Letter to the Community

March 20, 2003

Dear University of Hawaii at Manoa Ohana:

The Board of Publications, publisher of Ka Leo O Hawaii and other student publications on campus, is aware, concerned about feelings of hurt, anger and confusion with respect to sensitive content printed in recent issues of Ka Leo. As student members of this community, we recognize and welcome the diverse feelings, views and opinions expressed by those who care about this University. It is our greatest hope that this diversity is forever perpetuated, and that the free exchange of ideas is never oppressed.

The Board of Publications affirms the authority, confidence, and support that it has placed in the Editor-in-Chief of Ka Leo O Hawaii, Ms. Mary Vorsino. It is the duty of the Board to hire department heads for each of its publications, and Ms. Vorsino is our choice for Ka Leo O Hawaii. Time and again, Ms. Vorsino has proven to be more than competent in the running of day-to-day operations at Ka Leo. She is an effective and compassionate leader of open-mindedness, prudent decisiveness, and high integrity. Ms. Vorsino has displayed her ability to stay connected and responsive to the needs and feelings of the community, while maintaining an objective and tempered approach in her responsibilities to her staff, the Board, and the content within the pages of Ka Leo. The Board of Publications has every confidence in Ms. Vorsino’s managerial ability. Any and all management mechanisms for which she has set forth in regards to policy and procedure within the Ka Leo O Hawaii organization, are left to her decision.

The Board of Publications is an equal opportunity organization. The Board does not practice, nor does it condone, the discrimination or devaluing of any individual, group, idea, opinion or view, based on race, gender, religion, political affiliation, or sexual orientation. It is not the practice of the Board to mandate policy to regulate content, or otherwise impinge on the rights of anyone to freely express their opinions, ideas, or views within the pages of its publications. Further, the Board recognizes that there is a need for all members of our community to voice opinions, ideas and views. Therefore, the Board has directed its editorial advisor Jay Hartwell to organize two open forum discussions. The first, to be held in April, will focus on the First Amendment. The second, to be co-sponsored with the Gender Equity Office, will be in early fall and will address how the UH community can make the campus safe for its members. Members of the community who wish to formally address any concerns and/or questions to the Board may do so during the open forum section of any monthly BOP board meeting. You may also contact us by phone or email.

Once again, the Board of Publications thanks all those who gave testimony on Thursday, March 13th. The Board also thanks the community for its concern and continued support. Together, with education as our goal, we can work towards the perpetuation of diversity and acceptance for all people.

Mahalo,

The University of Hawai`i at Manoa Board of Publications

Derek Wong, Lester-John Hael, Josiah Alamu

Lyndsey Clevenger, Ian Custino, Mona Darwich

Kaimi Kaupiko, Ngirdemei Uludong, Carolyn Brooks-Harris

Gerald Kato, Wayne Kawamoto, George F. Lee

Barron Iwamura

Email: Phone:

bop@hawaii.edu kaleo@kaleo.org (808) 956-4443