College students must receive services for fees

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents should find out what’s going on with student fees at Hawaii Community College.

Three former student council officers contend they were voted out of student government because they raised a stink about money collected for programs and services that no longer exist at the Hilo school.

Although a college official insists that the outspoken students did not lose their posts because of their inquiries, there’s no question that mandatory student fees were collected for programs and services the school does not offer. The regents need to look into this.

Time to help industrial hemp project grow

Industrial hemp, a versatile crop that can be used to make food, clothing, fuel and thousands upon thousands of other products, may finally have a viable agricultural future in Hawaii.

A worthy bill awaiting Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s signature capitalizes on an opportunity for hemp research projects by state universities and agriculture departments without the Drug Enforcement Administration permits that are usually required.

Hemp, a distant cousin of marijuana, has been demonized for far too long. We’re sure tropical-ag scientists at the University of Hawaii could make excellent use of this research window.