Logos attempt to say what seal already says
Not one of the six proposed designs for the University of Hawaii logo says anything about UH that the university's seal doesn't already say most eloquently. Five bear the Light of Knowledge, just as the seal does. Why them instead of the original? The sixth says nothing.I look at these and feel only sadness that our state university -- my alma mater -- cannot afford to have adequate dorms for its students or, for that matter, even maintain its existing buildings, some of them treasures, yet continues to throw money away on such frivolous things as a logo search.
What's wrong with the university's seal? It says it all: What UH is, where it is. And what it has to offer -- if we care to make it so. Even design A -- a near copy of the seal -- recognizes that. And five of the six designs incorporate its centerpiece: ka Malamalama. How ironic.
Let the university's seal speak for us as it was intended, regardless of how many campuses there are or where they reside. The University of California has 10 campuses, and the university's seal is used by all -- except for the name of each campus appearing at the bottom. Their seal -- just as ours should -- represents them all: one university, one purpose. And says it with a very similar message: Let There Be Light. Malamalama. E 'olu'olu makou.
UH-Manoa, 1962
We need another choice for UH logo
The Star-Bulletin's "Big Q" this week asks readers to choose their favorite from the proposed designs for a new University of Hawaii logo.What happened to choice G -- "None of the above"?
Pearl City
Dobelle deal offers sad commentary
Now that the fiasco is settling down and now that it is obvious that the taxpayer is again being poorly served by both our elected and appointed officials, it is time to ponder the fate of the poor schmuck who will be Evan Dobelle's supervisor for his research efforts.Perhaps special dispensation was granted to the good Dr. Dobelle. Perhaps he doesn't have to report to anyone. Perhaps he doesn't even have to produce. Perhaps that august body, the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, decided that this was the easiest way to get out of its poor leadership and decision making. We, the taxpayers, might never know.
This farce has gone on long enough; the governor needs to step in. I am surprised we have not heard more outrage from the hard-working men and women of the university. I am surprised that someone has not challenged the state and the university in court to open up the records for all to read.
The payment of $1.3 million to Dobelle because he now has "resigned" and not been fired probably isn't what should concern us most. The citizens of Hawaii should be most concerned about the fact that Dobelle had it right: The university has a plantation mentality. The poor folks hanging out at the company store on Friday night don't need to know what the headmaster has decided. Keep your head down and keep chopping that cane.
This is truly a sad commentary on how education and the ethical principals of leadership within our appointed boards are conducted in our islands. Governor -- got ethics?
Kailua
Tax-funded institute hurts shrimp farmer
My company, High Health Aquaculture, is located at Natural Energy Lab of Hawaii in Kailua-Kona. We have been in the business of breeding and selling shrimp broodstock for ten years.Oceanic Institute is a nonprofit research institute that receives millions of federal dollars to support the U.S. shrimp-farming industry.
OI has recently applied for and received permits to ship shrimp broodstock into Thailand from the Thai Department of Fisheries. OI has a contract to supply shrimp broodstock to SyAqua, a Thai company. Federally funded resources are now being used to directly compete with my company. These actions are a clear conflict of interest with Oceanic Institute's mandate to help the U.S. shrimp-farming industry.
U.S. shrimp farms are already suffering from increased production of foreign product, but now they are faced with the fact that resources meant to serve them are being sold off to their competition. When asked about these issues, interim OI President Gary Pruder stated that this is consistent with the mandate given by the OI Board of Trustees. Can this be true? Would the Board of Trustees direct Oceanic Institute to ignore its funding mandate and compete with U.S. shrimp-farming businesses? Is this ethical? Is this fair? Is this legal? We are a tax-paying, for-profit company. Why are my tax dollars being used against me?
Vice president
High Health Aquaculture Inc.
Kailua, Hawaii
Too late for Bush to come clean on 9/11?
Although the 9/11 commission has completed its work, would it help the commission, our elected officials and our country as a whole if Bush came clean and surrendered the information he had withheld? Americans deserve that from their president.We must remember that Bush fought the formation of the commission, turned over only a small percentage of the relevant White House documents that were requested and refused to testify under oath. He testified, but only when they agreed to let him have Dick Cheney at his side to help him understand the questions and form replies. Cheney also was not under oath.
It might shed some light on the 9/11 Saudi attack, for example, if Bush could explain why he authorized the use of a White House jet to take the bin Laden family -- including a nephew linked to al-Qaida -- out of the United States after 9/11, while all other flights in our country were grounded. He needs to explain his complicity in that action. It will help voters to decide.
Honolulu
Killing of peacocks cannot be excused
We recently made the Audubon Society a beneficiary in our will. The disgusting incident at Waimea ("Waimea center sorry for killing peacocks," Aug. 3) is making us think again. The Audubon Society is supposed to protect birds and their habitat.Lance La Pierre must go. There is enough ugliness around us without the Audubon Society carrying out ugly acts financed by bird lovers.
Honolulu
|
