Letter: Kim right to challenge UH empire builders

Hooray for state Sen. Donna Mercado Kim’s proposed budget cuts (“Proposed cuts could ‘devastate’ University of Hawaii, officials say,” Star-Advertiser, March  Opens in a new tab19) Opens in a new tab.

Few have the courage to stand up to the status quo of empire builders at the University of Hawaii. I have heard of many experiences of mismanagement and arrogant handling of students at UH.

Your editorial acknowledges the “criticism for top-heavy administration and deadwood” among salaried employees (“Proposal to slash UH staff unwise,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, March  Opens in a new tab20) Opens in a new tab. Hers was not a final bill, but meant to start a discussion. This is something the Board of Regents and UH administration have failed to ever address.

Kim is starting the conversation no one else has the guts to. She is representing us, the taxpayers. We should have a management audit of the UH system. I would like to hear what its mission is, and how the individual departments are achieving that mission.

Yes, UH does some things well, but some, not so well. It’s not fair to good, dedicated workers to keep deadwood.

Brian Lee

Liliha

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