000 National Assn of Letter Carriers
$1,000 National Assn of Postal Supervisors
$1,000 National Assn of Postmasters
$5,000 National Assn of Realtors
$2,000 National Assn of Realtors
$1,000 National Assn of Realtors
$1,000 National Assn of Realtors
$2,500 National Beer Wholesalers Assn
$2,500 National Beer Wholesalers Assn
$1,000 National Cable & Telecommunications Assn
$1,000 National Cable & Telecommunications Assn
$1,000 National Cmte to Preserve Social Security
$1,000 National Community Action Foundation
$1,500 National Community Action Foundation
$1,000 National Community Action Foundation
$1,000 National Community Action Foundation
$2,000 National Education Assn
$2,000 National Education Assn
$2,500 National Electrical Contractors Assn
$1,000 National League of Postmasters
$1,000 National Postal Mail Handlers Union
$1,500 National Rural Electric Cooperative Assn
$1,000 National Rural Electric Cooperative Assn
$1,000 National Treasury Employees Union
$500 National Weather Service Employees Org
$500 NCL America
$5,000 New Democrat Coalition
$5,000 New Democrat Coalition
$1,000 Northrop Grumman
$1,000 Northrop Grumman
$3,000 Northrop Grumman
$2,000 Northrop Grumman
$500 Northrop Grumman
$2,500 Northrop Grumman
$1,000 Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding
$2,500 Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding
$1,500 Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding
$1,000 Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding
$1,000 Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding
$1,000 Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding
$500 Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding
$500 Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding
$1,000 Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding
$500 Ocean Champions
$1,000 Operating Engineers Local 3
$5,000 Operating Engineers Union
$1,500 Operating Engineers Union
$2,500 Operating Engineers Union
$1,000 Pacific Century Financial
$1,000 Pacific Century Financial
$500 Pacific Century Financial
$1,000 Painters & Allied Trades Union
$4,000 Painters & Allied Trades Union
$5,000 Painters & Allied Trades Union
$1,000 Parsons Corp
$1,000 Patton Boggs LLP
$1,000 Planned Parenthood
$1,000 Plasterers & Cement Masons Union
$2,500 Plasterers & Cement Masons Union
$1,000 Plasterers & Cement Masons Union
$1,000 Plumbers/Pipefitters Union
$2,500 Plumbers/Pipefitters Union
$1,500 Professional Airways Systems Specialists
$1,000 Professional Airways Systems Specialists
$1,000 Raytheon Co
$1,000 Raytheon Co
$1,000 Raytheon Co
$1,000 Raytheon Co
$1,000 Raytheon Co
$1,000 Raytheon Co
$500 Sailors Union of the Pacific
$2,000 Seafarers International Union
$5,000 Seafarers International Union
$500 Seafarers International Union
$2,500 Seafarers International Union
$2,500 Sheet Metal Workers Union
$2,500 Sheet Metal Workers Union
$2,500 Sheet Metal Workers Union
$2,500 Sheet Metal Workers Union
$1,000 Shipbuilders Council of America
$1,000 Southern Minn Beet Sugar Co-Op
$1,000 SSA Marine
$1,000 Sugar Cane Growers Co-op of Florida
$2,000 Teamsters Union
$1,000 Tesoro Corp
$1,000 Tesoro Corp
$1,000 Time Warner Cable
$1,000 Time Warner Cable
$1,000 Time Warner Cable
$2,000 Tote Inc
$1,000 Tote Inc
$2,500 Tote Inc
$1,000 Triwest Healthcare Alliance
$2,500 UNITE HERE
$2,500 UNITE HERE
$1,000 United Airlines
$2,000 United Auto Workers
$2,000 United Auto Workers
$500 United Parcel Service
-$500 United Parcel Service
$500 United Parcel Service
$1,000 United Technologies
$2,500 United Technologies
$1,000 United Technologies
$1,000 United Transportation Union
$1,000 Van Ness Feldman
$1,000 Venable LLP
$1,000 Vsp Holding Co
$1,000 Vsp Holding Co
$5,000 Walt Disney Co
$1,000 Watanabe, Ing & Komeiji
$1,000 Watson Pharmaceuticals
$1,000 We the People PAC
$1,000 Western Sugar Cooperative
$2,500 Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America
$1,000 World Alliance for Israel